10-09-2022, 06:04 PM
ResMed AS11 “Soft” setting
This review of the "Soft" setting for the ResMed AS11. It is more of my experience with the "Soft" setting and how it helped me in my therapy. I hope others will add to this review as I am interested with how it affected others. Hopefully the soft setting is not a gimmick and is a beneficial change to the AS10 algorithm.
History: When the AS11 arrived I checked the settings and it was setup, pressure 4-20 EPR-3. My prescription called for 4-16 EPR-3. So I changed the pressure to my old AS10 setting of 5-9 EPR-3 and set the "soft" setting.
Observations: First night was one of the best nights in a long time. As the week went on every night got better and better. At the end of 2 weeks, I checked the SD card in OSCAR and this is what I found.
1. The first night the pressure was 5-9 as set by me in the beginning.
2. The second night the pressure had been changed by my DME to the prescription. I was unaware of this change and continued for 2 weeks at the prescription pressure.
3. For this 2 week period my sleep was the best, leaks were down, pressure stayed low and my AHI was significantly lower.
4. Here are the numbers for the last month on the AS10 and the following month on the AS11.
AS10 Pressure 5-9 EPR-3. AS11 Pressure 4-16 EPR-3 (Soft Setting)
AHI = .69. AHI = .32
OA = .18 OA = .05
HA = .31 HA = .15
CA = .20 CA = .12
RERA = .07 RERA = .08
95% Leak = 3.60 95% Leak = 2.40
Avg. Pressure = 7.55 Avg. Pressure = 5.49
95% Pressure = 8.74 95% Pressure = 8.56
The low setting of 4 was very comfortable AND no "air starvation". How could that be? I do not know the physics behind "air starvation" but the low pressure was very comfortable. The pressure stayed low for most of the night.
The high pressure rarely went above 7. Of course the leaks (which was my primary arousal factor) went down and sleep quality improved.
Bottom line: I stayed asleep longer with fewer arousals, lower pressure meant less air in my stomach and less leaks, less leaks meant less dry mouth. To me, the "Soft" setting is a game changer and I have no plans to change settings away from my prescription.
I welcome others to chime in and give their experiences.
History: When the AS11 arrived I checked the settings and it was setup, pressure 4-20 EPR-3. My prescription called for 4-16 EPR-3. So I changed the pressure to my old AS10 setting of 5-9 EPR-3 and set the "soft" setting.
Observations: First night was one of the best nights in a long time. As the week went on every night got better and better. At the end of 2 weeks, I checked the SD card in OSCAR and this is what I found.
1. The first night the pressure was 5-9 as set by me in the beginning.
2. The second night the pressure had been changed by my DME to the prescription. I was unaware of this change and continued for 2 weeks at the prescription pressure.
3. For this 2 week period my sleep was the best, leaks were down, pressure stayed low and my AHI was significantly lower.
4. Here are the numbers for the last month on the AS10 and the following month on the AS11.
AS10 Pressure 5-9 EPR-3. AS11 Pressure 4-16 EPR-3 (Soft Setting)
AHI = .69. AHI = .32
OA = .18 OA = .05
HA = .31 HA = .15
CA = .20 CA = .12
RERA = .07 RERA = .08
95% Leak = 3.60 95% Leak = 2.40
Avg. Pressure = 7.55 Avg. Pressure = 5.49
95% Pressure = 8.74 95% Pressure = 8.56
The low setting of 4 was very comfortable AND no "air starvation". How could that be? I do not know the physics behind "air starvation" but the low pressure was very comfortable. The pressure stayed low for most of the night.
The high pressure rarely went above 7. Of course the leaks (which was my primary arousal factor) went down and sleep quality improved.
Bottom line: I stayed asleep longer with fewer arousals, lower pressure meant less air in my stomach and less leaks, less leaks meant less dry mouth. To me, the "Soft" setting is a game changer and I have no plans to change settings away from my prescription.
I welcome others to chime in and give their experiences.
CPAP is a journey like “The Wizard of Oz”. It’s a long slow journey. You will face many problems and pick up many friends along the way. Just because you reach the poppies, it doesn’t mean you are in Kansas.
