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+--- Thread: Long Time User...First Time 'Advanced Detail' User (/Thread-Long-Time-User-First-Time-Advanced-Detail-User)
RE: Long Time User...First Time 'Advanced Detail' User - RonWessels - 07-23-2013
It will be interesting to see what your doctor changes your prescription to, given you want an auto CPAP device. If it were me, I'd recommend pressure settings of 10 (min) to 20 (max) for the long term, but 10 (min) to 12 (max) until you get used to the device. It really is the case that you will eventually not notice the pressure. Meantime, the ramp feature is your friend. You can start with pressures as low as 4, and have them climb to your minimum setting in as long as 45 minutes (at least for PSR1 machines; I assume ResMed machines have similar settings). Eventually, you will probably find that a pressure of 4 is too low, and it feels like there's not enough air! When you want to try to stop using the ramp, simply turn on the machine and "force" the first two or three breaths, just like blowing up a balloon. At that point, the pressure will stabilize and breathing becomes easier.
RE: Long Time User...First Time 'Advanced Detail' User - sleepyhead2 - 08-04-2013
Thanks for that. My AHI is reducing night on night. I don't know what the AHI was on diagnosis to compare with what I am achieving now. I am finding after the initial 2 nights though that it is a struggle to breath when I put the machine in - it's like there isnt enough oxygen. Wondering if this could be harmful ? or is it just a good workout for the lungs ?
(07-23-2013, 05:42 PM)RonWessels Wrote: Be careful with an auto range of 4 - 20, particularly if your actual effective treatment pressure is 8 or higher.
If you look at the Philips Respironics article on [snip in order to post reply] Non-Responsive Apnea/Hypopnea[/url], you'll see that if the auto CPAP device detects apnea/hypopnea events that are not eliminated after a pressure increase of 3 cmH2O, it treats the events as "non-responsive" and decreases the pressure to "stabilize the airway".
In other words, if your pressure range lower limit is too low for effective treatment, it may be that the device never actually gets to a high enough pressure to treat your apneas/hypopneas!
RE: Long Time User...First Time 'Advanced Detail' User - DerekN - 08-04-2013
Its probably because you still need to get used to it....it took me a couple of weeks to be comfortable with my first one and it didn't have EPR as an option. It was set to a fixed pressure of 10cm which feels normal for me now but at first felt like an incredible amount of flow pressure which made me feel a bit claustrophobic. The EPR setting and ramp functions should help alleviate the problems of getting used to air being forced in to your airway.
RE: Long Time User...First Time 'Advanced Detail' User - sleepyhead2 - 08-07-2013
Derek, thanks - but I'm actually experiencing the opposite problem of that. When I put the machine in it feels like I'm not getting enough oxygen. It starts off at 4. First thing I did was switch off the ramp function but it still takes time to build up sufficient flow to where I am comfortable. I dread putting the machine in because I am not getting enough air. Was wondering if this is harmful.
(08-04-2013, 06:35 PM)DerekN Wrote: Its probably because you still need to get used to it....it took me a couple of weeks to be comfortable with my first one and it didn't have EPR as an option. It was set to a fixed pressure of 10cm which feels normal for me now but at first felt like an incredible amount of flow pressure which made me feel a bit claustrophobic. The EPR setting and ramp functions should help alleviate the problems of getting used to air being forced in to your airway.
RE: Long Time User...First Time 'Advanced Detail' User - big_dave - 08-08-2013
(08-07-2013, 03:46 PM)sleepyhead2 Wrote: Derek, thanks - but I'm actually experiencing the opposite problem of that. When I put the machine in it feels like I'm not getting enough oxygen. It starts off at 4. First thing I did was switch off the ramp function but it still takes time to build up sufficient flow to where I am comfortable. I dread putting the machine in because I am not getting enough air. Was wondering if this is harmful.
It's not actually harmful, but you won't get used to feeling air-starved. Most people need a minimum pressure of at least 6 to avoid feeling air-starved. I'm a big guy, and I'm uncomfortable with the pressure set any lower than 8.
Here are the instructions: http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-pressure/change-cpap-pressure-settings-adjusting-your-machine-with-a-clinician-setup-manual and http://www.apneaboard.com/resmed-s9-cpap-setup
RE: Long Time User...First Time 'Advanced Detail' User - sleepyhead2 - 08-11-2013
Thanks a million !! Much appreciated, Derek.
(08-08-2013, 12:42 AM)big_dave Wrote:(08-07-2013, 03:46 PM)sleepyhead2 Wrote: Derek, thanks - but I'm actually experiencing the opposite problem of that. When I put the machine in it feels like I'm not getting enough oxygen. It starts off at 4. First thing I did was switch off the ramp function but it still takes time to build up sufficient flow to where I am comfortable. I dread putting the machine in because I am not getting enough air. Was wondering if this is harmful.
It's not actually harmful, but you won't get used to feeling air-starved. Most people need a minimum pressure of at least 6 to avoid feeling air-starved. I'm a big guy, and I'm uncomfortable with the pressure set any lower than 8.
Here are the instructions:[Snip to post]