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I've been really tired lately but can't put my finger on anything that's going wrong. I'm waking up 3 or 4 times although I get back to sleep.

I know it's wrong but I've been tempted to increase my pressure myself to see if it would help. I don't have time to travel through to Edinburgh for someone to increase it for me. I've gained weight and that probably hasn't helped so I'm on a diet.

Has anyone else tinkered with their pressure. I've looked at the settings and I'm set to 15.2 on my Resmed S8. I don't know where this sits in the grand scheme of things but it doesn't feel terribly high these days.

I think my mask is alright. There doesn't appear to be any leakage. Love to hear what settings others are set to or if you've increased pressure yourself.

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you are not an expert

try the hospital and ask for help and would they increase the pressure and tell them why 

Nice tone, thanks for trying to put me straight

99 said:

you are not an expert

try the hospital and ask for help and would they increase the pressure and tell them why 

You can change the settings yourself, and when I had an S8 I did change mine, and the ramp settings. I did speak to the sleep unit first to check what I was doing would not put me at risk: some say having an incorrect pressure can cause an Apneoa, but as with everything even the experts have a degree of trial and error, and things change over time. As long as it is within a same tolerance it should be ok. Some other suggestions::

Rather than change the pressure, try changing the ramp time.

Check/ Replace the hose.

Check/Change your filters regularly, it does make a big difference.

Consider a humidifier, it didn't work for me, but I know people it has made a big difference for.

If you use a nasal mask, try a full face - and vice versa.

Make sure you go to sleep tired, have the room as dark as you can. Don't have caffeine or cigs (if you smoke) less than an hour before sleep.

Get the room and yourself to a comfortable temperature : too hot or too cold always disrupts sleep.

You may have tried some or all of the above already - if you have, bite the bullett and make the trip - or try finding a more local centre/unit that would do if for you.

Hope things have improve ( or have improved by the time you see this.)

Maria.

Where possible, it's always best not to change your own pressure without liaising with your sleep clinicians.  As Maria pointed out, too high a pressure can actual cause apnoeas (central ones).  If the pressure's too low then it won't be treating us.  Another contraindication is that too high a pressure can cause pneumothorax (collapsed lung) or burst ear drums.  Whilst rare, this can happen so always best to play safe.

15.2 is a fairly high pressure Will so I would definitely be guided by your hospital (sorry I missed your original post but I've been ill).  My pressures run at 17-20 which is also high, and my sleep consultant is looking into finding out why.  All of this would be easier for us if everyone was supplied with a CPAP where they could check their own AHI results and see how well they are being treated {sigh}.  I had to buy my own machine for this at my previous hospital, but get one supplied at the new one.

As most machines go up to 20 I'd be going back to the clinic and asking for a review. You may be waking due to the pressure being too high, or being too low, or for many other reasons.

As Kath has mentioned, if everyone was issued autoset machines which reported on AHI and apnoeas every night I reckon more people would be satisfied and better treated by their therapy!

Good luck

Do you review your data with ResScan?

Then you could see what happens at those times when you wake up.

It is useless to increase your pressure, when your AHI is low already.

I needed a new cushion so I called the clinic. My machine was due to be PAT tested and they said I would be quicker coming in for a cushion and having them test my unit. Duly did that on Friday and mentioned that I was tired. Without batting an eyelid the techie increased me to 16. Felt much better over the last two days. Honestly wish I had trusted my instincts.

Good to hear just a small increase has made all the different Will.  If you do manage to lose any of the excess weight you may even be able to go back to a lower setting.  If on the other hand you need to keep  increasing pressure in the future, then BiPAP may be a good option if your clinic supply them.

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