Burd - Bi-Level Therapy Thread

[Burd]

Last night was my first full night on BIPAP (skipped over CPAP and was prescribed BIPAP based on the results of my in-lab study). I have some questions.

I’m using a ResMed Aircurve 11 VAuto. My mask is an Airtouch F20. My IPAP is set to a range of 12-22. The myAir app is telling me that I still had 13.6 events per hour, but my mask seal was fine and I slept like 9 hours (only woke up 2-3 times during the night).

I ordered an SD card reader so that I can use OSCAR, but I won’t have it until tomorrow. Is there anything I can do tonight? Should I try increasing the lower end of the IPAP range? Or should I wait until I can see the data on OSCAR? Is this normal for the first night?

My throat was a little dry this morning, was thinking of raising the humidity a bit too. Should I try to avoid changing too many settings at once?

Also, I know it’s normal to swallow some air and end up burping in the morning because of it, but has anyone else woken up in the middle of the night starving? I ate like normal yesterday and that never happens to me, so I was wondering if that could be related.

Would love to hear some input from the community or if anyone has experiences to share from their first night. Thank you!

[staceyburke]

Be sure you are on VAUTO setting

I would try these settings for tonight. 

PS3
Min9
Max 18

Get your OSCAR for tomorrow’s posting. Remember the card must be in the machine while you sleep.

[Burd]

Is there a reason you would make it lower instead of higher? Sorry, I’m obviously very new to this.

[staceyburke]

The way a bipap works is a little bid different than a Cpap.

Ps is pressure support
The min is the LOWEST the machine will go and that is exhale

Inhale pressure is the PS + min

Max is as high as the machine can go

[Burd]

If it’s a max of 22 shouldn’t it go up that high when I need it and resolve the apneas?

[staceyburke]

Go ahead and put it at 22, you will never get that high and if you do you will get mask leaks anyway. But yes go Mac as high as you want

[Burd]

I started BIPAP last week (skipped straight over CPAP because my pressure needs were too high), and have been having consistently high AHI since starting. My lowest was 8.6 and my highest was 15.6 (last night). I’m on ResMed VAuto AirCurve 11 with a pressure of 22/12, and PS of 4. My mask is an Airtouch F20. It looks like my machine is only going up to about a 16 when I’m sleeping despite being set to 22. Is there a good reason why it wouldn’t go up higher even though I’m still having apneas? I have tolerated it all night every night with 7+ hours of sleep.

[staceyburke]

Welcome to the board.  To give any real information we need data.  We get the Data form OSCAR program.  It is a totally free download that you need to use.  All you need is a SD card formatted 32 or less GB.  Post your night sleep and  you will be given help.

[Deborah K.]

Pap machines, when set in auto mode, only go to as high a pressure as you need, which is a good thing.  We would be better able to help you if you would download Oscar, sleep with a 2-32 GB SD card in your machine, and then post a night's or several nights' charts.  Those Oscar charts will show us loads of useful information that can help us help you get better sleep.

[Crimson Nape]

Burd - Your 2 threads were about your therapy. In order to maintain continuity, I merged them and renamed the thread to, Burd - Bi-Level Therapy Thread. Please use this thread for all your posts that relate to your therapy. This allows the reader to easily see your history and help create better recommendations.

The AC11 is so new that some of its data parameters are not currently in OSCAR. If you will post a screenshot of your Daily screen, and a 3-minute zoom shot to see your flow rate wave form, this will help. Please use the F12 key for a Windows computer or Fn+F12 key combo for a Mac to take the screenshot. This removes the areas that are not important. I have additional instructions in my signature, Also, the graphs are in an organized order of importance by default.

Please update your equipment profile, so a reader can easily see what you are using.

Thanks!
- Red