AirCurve VAuto mode not reaching max IPAP

[Walla Walla]

Just to follow up on the VAUTO not responding to events. I went back and double checked my charts with high pressure. EPAP never would raise above 18.54cm in response to an apnea event. It would rise above 18.54 in response to flow limitations. This makes three VAUTO's I've seen this on now. So this leads me to believe this was built into the algorithm. Something to remember in the future.

[holden4th]

A chin strap will tend to pull your jaw back which will further restrict air flow and it does not prevent your chin drooping towards your chest. (If someone needs to have mouth to mouth resuscitation the chin needs to be lifted to open the airway. If not the airway is compromised).

I tried a chinstrap to reduce OAs with virtually no effect. The soft cervical collar was a revelation.

[ardenum]

time for surgery mate.

[Sleeprider]

Before surgery, just try the soft cervical collar. It's inexpensive and works to not only keep your airway open by preventing positional apnea, but it gently applies pressure to the back of the jaw which prevents leaks and avoids the problem of the jaw dropping back (like with a chin-strap) which further restricts the airway. You can call me bad names if you try it, and it doesn't cut your AHI at least in half.

[yrnkrn]

whats are the "signs" that would indicate that I am tucking my chin.  I know that with high pressure, I have to keep the straps very tight o prevent leakage.  tight straps tend to pull the chin down.  I do wear a CPAP cap, with chin strap to keep my mouth closed at night.

An IP HD security camera can be purchased for about $30. Connect it to your computer, focus on you head, start recording software. In the morning, review the video together with the SleepyHead report and you'll know exactly what's going on.

[tonyzarger]

Well all of you observations seem reasonable.  I went back through my notes, and I have seen that as my "prescribed" pressure was increased, I had to make the headstraps and chin strap tighter to prevent leaks (mask and mouth).  I thought this was only pulling my jaw back, so I switched from a chinstrap to a PAP Cap.  This pulls almost straight up, NOT back.  It helped my AHI alot, but did not fit the issue with the "swarms" of apnea events.

As many of you suggested, a cervical collar may help.  It seems like a sound solution, and cheap enough to try.  I have ordered one, and it should be here in a few days.  I will let you all know how it worked out.

Thanks.