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+--- Thread: [Diagnosis] How are my numbers looking (/Thread-Diagnosis-How-are-my-numbers-looking)
How are my numbers looking - indigonation - 03-25-2023
Hello folks - Do my numbers look okay. Please let me know.
I use an APAP machine. Pressure range of 4.0-6.0, with EPR set to 3.0. Should I change/tweak anything?
Thank you kindly.
RE: How are my numbers looking - staceyburke - 03-25-2023
Where you are it is how you feel - If you feel good I would not worry about it. But just to let you know a little about your machine.
Min is the inhale number - yours is 4 and that is the absolute lowest the machine can go.
Max is the highest the machine will allow the pressure to build to. Yours is 6 and is topped out many times.
EPR is Exhale pressure Relief which subtracts from the Min to make it easier to breath out. It also helps with flow limits which are apnea just like O and H events but not counted in the AHI.
With your settings the EPR is doing nothing so the flow limits are not being addressed. Min 4 -EPR 3 is still 4 - the lowest the machine can go.
If you want you could try these settings see if you feel any better. Your numbers can't get much better only how do you feel.
Max 9
Min 7
EPR 3
That would make your inhale pressure 7, your exhale pressure 4 and the highest it can go is 9.
RE: How are my numbers looking - indigonation - 03-26-2023
Thank you @staceyburke - it is very insightful and useful.
One follow up question please - if I increase the max pressure, will the machine then top out many times at that increased pressure? So like, currently as you rightly pointed out that the APAP machine is topped out many times at 6 - will it then start to top out many times at 8 or 9 if I set those, OR, it will only increase upto the required pressure (lets say if it is 7) even though I have set the max to 9. Just worried that if I increase the max pressure, I will then start to receive air at 9 pressure which is not necessary when the required presssure could be just 7.
RE: How are my numbers looking - Dormeo - 03-26-2023
Just a few thoughts to add to staceyburke's. While flow limitations still allow air through your airway -- unlike obstructive apneas -- they can keep some people from getting the best sleep possible. EPR is the best way to try to address FLs, so there is value beyond comfort to setting your minimum to 7 so you can get your full EPR all night. You may see your FLs go down, and that might give you sounder sleep.
I don't see a reason for you to allow your pressure to go higher than 7, though. Your obstructive events are well controlled with low pressures.
So I would suggest setting you min at 7 and your max at 7 and your EPR at 3. It's an experiment, so come back and tell us how it went.