(05-30-2016, 04:30 AM)Asjb Wrote: (05-26-2016, 08:12 PM)NorthernGuy Wrote: I am a new APAP user....... During my sleep study my AHI was in the 30's. Most of my apneas were obstructive and occurring during REM stages. Very few central apnea events......Since I have been on APAP my AHI is stuck around 7-9 with only 2-3 OSA event/night. The rest are now showing up as clear apneas or hypoapneas.
Should I continue to see improvements or is this the best I will see?
Hello Northern Guy - when you say 'new user' how long have you actually been using xPAP?
Hello again Northern Guy. Could you let us know how long you've been using xPAP? New (days, a week or so) users can be sensitive to changes in pressure settings so gently, gently would be the idea.
But if you are a relatively seasoned user, used to the mask and etc, then from your graphs I would suggest you increase your minimum by up to 2 cms (speed of change as tolerated), and decrease your maximum pressure by up to 7 cms (ditto as tolerated). Your graphs suggest you may initiallly settle well at around 7-13. Once you are at or near that range, the graphs and how you feel will guide how much more adjustment of the pressure range will suit you.
You graphs show that you spend some time climbing up from your minimum pressure of 5, which is wasted treatment time. And many people find a pressure as low as 5 to be uncomfortable and 'suffocating'. And the graphs show that you do not need anything near your current max of 20 at the moment.
I would also mention again that over the next few months you will need to keep an eye on your centrals - number of events/hr and as a percentage of total AHI. Your current type of machine may not be what you need for the long-term.
But all these changes will be likely to be difficult to tolerate if done over a short time if you are new to xPAP. Which is why I asked you 'how new to xPAP' you are. If you started treatment very recently, then it looks like you are getting off to a very good start by asking all the right questions and I suggest you take the pressure changes slowly - would suggest changing max and min by no more than 1 cm each week or so. Hope it goes well.
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All my opinions are only as an xPAP user trying to help another xPAP user.
No suggestions I may make should be taken as professional advice.
If you have medical concerns please consult a doctor
My current pressures: Auto-ASV. EPAP 10-13. PS 3-10