Extremely rapid breathing on bi-level (28 resp. rate)

[Too Sleepy]

Update:

I had an EKG done today and I was told that the results were totally normal. Had blood tests done and a urine sample and will hear back about results tomorrow.

Pulse rate was quite high when measured at the doctor's office (120). I wonder what this could be.

[Sleeprider]

With the understanding that this is completely experimental, maybe we can try some alternative trigger sensitivity settings. I very rarely suggest a less-sensitive trigger (low), but it might help to slow down the inspiration trigger in your case. Give it a try and don't hesitate to change back if it gets uncomfortable.

[Crimson Nape]

This is a passing thought, but wouldn't increasing the Cycle setting prolong the inhalation phase? This would increase tidal volume and reduce the respiration rate.

-- Red

[Too Sleepy]

Good idea. I'm going to put cycle on high, and trigger on low, as Sleeprider suggested. 

Thank you both. I'll update tomorrow about how it went.

[Sleeprider]

Cycle on high makes the transition from inspiration to expiration pressure faster. I was kind of holding that in my hip pocket for the moment so-as to try one change at a time. I'm actually thinking it might be better to slow that transition using a "lower" sensitivity to cycle might be more helpful in mitigating the tachypenea than a higher sensitivity setting which would cut inspiration time. I really prefer to do this slowly enough to differentiate the changes in settings, mainly because we don't frequently try to alter the respiration rate using trigger/cycle sensitivity, and the feature is not well documented for this use. We usually use trigger sensitivity for individual with central apnea and cycle for those with COPD needing longer expiration. I called this change "experimental", and make no representations they will work better or worse for the presented condition, but I am adamant that we should only make one change at a time.

[Gideon]

Please|, only one change at a time as Sleeprider suggests above!!!

[Crimson Nape]

I also concur with both Sleeprider and Gideon on their recommendation to only modify one parameter at a time. By changing several parameters at once and the results aren't successful, you won't know which modification caused the failure. My post was intended as a Plan B consideration, if Plan A doesn't work.

-- Red

[Too Sleepy]

Hi all,

Thank you for warning me about how only one change should be made at a time. I didn't see your messages before bed but fortunately I came to my senses and realised that too many changes at once will complicate things. So fortunately all I did was change the trigger setting. Trigger was set to low and cycle was set to medium. Easybreathe was on. IPAP 12 and EPAP 9. 

The respiratory rate is much better now, however some rapid breathing still occurred. Flow rate looks like there's flow limitation too. Maybe the respiratory rate can be further improved by setting the cycle to low, as Sleeprider suggested. Not sure how to fix the cut-off peaks because without a high trigger setting I get central apneas when the PS is higher than 3.

First screenshot is a section where the respiratory rate is better. Second screenshot is where the rapid breathing pattern occurred again.

[gainerfull]

If you zoom out is this rapid breathing during REM?

[Crimson Nape]

A breath is counted each time the flow rate crosses the zero line. Because your waveform is oscillating on the zero line, is the reason it is reporting a high respiration rate. It should be considered like a false positive.

- Red