Need help with setup

[Choppedliving]

I did a sleep study overnight and I need help with my setup. I got a resmed s9 from my father after he passed away. I believe the doctor said my prescription was 17/30. Does that sound right? Please any help would be awesome. I recently had a baby and money is tight. I have a brand new machine from my father, but they wouldn't use it. They want me to buy another machine. Just for them to make more money.

[justMongo]

17/30 does not make sense. First, which S9 do you have? Look near the start button for a name like Autoset or VPAP S or Elite or...

Also, it would really help to know what the Rx said both in terms of pressure and also type of machine -- words like bilevel, or Auto, or CPAP.

Your father's former machine may not be right for your condition.

[Choppedliving]

I have a s9 elite. I found my paperwork from last year. It recommends bi level positive airway pressure therapy at 17/13 cm H20

[Crimson Nape]

I have a s9 elite. I found my paperwork from last year. It recommends bi level positive airway pressure therapy at 17/13 cm H20

I'm sorry to say but the CPAP you listed is incapable of producing those numbers. A S9 Elite can only provide a maximum exhale pressure reduction of 3 cm below the inhale pressure. Since your pressure is high enough, I'm not going to talk about the absolute minimum pressures of this machine.

The closest you will be able to get to that setting is to set your pressure to 17cm and set the EPR (exhale pressure reduction) to 3. This will give you a 17/14 pressure setting. If you need the 13 setting for exhale, then you will need to set the pressure to 16cm with the EPR still at 3. This would then provide a delivery pressure of: 16/13 cm.

The pressures you list require a bilevel machine. Based on the manufacturer, the trade names for this style machine are VPAP or BiPAP. A bilevel differs from a CPAP machine by allowing for pressures higher than 20cm and pressure differentials greater than 3cm. You needs fall into the later category.

I hope this may help.

[trish6hundred]

Hi Choppedliving,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Hang in there for more responses to your post and much success to you with your CPAP therapy and getting your machine set up.

[kaiasgram]

Choppedliving, your prescription calls for a bilevel machine -- that is a machine that allows you to set the inhale pressure (IPAP) separately from the exhale pressure (EPAP). Your Rx is for IPAP 17 and EPAP 13.

Your Elite machine is a single, fixed-pressure CPAP machine. You cannot set separate IPAP and EPAP pressures. However, your machine does have an exhale relief feature (EPR), which allows the pressure to drop up to 3cms below your prescribed pressure when you exhale. By setting EPR to 3, you can come fairly close to your prescription settings. (A bilevel machine does have some additional settings that can make the transition between inhale and exhale pressures more comfortable and better synchronized with your own natural breathing rhythm -- this can be helpful when you need to be on a high pressure, but you may or may not need these extra features.)

The good news is that you have a data capable machine, so you can download and use SleepyHead to see how well the machine is controlling your apnea, and to guide any fine-tuning you may need to do with the settings. You may actually be OK with the Elite. Definitely worth a try. You don't need "their" permission to get started with your therapy, you can just get started.

[Choppedliving]

Thank you all for the great and quick responses. I will set up the machine and start of with a 17/14 I guess and go from there. Maybe I will have to adjust it to a 16/13 setting. How do I go about using the sleepyhead feature? Thanks again for all the great helpful information.

[cate1898]

Welcome to ApneaBoard Choppedliving! Hope your therapy goes well and congrats on the new baby!!

[OpalRose]

Choppedliving,
You can't set an IPAP and EPAP on your straight pressure machine. You will have to set it at one pressure of 17. Then go into EPR menu and set it to 3. This will give you pressure relief of 3 which will equal 14.

Download sleepyhead software, see link top of page.

[Crimson Nape]

Thank you all for the great and quick responses. I will set up the machine and start of with a 17/14 I guess and go from there. Maybe I will have to adjust it to a 16/13 setting. How do I go about using the sleepyhead feature? Thanks again for all the great helpful information.

Here is the link to the SleepyHead files. Please read the complete page because it contains some very important and helpful information to get SleepyHead up and running.

SleepyHead Link:
http://www.sleepfiles.com/SH2/

This is the same link as at the top of the webpage.

Good Luck!