RE: Question About EPR with COPD
I'm in agreement with others saying leave well enough alone.
FWIW I've got COPD too. According to Disability judge, doctors report I've got severe COPD due to the impact on inability to work. And note that I've got Mixed Apnea using an ASV machine, so my settings don't exactly line-up with most of the general apnea population. Dave just had to be different.
If you feel OK with current settings you should be fine.
Mask Primer
Positional Apnea
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RE: Question About EPR with COPD
Thanks, Dave.
I think I'll leave well enough alone.
I can see you certainly have a lot on your "plate".
I wish you good luck and good breathing.
Take care friend.
RE: Question About EPR with COPD
Hi Upsman. Chart looks great and no changes are needed. With consideration to COPD, and higher EPR might allow the CPAP to do just a bit more of the effort of respiration for you. As EPR is increased, the difference between inhale and exhale pressure increases. This is like a limited bilevel in some ways.
Your treatment is great, but I would not hesitate to turn EPR up to 3 and see if it is more restful or not. At your current minimum pressure of 7, your bilevel pressures are 7/5. If you increase the EPR to 3, then your pressure will be 7/4.
RE: Question About EPR with COPD
Thanks for that info, Sleeprider.
I think I might give that minor adjustment a try. Doesn't seem like it would hurt anything. What would you suggest? A couple of weeks at this setting to notice a difference?
RE: Question About EPR with COPD
Upman, it's really simple. EPR makes breathing easier by relieving exhale pressure. Higher settings yield more relief. With COPD that can make a big difference in comfort. As you try it, observe any changes in event rates. Right now, you have essentially nothing going on, so a 1-cm relief in exhale pressure on an auto CPAP is not likely to change that, however if you find you are having more obstructive event, then the minimum pressure may need to increased by 1.0 to compensate. If you are having more CA events, then you may be sensitive to the pressure changes, and can easily revert to EPR 2 after giving 3 a fair shot for a week or so.
