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Prescribed manual pressure setting vs Auto
#1
Prescribed manual pressure setting vs Auto
3 months into CPAP - Philips Respironics DreamStation Auto. Pretty good results but AHI over 5 - not consistently great. I stumbled across this fantastic website and youtube videos a week ago; realized machine was set to manual modes. I changed all to Auto, increased upper pressure limit to 7 from 6 and have slept amazingly now for several days (7-9 hours, AHI around 3)! I called DME company; I was informed they were going to remotely change it back to original settings because my primary care doc prescribed a manual setting of 6. They would never have looked at the settings if I would not have called. So now I have a call into my doctor. Either way I will change it back to Auto everything. I'm on a high deductible health plan and paying 100% out of pocket for this anyhow. I suspect my doctor did not realize he was asking the DME to dumb down the technology. It is cool to have Wi-Fi connectivity but I can also sync it to DreamMapper via BlueTooth on my smartphone (and remove the Wi-Fi card). Knowing that purchase from a DME would actually be a hassle I could have gone the online/craiglist/etc route and been in better shape already/maybe spent less too. Any similar stories?
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#2
RE: Prescribed manual pressure setting vs Auto
Welcome to the forum. Plenty of DME horror stores to read here, and having your doctor change the prescription is the most sane approach. Download #SleepyHead, and you will be amazed at how much data is really available to you. Your machine is actually available on Amazon for about $400, so I hear you when you say, "if I'd known".

If you want any input on cutting the AHI further, the links in my signature show how to organize and post #Sleepyhead data, and the third links can help you to interpret it.
Sleeprider
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www.ApneaBoard.com

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INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#3
RE: Prescribed manual pressure setting vs Auto
Hi JT01,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Good luck to you with your CPAP therapy.
trish6hundred
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#4
RE: Prescribed manual pressure setting vs Auto
See if your machine can change to a setting of Airplane Mode (or turn off WiFi, etc.)). If yes, that will turn off the modem and I believe that the DME can't change anything then.
                                                                                                                          
Note: I'm an epidemiologist, not a medical provider. 
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#5
RE: Prescribed manual pressure setting vs Auto
With the Dreamstation you can turn the modem and wifi off in the Patient Mode, independently of each other in " My Setup".
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#6
RE: Prescribed manual pressure setting vs Auto
I think you are just excited and overreacting. It's ok!! It's thrilling when you know you can take the mystery out of medical equipment. No need to even call your doctor - just leave a message that you increased your bottom number to 7 and are sleeping and breathing much better than at 6. Call the DME and tell them that no changes are to be made remotely without notifying you first. Next time you make changes, keep them to yourself and share directly with your doctor. Life will be easier then.

Doctors vary, but I brought some of the Sleepyhead reports with me and at least the PA liked seeing the data and KNOWING that I know what I'm doing. I was given some parameters (i.e. if I have to raise above 12.6, then I should call them).
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#7
RE: Prescribed manual pressure setting vs Auto
You are the one who is in charge. If you learn and take control of your equipment and condition it will help you a lot. Your doctor can work with you and help. This forum can and will help.

I have made many changes to my settings after learning more. At time I have backtracked to an earlier setting. It has improved my life.

Be smart and read then Sleep-well

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#8
RE: Prescribed manual pressure setting vs Auto
Almost anytime you involve a doc or dme beyond the diagnosis and getting a machine you ask for trouble and sub par treatment IMO
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#9
RE: Prescribed manual pressure setting vs Auto
The Dreamstation modem is really easy to remove, it slides out the side, disconnect power first. Sleepyhead reads the data card, so you don't need Bluetooth on to use it, and the Phillips app that reads via Bluetooth is pretty much useless.

I'm planning on pulling the modem as soon as it converts from a rental to a purchase, insurance is paying for it now. The DME hasn't remotely changed any settings, but I've not told them about anything I've changed, because why would I do that? If I'd been paying out of pocket, I'd have gone the Craigslist route, I almost did that before I had insurance.

And my doctor is happy that I've been looking at the data.

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#10
RE: Prescribed manual pressure setting vs Auto
Doctors that support you in your learning about yourself, That is a keeper.

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