Determining best pressure settings for APAP
I need help with the settings on my APAP, a REMstar APAP 550P. I had a recent sleep study because my previous mask was tearing up my nose bridge and leaking air into my left eye. Before the study I found a newer mask, probably my 6th since 2000, that seemed better, a ResMed Full Face Quattro FX, and it did well in the sleep study.
When I got a notice that my results were being sent to the equipment provider I went there and found out both the minimum and maximum settings were at 14. When I said something to the sleep specialist there he said he was also surprised because this basically turned it into a CPAP.
I stopped in to ask the sleep study director and he said the test showed I did fine with both set at 14. I got my new mask and settings on 11/19/13 and in the first 6 days my AHI (over last 7 days)rose from 5.5 to 6.9.
On 11/24/13 I revisited the sleep specialist and told him what was going on and that I knew how to change the settings. He thought it was worth a try. I probably overshot by raising the max to 16 but the AHI started dropping into the 2 - 3 range and large leaks dropped to 0% to 2%.
My concern is that my "90%" pressure has risen to almost 16. I have now lowered it to 15. I am worried that I do not understand the true meaning of the maximum setting. I thought it was the maximum amount of pressure the APAP would exert in an effort to prevent blockage of airflow. Therefore, it was an advantage to have it higher. Originally, I was at 17 in 2000.
I should state I know I am probably not supposed to be doing my own testing but in the last 2 years I have gone through 3 changes of doctors because the previous one left and each has their own ideas. I have been doing this for 13 years and feel I have learned some things and that I am not making radical changes.
I am sorry for giving you my life story but I felt it was important to know the "backstory".
When I got a notice that my results were being sent to the equipment provider I went there and found out both the minimum and maximum settings were at 14. When I said something to the sleep specialist there he said he was also surprised because this basically turned it into a CPAP.
I stopped in to ask the sleep study director and he said the test showed I did fine with both set at 14. I got my new mask and settings on 11/19/13 and in the first 6 days my AHI (over last 7 days)rose from 5.5 to 6.9.
On 11/24/13 I revisited the sleep specialist and told him what was going on and that I knew how to change the settings. He thought it was worth a try. I probably overshot by raising the max to 16 but the AHI started dropping into the 2 - 3 range and large leaks dropped to 0% to 2%.
My concern is that my "90%" pressure has risen to almost 16. I have now lowered it to 15. I am worried that I do not understand the true meaning of the maximum setting. I thought it was the maximum amount of pressure the APAP would exert in an effort to prevent blockage of airflow. Therefore, it was an advantage to have it higher. Originally, I was at 17 in 2000.
I should state I know I am probably not supposed to be doing my own testing but in the last 2 years I have gone through 3 changes of doctors because the previous one left and each has their own ideas. I have been doing this for 13 years and feel I have learned some things and that I am not making radical changes.
I am sorry for giving you my life story but I felt it was important to know the "backstory".
