I've been using an S8 elite for a few days now, and started using the EPR function as I also switched to nasal pillows and am feeling like I have to get used to the pressure all over again, which the EPR helps with. It would make sense to me, but is it common for your AHI to go up using this? I had an AHI of 8 the first two nights with it set on 1 and last night I had an 18 with it at 2.

I'm thinking once I'm used to the pressure again (only 8) I'll try to ween myself off the EPR.

BTW-My leak rate is 0 with the pillows.

_z


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"Try. Fail. Try again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett

It's certainly common to have to revisit the whole issue of leak control when you swap from a nasal mask to nasal pillows.

So, since your AHI has gone up and this often quite strongly corelated with leakage issues, I suggest make certain that you have an appropriate mask type setting in the S8, to ensure you are seeing realistic leakage data!

Cheers,

Bill

My previous mask was leaking like the titanic! But I didn't have a machine that would tell me how much. This one is telling me the pillows are an excellent fit.

I loosed the pillows last night and saw a leak rate of .06l/s. I was leaking a little, especially towards morning.

As of 4:30am when I woke up and checked my #s I had an AHI of 6. By 6:30 it had risen to 11. My machine is set for the correct mask. I'm thinking the increased leak rate was responsible along with the longer REM periods at that time. I opted to turn EPR off last night and ramped it up instead. I think that made all the difference between the AHI of 6 and of 18 the previous night. I'm still tired today, but I'm not cranky like I was yesterday.

It was also suggested I check the calibration of the machine. I'm probably going to make a simple manometer tomorrow to check it.

I can't wait to get the software, but it may be a while as it's coming from australia.


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"Try. Fail. Try again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett

With my S8, if I use EPR I need to up the pressure to keep the same 95% pressure as reported by ResScan ver 3.5.

violet wrote:

With my S8, if I use EPR I need to up the pressure to keep the same 95% pressure as reported by ResScan ver 3.5.

You shouldn't be upping your tritated pressure when using EPR!  The inhale pressure will still be correct for your  needs!

Cheers,

Bill

I tried EPR when I first started on CPAP. I found that at my low pressure I did better without it. The pressure changes messed with my breathing rhythm.

Correct me if I am wrong, BillBolton, but couldn't using EPR which lowers your pressure on exhalation, also cause a somewhat slower response time to an event and thus allow for a higher AHI??


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

CrohnieToo wrote:

couldn't using EPR which lowers your pressure on exhalation, also cause a somewhat slower response time to an event and thus allow for a higher AHI??

There is no evidence in the literature that I am aware of which indicates that obstructive events occur during exhalation.  Obstructive events are associated with inhalation and EPR only reduces the flow rate during exhaltion, restoring the set (tritated) pressure for inhalations.

So, there is no simple reason that there would be a slower response time to an event or direct impact on AHI per se.

On the other hand, there is good evidence in the literature that for a non-trivial number of individuals, increasing their pressure setting above the tritated level indicated by the PSG (or whatever) may induce central apneas.

Cheers,

Bill