[Pressure] Reduced pressure to relieve lip leak

[dozydave]

I have been on CPAP for about 2 months now. After I started I noticed a definite increase in my daytime energy level so I think it's helping. I have adjusted really well to the nasal mask and actually look forward to going to bed now.

One of the problems I had was a really bad lip leak and dry mouth as a result. I really didn't want to resort to a FFM or chin strap so a few days ago I experimented by reducing my max pressure down to match my minimum pressure of about 6. I also wanted to see if my AHI would just as I assumed. Now, I no longer have the lip leak or dry mouth so I'm really happy with that.

I'm curious about a couple of things...as I have reduced my max pressure so it's constant, my S9 is now acting as a "CPAP" and not "APAP", right?

Also, why didn't my AHI jump when I reduced the pressure? Does anyone else get by with such a low constant pressure?

[PaytonA]

The answers to your questions are yes and yes. From what you have said, it sounds as if your system is acting as a constant pressure CPAP. If you are operating with your max and min pressure settings having the same value then your autoset is effectively a constant pressure CPAP. Yes, others seem to have gotten effective therapy with low pressures like yours.

Best Regards,

PaytonA

[surferdude2]

It somehow makes sense...it takes less constant pressure to hold an airway open and more to open a partially closed airway via dynamic pressure increasing from too low of a starting point. That only makes sense if your constant pressure (cpap mode) is somewhat higher than the minimum you were using when running in auto mode. Since that will depend on the mechanics of your particular restrictions, it may not work for you in the long term so enjoy the moment.

Best regards, Dude

[vsheline]

Also, why didn't my AHI jump when I reduced the pressure? Does anyone else get by with such a low constant pressure?

Hi dozydave, welcome to the forum!

When we have an overnight titration to find what pressure we need for effective treatment, we are usually asked to sleep flat on our back for at least part of the night, because flat on our back is usually the worst case position for obstructive sleep apnea, needing the highest pressure to prevent apneas, and the therapist wants to find a pressure high enough to handle all sleep positions.

However, some people have learned to never sleep on their back, so their titrated pressure might end up being higher than needed if they are always sleeping only on their side, for example.

Take care,
-- Vaughn

[archangle]

People can get hooked on "ventilators" that breathe for you full time. It's especially a problem in infants, but can happen in adults in some cases. You don't get put on a "ventilator" unless you are in really bad shape without one.

Consensus is that that CPAP doesn't do the same thing. The CPAP doesn't breathe for you, it just opens your airway. Also, you don't wear the CPAP all day long, so your brain and body have to keep breathing on their own for 16 hours a day.

However, you do get used to sleeping while being strangled while you have untreated apnea. You usually developed it slowly over many years. You sleep badly and suffer all kinds of health problems, but you do sleep. If you do CPAP for a while, your brain decides that being able to breathe in your sleep is a good thing and is less willing to let you sleep despite being strangled for a while. If you do CPAP for a long time and then quit suddenly, you will sleep very poorly until your brain readjusts to sleeping despite being strangled. I presume that in the end, you'll be no more uncomfortable or unhealthy than if you didn't do CPAP at all.

Also, for most of us, our apnea gets worse as we age. If you do CPAP for 5 years and then quit, your age related apnea will be 5 years older than it was when you started. Your apnea will probably be worse than it was when you first started.