RE: New Member but not new to CPAP
(03-11-2017, 09:15 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: Looks great, and a few CA events when starting out are pretty normal, and are more a reflection of sleep disruption than a problem. Your ideal of using a minimum pressure of 6 looks like it will work fine. Go for comfort, whatever that is for you. Reading between the lines, your EPR level is at 3, so keep in mind the minimum pressure for the machine is 4.0 cm. As you reduce minimum pressure, you will also be reducing EPR at the low end of that setting. So if your minimum pressure is 6.0, your delivered pressures with EPR at 3 are 6/4, 7/4, 8/5. I recommend that if you select a minimum pressure of 6.0 that you also reduce EPR to 2.0 so it remains constant if your pressure need increase. It is the exhale pressure (EPAP) that resolves OA, and as you can see, at these low pressures EPAP will lag pressure increases.
Thanks Sleeprider, Yeah I figured the numbers were dialed pretty good with the OA's at 0.00 and thanks for the tip on the EPR. I think I am going to keep the current settings for at least 2 weeks to get a good data set. The sleep has been as restful as it was when I did the trial off of CPAP but I really understand the docs concerns if I am still having a significant number of apneas without it. I really don't want to wind up like I was in 2008 when I was diagnosed. I was miserable prior to treatment. I know this stuff works great and just want it dialed in just right.
RE: New Member but not new to CPAP
Hi GPLarge,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss.
Good luck to you as you continue your CPAP therapy.
trish6hundred
RE: New Member but not new to CPAP
Made a change to the EPR last night from 3 to 2. I left the pressures at 7 and 9. I know one night results aren't that great to go by for long term but I am going to keep it like this and see. The CA's went from an average of 13.6 (Low of 9 High of 18) to 2! Hypopneas remained the same at an average of 2. I have only had 2 OA's on one day since resuming treatment. I will keep an eye on my min/max pressures to gauge if I should try dropping to 6 on the low. the AHI went from an average of 2.38 (low of 1.97 high of 3.39) to the one night result of 0.55! Maybe having the EPR at 3 was allowing it to drop a hair too low although my apneas seem to CA in nature.
RE: New Member but not new to CPAP
EPR tends to encourage CA in sensitive individuals. Your improved results don't surprise me a bit, and as I said in my previous post, a high EPR at low pressure settings is less than ideal.
RE: New Member but not new to CPAP
(03-12-2017, 07:06 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: EPR tends to encourage CA in sensitive individuals. Your improved results don't surprise me a bit, and as I said in my previous post, a high EPR at low pressure settings is less than ideal.
Thanks Sleeprider, The one weird thing is last night I hit the max pressure of 9 but that was also when I was starting to wake up. Flow Limit and Mask pressure were also elevated which makes sense with the higher pressure.
screenshot-20170312-200936 by
Al Williams, on Flickr
RE: New Member but not new to CPAP
You know? I think that worked pretty good. Might just be good nuff!
RE: New Member but not new to CPAP
Yeah I will give it a good week or so to get more data but I'm happy with it so far. I have to thank all the members here for the support and knowledge. I was less interactive with my CPAP treatment the first go around (2008-2016), i.e. letting the doc set the pressures and not even bother to look at the results till my next appointment, but I am going to be much more active and .paying attention to MY results and treatment this time around.
RE: New Member but not new to CPAP
OK looks like the EPR change reduced the CA's quite well. AHI has been averaging <1 for the week. Next will be the chin strap when it comes in. Prior to my weight loss I never had a problem with mouth leaks. I am taking a guess at the leaks as my wife has said a couple times I had outh leaks and have had numerous mornings with a very dry mouth. The new pillow should be here tomorrow also.
RE: New Member but not new to CPAP
Good luck with the leaks. Looks like you have the rest of this all sussed out.
RE: New Member but not new to CPAP
You definitely need that chin strap. I'd be interested in seeing your leak graph after you start wearing it.
Sleepster
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