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CPAP to APAP Transition - Printable Version

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RE: CPAP to APAP Transition - Gideon - 09-30-2020

This is why we want to see the charts. Flucuating pressures usually means your sleep is disturbed, not as bad as if your AHI was elevated but still disturbed. The idea with auto is to have you in a fairly narrow band of pressure without quick changes. In other words similar to a fixed pressure but with room to operate.


RE: CPAP to APAP Transition - bluetec - 10-01-2020

(09-30-2020, 07:19 PM)bonjour Wrote: This is why we want to see the charts.  Flucuating pressures usually means your sleep is disturbed, not as bad as if your AHI was elevated but still disturbed.  The idea with auto is to have you in a fairly narrow band of pressure without quick changes. In other words similar to a fixed pressure but with room to operate.

Well, I forgot to put the damn SD card back in the machine, so all I have to report is what was on the machine this morning and my observations. I am sorry about that.

Pressure= 16.4
Leak= 1 L/min
AHI= 0.4
Total AI= 0.3
Central AI= 0.0

Pressure recorded must be max because currently the machine pressure is set to 14.6-->20.0.   Good news is AHI is almost one-third that of the previous night (1.14) and max pressure was reduced to 16.4 from 18.14.  All this is based solely on setting EPR to 3 from 1.  The bad news is that although I spent close to 10 hours in bed, I didn't get a lot of beneficial sleep. My airway was collapsing on exhale and I spent the night waking, clearing my throat and swallowing hard to keep things clear. So all the numbers are going in the right direction but I need to make a change for tonight.  I now understand what Stacey was saying about good numbers aren't everything... comfort is most important.  
Because I effectively lowered my min pressure 2 cm's by the EPR change I think I need more pressure... either that or I could set EPR to 2 and collect full data tonight, hoping my breathing is improved. I don't know which is the better choice, but I do need to make a change. Please take a look and feel free to make any recommendations.


RE: CPAP to APAP Transition - Gideon - 10-01-2020

Based on your description. EPR did what it was supposed to do. Leave EPR=3 and bump up min pressure by 1. Your numbers were generally good that generally means that most can handle the lower pressure associated with the EPR change, apparently not you. Not a problem and I did realize that was a possibility.


RE: CPAP to APAP Transition - bluetec - 10-02-2020

(10-01-2020, 11:11 AM)bonjour Wrote: Based on your description.  EPR did what it was supposed to do.  Leave EPR=3 and bump up min pressure by 1.  Your numbers were generally good that generally means that most can handle the lower pressure associated with the EPR change, apparently not you.  Not a problem and I did realize that was a possibility.

Fred,
First session (5h35m) was almost flawless with most activity happening during a two hour stretch in the second. Along with the regular full chart, I've included a zoomed snapshot of the second session. All in all it was a very good night. Normal breathing was almost effortless all night, although I did have some swallowing and throat clearing toward the very end. Major improvement overall. Since I am so close to my old CPAP pressure of 15.8 I am tempted to try that. Currently at 15.6. Either that or just leave it alone and average the data over a few days. Thoughts? Thanks for getting me to a good place.  John.


RE: CPAP to APAP Transition - bluetec - 10-03-2020

(10-01-2020, 11:11 AM)bonjour Wrote: Based on your description.  EPR did what it was supposed to do.  Leave EPR=3 and bump up min pressure by 1.  Your numbers were generally good that generally means that most can handle the lower pressure associated with the EPR change, apparently not you.  Not a problem and I did realize that was a possibility.
Min pressure raised to 15.8 from 15.6 with EPR = 3. Very good numbers although I am still "snoring" on exhale and my soft palate/uvula is swollen. This seems to happen most during the last 1/2 of my sleep. I included a session 2 only chart showing the pressure rise vs. FL.  For the past two nights using EPR=3 and min pressures of 15.6 & 15.8 the pressure curve has been very flat, with delta between min and max being close to 1 cm.  Any idea how to stop the exhale snoring? Cheers, John.