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Sorry for the loss of your grandpa. If you can find out the make and model of the device we can let you know if it's a good fit and suggest settings. Your experiment with higher pressure shows us you don't tolerate higher pressures, but that would not preclude the use of more pressure support to normalize the flow limits.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
I had an interesting night. I tried an experiment where I didn't use my body pillow, a 5ft long pillow I use between my knees and arms. I've used one to sleep for most of my life because it keeps my bony knees and elbows from clinking together. Last night I just used a small pillow between my knees and nothing for my arms. I was wondering if maybe hugging a pillow during sleep was changing anything. Turns out my flow limits are just as bad without it. I'm pretty sure I woke up on my back a few times which almost never happens (I almost always sleep on my side). The big pillow locks me into one side or the other unless I consciously change it.
(09-23-2024, 07:39 AM)Sleeprider Wrote: Sorry for the loss of your grandpa. If you can find out the make and model of the device we can let you know if it's a good fit and suggest settings.
Thank you, he was amazing. He had Kennedy's Disease which weakens the motor control in the neck muscles until he couldn't swallow anymore. Crazy stuff.
The machine is a ResMed Aircurve 10 ST-A. I'm not sure if that will work for me or not?
The ST-A has several modes of operation including CPAP, VPAP-S and ST which stands for spontaneous/timed. This device is mainly used for individuals with pulmonary impairments that affect the volume and rate of respiration. Unfortunately, the transitions between inhale and exhale are a square-wave, rather than the smooth transition of Easybreathe™ that you enjoy with the Autoset or a Vauto. This can make those transitions seem abrupt, and they are controlled mainly by adjusting rise-time. In spontaneous mode, the machine triggers in response to your voluntary or spontaneous breathing cues, while in ST mode, there is also a timed trigger that can prevent missed breaths. In the right application, it is a valuable tool, but I'm afraid it is not ideal for you.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
09-24-2024, 03:47 PM (This post was last modified: 09-24-2024, 03:49 PM by Haldir.)
RE: Bad at Breathing
I talked to my primary care person. (He's a PA, but much easier to get an appointment with.) He mostly gave me a blank stare and said he would get in contact with the sleep specialist to see where to go from here. I guess that's a step in the right direction? I should hear back in a few days.
Will S mode work to try out the biPAP in the mean time?
I tried the ST-A last night in S mode, EPAP at 6, IPAP at 10. I see what you mean about the square wave for pressure. It did some weird things to my flow rate. In S mode it doesn't report flow limits so I just looked at the flow rate up close. I would not say last night was restful. I also only had the machine on for 2 hours because I felt aerophagia in the middle of the night.
I haven't heard back from my doctor yet about the official prescription for bilevel. That might just take a while.
The pressure delivery of the Vauto is much different, and feels more like your Autoset, but with more pressure support. The ST in S-mode will deliver bilevel pressure, but you have already felt what old fashioned square-wave feels like. If you're going to continue that, you need to increase rise time to make the transition less abrupt.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
I don't seem to be getting anywhere with my doctor. He wont even return my calls after two weeks. Has anyone used an online sleep doctor to get a prescription? This came up in one of my searches and wondered if it might work: https://www.sleepcareonline.com/
Long answer, "Yes". APAP is considered a short form for an auto CPAP. In fact, if you are paying for it and not involving an insurance company, the Rx could have said "CPAP".
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
