[Pressure] Any way to work around lowest pressure setting?

[frankzzz]

Hi!

I've been using a CPAP machine for a bit more than 5 years now. I started with a pressure of 8 and after a few years, as I started losing weight, I had to lower the pressure little by little to stop getting central apneas. As soon as I get to 2-3% of them, I notice a huge, unpleasant difference.

While this has worked quite well for me, I've recently dropped to a pressure of 4, the lowest possible setting and guess who's back? Central apneas...

I've been searching around but haven't found a solution yet, has anyone here experienced this situation? What have you done to make it better?

Besides stopping weight loss of course

As a side note, I was also wondering if the most recent models that auto adapt and change pressure as needed could drop below 4?

Thanks!

[chill]

As far as I know, 4 is the lowest any of these machines can go regardless of settings. You might want to get another sleep test. It is possible that your apnea was solely caused by weight and that you have effectively cured yourself! Wouldn't that be nice?

Or you could stop with all of this exercise craziness, eat more junk food and keep your pressure up.

[kwhenrykerr]

As far as I know, 4 is the lowest any of these machines can go regardless of settings. You might want to get another sleep test. It is possible that your apnea was solely caused by weight and that you have effectively cured yourself! Wouldn't that be nice?

Or you could stop with all of this exercise craziness, eat more junk food and keep your pressure up.

I like the cured idea, great idea Chill.

[trish6hundred]

Hi frankzzz,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
I wouldn't think you would want to go below 4, that makes most people feel air-starved.
It seems to me like I have read somewhere that the DeVilbiss machines will go down to 3,.
Hang in there for more responses to your post and much success to you as you continue your CPAP therapy and CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss.

[frankzzz]

Thanks for your answers!

While I appreciate the idea that I could be cured, I'm still very sceptical about it as my doctor once prepared me to the fact that you rarely get out of this, but who knows!

Getting a test will be long, I might do a few nights without the machine and try to notice differences, positive or negative.

@trish, you are right, Devilbriss indeed goes all the way down to 3, I'll consider that machine should I still feel the need to lower the pressure instead of stoping, thanks!

[chill]

Yes, curing Sleep Apnea by losing weight seems to be a rather rare thing. But it could happen. What is your usual nightly AHI?

[frankzzz]

I range from 3 to 5-6. That seems low when I compare to others. When around 3 I feel somewhat rested but when it goes up to 5-6 it usually is coupled with central apneas and it isn't so fun anymore

Fun fact that's surely written somewhere else, having a steady routine with exercise as I get up has helped lately.