Turned off EPR

[PaulaO2]

I thought I had already done this but while looking for something in the clinician menu, I saw it was still on. So, I turned it off.

Ramp has been off for a while.

The first night, I had a lot of problems with it. My ears closed and I had intense sinus pressure. Breathing out wasn't all that difficult although I did notice it was different.

The second night (last night) was better although my ears did close again. Could be coincidence but two nights in a row makes me think not.

The reason I considered turning it off is a while back, I was in a "discussion" and I heavy sighed through my nose. And had absolutely no air to breathe back in. It was maybe just two seconds but it was long enough to make me panic. The S9 is a lot more air tight than my S7 by a long shot. If the power went off, I barely noticed with the S7 but I am awake, gasping for air, the second the power goes off now. And my breathing forcefully out caused the EPR to do something I did not like.

When in the menu. I did not see any numbers. I can't remember what it said (full and manual maybe?) but I've never seen the EPR settings on the user menu.

[Rritch]

You can enable EPR in the user menu from the clinician menu. There are 3 levels of EPR 1-3 which equates to -1, -2, or -3 cmH20 pressure reduction during exhale.

[PaulaO2]

I went back to look.

My machine was set to Full Time and 3. It is now set to Off (with it on off, I could not access to EPR level, which makes sense.
EPR has Full Time, Off, and Ramp Only.
EPR Level has 1 - 3, Off, and Patient.

I am assuming that since mine was set to 3 and not Patient, that is why I saw no EPR on the user screen. How rude!

[Rritch]

I am pretty sure if it is off or if the level is set to anything besides patient it will NOT show up in the user menu.

[zonk]

I am pretty sure if it is off or if the level is set to anything besides patient it will NOT show up in the user menu.

Correct

[Sleepster]

I am assuming that since mine was set to 3 and not Patient, that is why I saw no EPR on the user screen. How rude!

But effective!

But seriously, why don't you try setting it at 2 or 1 for awhile, before you drop all the way to zero.

I have a BiPAP, so my pressure drops quite a bit when I exhale. I love it. I've thought about gradually raising the exhale pressure until it matches the inhale pressure (CPAP mode). But, I'm a chicken. My AHI has stabilized at 2 and I don't want to mess with success.

[JumpStart]

When my doc increased my pressures (as a test) to 10-20, I developed serious mask leaks at upper pressures. In dealing with those, I moved my EPR from 1 to Off, and learned a lot. Among other things, if your machine is not absolutely in tune with your exhale cycle, and is pumping out the maximum, there will be a greater absolute pressure when you begin to exhale (and your machine continues to blow) than is originally set, or so I believe. While this may or may not affect you therapeutically, it certainly can create leaks where there otherwise might be none, particularly if you are "on the edge". In my experience, it reduced leaks when I eliminated EPR.

[PaulaO2]

I don't have much problems with leaks. Like most folks, I have a built-in leak alarm laying next to me. LOL

If my ears bother me again tonight, I'll turn it back on but set it at 1 or 2, depending on how bad the ears are.

[shanzlik]

I tried mine at off, 3, 2, and 1 for 2-3 days each. I had the best AHI at 2, and it was comfortable, so that's where I left it.

I also had to go in and make mine accessible in the menu. It was set at 3 and the option to change it was hidden when I got it (by either the factory default or through setup by the DME, I don't know which one).

[PollCat]

Having slept for more than 15 years without EPR, I never turned it on when I got my new S9. Does it really make that big of a difference?