gettingbetter - Therapy Thread

[cathyf]

I notice the Aircurve forces an early exhalation, when I'm still inhaling.  Are there adjustments to help with this?

Hmmm... that's actually what I think I like best -- the aircurve boosts me through the inhale and then gets the heck out of my way so I can exhale how I want.

[SevereApnea]

@gettingbetter

"I realize everyone's situations are different.  What happened when you decreased flow limitations?  How did it make you feel?  Are you still using the Aircurve?"

Like you I am undecided which is the better one for me and swap between the two.
I bought the AirCurve because I initially thought the FLs were my main problem, probably a mistake, but we are all allowed to make them!


After 18 months I have learned that (1) to achieve some sort of steady state/physiological homeostasis, and to allow for randomness in response to PAP therapy it is NB to stick with ones settings for as long as possible. The thing that forces me to change things out is when things get unbearable. Then I have to make some changes. I try and stick with things for a week if possible, not always feasible. Work in progress. [I am not one of the lucky ones that adapt quickly and easily to PAP therapy] (2) vital to try and track the effects of PAP therapy and somehow work out which variables make you feel good / bad / better the next day, dodging all the confounding factors like stress, diet, medication, state of health, weather and many more.  This is where the journey gets personal, once your AHI is "under control" based on medical target values < 5, then the fine tuning starts.

I do like the fact that the AirCurve has way more settings to adjust but that too can add more variables and make finding the middle road more difficult and prolonged.

Don't give up, we appreciate your compliance issues, stick with this board and read as much as you can.

[gettingbetter]

Thanks for the support, everyone!

I stuck the machine in Vauto mode, changed the Timax to 3.0. Aaaaaand I forgot to stick the SD card back in the machine. I assume there's no way for me to go back and retrieve that data?

[Crimson Nape]

Unless you have a Flux Capacitor, the answer is, No. If you do, then it may affect the space-time continuum and this post didn't happen.

[gettingbetter]

Crimson Nape:  Thank you!

[gettingbetter]

Hi everyone!  I have a couple of questions about my "sleep report" on the AirCurve today (screenshots attached):


1.  With a Ti value of 1.2s in the sleep report, should I reset my Timax back to default of 2 seconds (I currently have it set at 3 seconds)?  When I'm awake the Aircurve rushes my inhalation but maybe that isn't a factor when sleeping.

2.  My I:E ratio is 1:2.9 (higher than the normal value of 1:1.8).  Does this indicate I may still be working hard to breathe?

4.  The Vt, RR, and MV values in the "sleep report" are lower than my typical med daily Vt, RR, and MV values on Oscar.  Why?


Thanks in advance for any input!

[Crimson Nape]

I can talk about the Ti Max and Ti Min.  The Ti Max is the longest that it maintain the IPAP pressure.  If you don't need that length of time, then it doesn't use it.  The Ti Min sets the minimum time that it will keep the IPAP pressure before allowing a drop to the EPAP pressure.  If my memory serves me, I think the default is .2 or .3 of a second.   I'm sure that there is a reason to reduce the Ti Max, but I have yet to run across it.

The volumes in question;  You state that the volumes are lower than typical.  You are going to have high days and low days.  Unless a pattern is emerging, then I wouldn't worry about it.  

There is a way to increase volume.  Its technical term is called, Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP).  The technique is to increase your EPAP pressure, while maintaining the same PS value with regard to your IPAP pressure.  

Here is an example.  Let's say you are having good results, except for volume, in S-Mode with an EPAP of 4 and an IPAP of 8, thus making your PS=4.   To help increase your volume, you would raise both EPAP and IPAP by the same value.  Let's say 2 cm, making your new EPAP pressure 6 and your IPAP now10.  This maintains the same delta or PS of 4.  In theory, this will keep your lungs at a higher atmospheric pressure, thus increasing your volume.

I hope this may provide so help.
- Red

[gettingbetter]

Thank you, Crimson Nape!  I'm slowly starting to understand at least some of this stuff, with the help of you and this wonderful board!

Last night I had the following Vauto settings (tight range to start because of aerophagia):  
Max IPAP 8.4, min EPAP 4, PS 3

So the machine was able to roam between
Min IPAP 4, Max IPAP 7
Max EPAP 5.4, Max IPAP 8.4

Is this correct?  Unfortunately I don't have the data available.

[Crimson Nape]

Your calculations are correct, madam!

[Crimson Nape]

Sometimes using a fixed (S-Mode) pressure range may overcome aerophagia tendencies. I, for one, do very poorly with a variable pressure range. Either I am awakened by a pressure change or, like you, get aerophagia. Evidently my body do not like change.