[Pressure] Is my pressure set right on AirSense 10

[dymcfry]

           
I've been on cpap for a little over a year, the settings were setup with EPR 3 and min pressure 6 max 18. That wasn't working for me I could barely breathe so I've shut off EPR after the first month and been trying to increase the min pressure to find the sweet spot but I don't feel "rested" I'm not sure what else I can try. I originally had a Vitera full face and that was making the bridge of my nose irritated so I switched to the Evora, and that host connection keeps getting disconnected when I turn over. I also tried the AirFit F20 full face mask and it was working okay but it felt like the air I was letting out wasn't being removed so it felt like I was breathing in my own co2. So I recently switched to a Philips dreamwear for the last 10 days I like this mask so far but I don't feel like I'm getting great sleep the other night I woke up with pressure from when the machine went to 14 and it felt like a jet engine was blowing in my face so it definitely woke me up, I set the Response setting to Standard which is maybe related instead of Soft? My doctor is booked out for 3-4 months in advance so that's why I'm trying to get help from strangers on the internet while I wait for a slot with my doctor.

Any help on what I can try and tweak and work on would be really appreciated, I'm 29 and during the sleep study had a AHI of 19.6 per hour.

[staceyburke]

What EPR is Exhale Pressure Relief so it reduces your exhale not the inhale.  The inhale is the min number and if you do not feel like you have enough air continue to raise it until you are comfortable.  But you have a leak problem and you can not raise it if you can't stop the large leaks.

Your flow limits are very high and  we use EPR to control them.  You need to try using EPR again.

My suggestions

EPR full time
EPR 3

Give it a try and post tomorrow.

[dymcfry]

Thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly! I will set those settings, but I still have a question about the Response setting. I think I may have been confusing the way I worded it originally - the machine has the following under the "Comfort" options:

Response - Standard or Soft
Ramp Time
EPR - On/Off
EPR Type - Full Time
EPR Level - 1,2,3

So when I mentioned "I set the Response setting to Standard which is maybe related instead of Soft?" that's what I was referring to. Do you have any suggestions on what to set this to with the other recommendations you mentioned above?

Thank you again for the help!

[Deborah K.]

I suggest that you set your starting pressure to 10.4.  That's your median pressure, and a good starting point.

Most folks find that Standard response is best.

Stacey is right that you need EPR 3.

Your Oscar chart would be easier to read if you eliminate the calendar, and only show down to the very bottom of the Flow Limits portion.  Also, we only need to see the right most chart, not the other two.

[HalfAsleep]

You need to address those leaks! They greatly affect treatment, since unit pressure has to rise to compensate for lack of pressure in your airway/mask caused by the mask leaking. And, yep, this is exhausting!