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Waking up gasping for air while using cpap machine

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itsdrew93 +0 points · over 5 years ago Original Poster

Thank you sierra ive turn back on ramp to auto put the ERP level to 3 but i put the pressure on 8 so it starts at 8 and it wasnt really comfortable for me put it back to 4 and kept the ERP level at 3 seems abit more comfortable gonna try it now see what its like. what is the ERP level even for lol dont have a clue what its for and thank you so much for helping me

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itsdrew93 +0 points · over 5 years ago Original Poster

What is the difference between ERP level 1,2 and 3 anyway what are the levels actually for like whats level 1 for then whats level 2 for and whats level 3 for lol just curious

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sleeptech +0 points · over 5 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

EPR lowers the pressure a little as you breathe out and raises it as you breathe in. The setting of 1, 2 or 3 controls how much it does this with 1 being the least and 3 being the most. It is designed purely as a comfort measure, but if used injudiciously can cause problems.

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itsdrew93 +0 points · over 5 years ago Original Poster

So now starting pressure is at 4 then when the machine detects me asleep it goes to 8 is that alot or is that why everytime i fall asleep i keep waking up or should that be fine

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Sierra +0 points · over 5 years ago Sleep Patron

Let me try and explain again. EPR stands for Expiratory Pressure Relief. It causes a reduction in the mask pressure when you breath out compared to when you breath in. The number is an approximate pressure reduction in cm of water pressure, often just called cm. Let me give an example:

If your therapy pressure is set at 8 cm, and you have EPR set at 3 cm and is turned on, then you will get 8 cm of pressure when you breath in. And you will get 5 cm (8 less 3) when you breath out. Now if you have a set pressure of 4 cm and and EPR of three, the EPR tries to reduce pressure to 1 cm on exhale. However, the machine is designed to never let pressure go below 4 cm. So in that situation the EPR does nothing. You will get 4 cm on inhale and exhale.

So if you set it up with the ramp in auto, a start pressure at 8 cm, and EPR at 3 for ramp only, it will go through this sequence. When you are still awake it will give you 8 cm on inhale, 5 cm on exhale. Most find that very comfortable. Then when you go to sleep, it will stop reducing the pressure on exhale. Most do not notice this change when they are asleep.

There is nothing magic about setting the ramp start pressure at 8 cm. If you find that too high, then try a ramp start pressure of 7 cm. Then it will do 7 cm on inhale, 4 cm on exhale, and then ramp up to a constant 8 cm when you go to sleep. The problem with setting the ramp start at 4 cm is that most people will find that too low, and feel like they are suffocating. I personally have a ramp start at 9 cm. I find that very comfortable, but everyone is different. Most with experience prefer a high pressure. A higher inhale pressure makes it easier to breathe.

Here is an example of how my machine works, as shown with SleepyHead. This is with an auto ramp, a ramp start of 9 cm, EPR at 3 cm, for ramp only, and a therapy pressure of a fixed 11 cm. You can see how mask pressure cycles between 9 cm and 6 cm for each inhale and exhale. Then when breathing becomes regular and it detects I am asleep (about where the green line is) the pressure ramps up from 9 cm to 11 cm, and then finally stops the reduction on exhale.

You asked whether 8 cm was a high pressure. My opinion is that it is a quite low pressure. Your machine has a maximum of 20 cm. Some machines go up to 25 cm. So if you think 8 cm is a lot, consider that some are using three times that amount.

Hope that helps some.

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itsdrew93 +0 points · over 5 years ago Original Poster

Thank you sierra and thank you everyone

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