paps & SS

[Sleepy1974]

Hi Everyone,
This is about sleep study & cpap/bipap

I should have been using a c-pap for sleep apena 25 yrs. ago but never agreed to wear.

I got covid in 2021 was in the hospital for a mo. I literally almost died. my lungs are scarred really bad and I now use o2 when needed and bleed it threw my machine while I sleep.
I was on cpap in the beginning but  then they changed me over to a bi-pap to get rid of Co2.  over time of using bipap & after a couple blood gas tests my Co2 is not going down.

My question is, While the bipap is controlling my apneas, but not releasing the Co2, Should I just go back on the cpap?

Here is a mask question now ( full face )  

When I started the cpap, my masks had the air vent holes on the nose area, and if you are familiar you know that the air pressure comes out a little strong.
Now, when they started me on the bi-pap, my mask does not have the air vent holes by the nose area, the vent holes are on the attachment piece, connecting from the hose to the mask.
I have attached photos.

With being, Are those vent holes interfering with my therapy since the pressure from the mask are different? 

When I have the mask on that have the vent holes on the mask, I breath more comfortably in the mask, compared  to
the mask with the vent holes on the adapter piece. for that makes me feel stuffy to breath, somewhat as if you have your hand lightly over your mouth
and your trying to blow in & out. 

That is what makes me confused about the therapy, because of the difference in the air vent flow.

Sleep Study questions...

While I am at a sleep study, If the tech. is not properly doing their job while watching my sleep, or even if they are just a mean person and want to purposely cause false results to someone. Are techs able to rig or false accusate so your readings come out wrong?  
I have had & seen very bad experiences with some things so this is only a question for it might be a possibility. So I really hope that I do not get bashed for asking such a question.

If you do not get into a deep enough sleep, will you get correct results? 
Do you have to be in a certain sleep stage for a certain amount of time to get full accurate results?


I have been recording myself sleeping & I notices that I have alot of movement, I messaged my Dr. and she told me that they charted down 5 periodic limb movements at my last study,
but my every night sleep I watch my legs & hands all night and they go to town hahah. 

When I went for my sleep study I was worried about my cat for she had kidney failure and was 19 yrs old, even a nerve pill did not make me sleep, but when I did fall alspp it was
for a hr or 2 only then Id fall back to sleep for a 1/2 hour.   I am being told that they got enough time to diagnose me.

Thank you

[G. Szabo]

My question is, While the bipap is controlling my apneas, but not releasing the Co2, Should I just go back on the cpap?
.

With being, Are those vent holes interfering with my therapy since the pressure from the mask are different? 

1) You should stay on bipap.
2) The differences in vent arrangement should not have a noticeable impact on your therapy.

Please download Oscar and upload your chart. All the details for your chart arrangements are on Wikipedia. 
Your anonimized sleep study would be beneficial, too.

[Jay51]

Regarding the CO2 retention, I have taken several capnography tests (measures amount of CO2 in exhaled air from the nostrils by percentage).  

The greater the difference between IPAP (maximum pressure) and EPAP (lowest pressure), usually the more CO2 can be expelled from the body.  

Bipap should do better than cpap in getting rid of CO2.  Continue to stay on supplemental oxygen.  If your current situation (bipap + supplemental oxygen) is not getting rid of enough CO2, then it seems that your problem may be in your lungs.  My Pulmonologist has explained this to me.  

Posting your OSCAR charts like G. Szabo suggests should help us better see what is happening.  

I am currently using a ventilator because the pressure support (PS); the difference between EPAP and IPAP like described above can be even greater than using a bipap.  For instance, my EPAP was around 10 or so during sleep.  IPAP went to 20.  That is 10 difference (a PS of 10).  The large pressure support causes a deeper breath with more oxygen going into the lungs.  And also, when the pressure drops suddenly by 10 degrees, it literally suctions most of the CO2 out of the lungs.   I am sure your Dr.'s are aware of this by making the switch from cpap to bipap.