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Do these pressure changes make sense? - Printable Version

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Do these pressure changes make sense? - Dawei - 03-23-2012

Do I wish I had held out to try to get a script for an S9 AutoSet instead of the Elite? You bet!
Right now, I am using an Autoset on loan from my DME (with script from the doc). He ordered the pressure range as 8-18. The first week, Mar. 7-13, the pressure readings were: Median 16.2; 95th percentile 17.9, Max. 18.
Comparing those numbers with the most recent 7-days, Mar. 16-22, the pressure numbers were: Median 13.2; 95th percentile 15.6; Max. 17.5.

While it seems reasonable that the body changes over time and thus it's possible that PAP pressure needs may also change, I'm wondering if that type of change can happen this quickly?

Do others on AutoSet see this swing in pressures over a similar period of time? If not, what do you think might be occurring in my case?

Finally, I should ask which, if any, of these three numbers is of primary importance in measuring pressure?




RE: Do these pressure changes make sense? - jdireton - 03-23-2012

(03-23-2012, 08:27 AM)Dawei Wrote: He ordered the pressure range as 8-18.
Mar. 7-13 Median 16.2; 95th percentile 17.9, Max. 18.
Mar. 16-22 Median 13.2; 95th percentile 15.6; Max. 17.5.

This is the same as the leakage I already replied to. The big change here is that, for Mar. 7-13, you were at the maximum setpoint for your machine. This skews the statistical value of the numbers, you'll never get any higher because that's all the machine will give.

That said, your second week numbers didn't hit the maximum. Sounds like you use Rescan, so I'd just keep monitoring it. If your maximum hits 18 frequently, it likely time to speak with your doctor about raising it.


RE: Do these pressure changes make sense? - CHanlon - 03-23-2012

My numbers (on the same machine) vary like that from night to niight, and I've got nearly 2 years of data to look at. I'm set a bit higher then you - 12 to 20.


RE: Do these pressure changes make sense? - Netskier - 03-25-2012

(03-23-2012, 08:27 AM)Dawei Wrote: Do I wish I had held out to try to get a script for an S9 AutoSet instead of the Elite? You bet!
Right now, I am using an Autoset on loan from my DME (with script from the doc). He ordered the pressure range as 8-18. The first week, Mar. 7-13, the pressure readings were: Median 16.2; 95th percentile 17.9, Max. 18.
Comparing those numbers with the most recent 7-days, Mar. 16-22, the pressure numbers were: Median 13.2; 95th percentile 15.6; Max. 17.5.

While it seems reasonable that the body changes over time and thus it's possible that PAP pressure needs may also change, I'm wondering if that type of change can happen this quickly?

Do others on AutoSet see this swing in pressures over a similar period of time? If not, what do you think might be occurring in my case?

Finally, I should ask which, if any, of these three numbers is of primary importance in measuring pressure?

I think that is the wrong question. The purpose of PAP is to reduce obstructive apneas and hypopneas, so I suggest running Sleepyhead and looking at those two, plus your leakage, and trying to first minimize the obstructive apneas, and secondarily to minimize the hypopneas. I did this with only cursory attention to the leakage numbers.

I found that if my mask did not leak while I was awake sitting on the side of the bed during a maskfit test (a Resmed test mode), that all of my leakage values were low in the morning on Sleepyhead. I did have to use a bandaid to keep the mask from cutting the bridge of my nose.

This got the OSA low and the hypopneas too, and then I began reducing the mask tension to get more comfort.