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Super tired and air in stomach - Boiler1121 - 02-14-2022

Hey everyone! I'm hoping some of you can help me identify the right settings for my AirSense 10 Auto.

I was prescribed this machine 2-3 years ago but I've had a hard time sticking with it because of the amount of air it pumps into my stomach every night. I seem to have a low threshold of pressure — I can feel the air entering my stomach even during the low-pressure ramp period. But I also seem to need a higher pressure to combat the OAs?

Here is my typical night:
Pressure min: 7
Pressure max: 12
EPR level: 2
Full face mask

Any ideas on how I can lower my AHI while also reducing the amount of air in my stomach?

Thanks so much for your help!

RE: Super tired and air in stomach - Gideon - 02-14-2022

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the chart.

Set EPR=3 as that lowers the average pressure,
set Max Pressure =10 to cap the max

Let's start with this. Based on the chart I'd like to increase min to 8, but after we see what the above does.

Also, Try and turn the Ramp off. I don't think you will need it. If you do minimize the time on the ramp as your therapy does not fully function during the ramp, events are not responded to nor are they reported.

RE: Super tired and air in stomach - impolexg - 02-14-2022

I'm a total newb and know nothing, just sharing my experience with air in stomach from cpap. YMMV, etc.

I was on an airsense 11 autoset in epr mode 3 (5-10cm) for three months. Most nights I couldn't wear it more than 4-5 hours/night because my stomach would bloat and I would vomit or nearly. On follow up dr visit he recommended I borrow an aircurve 10 vauto, which is a bpap, said I'd know right away if it helped.

Well... it sure did for me. Pretty amazingly better. The bpap drops the pressure when you exhale, I find it is super gentle. Much less stressful than breathing against the pressure all the time.

RE: Super tired and air in stomach - Gideon - 02-14-2022

EPR is similar to pressure support, per your info your PS=4 vs the 3 I suggested

RE: Super tired and air in stomach - impolexg - 02-14-2022

Hi Gideon. My current aircurve 10 is set to ps 4 (4-8), the previous airsense that made me sick was set to epr 3cm. I'm sincerely curious what is the empirical difference between the two machines, I perceive a night and day difference in comfort, the aircurve feels so gentle for exhale where the airsense just wanted to fill me with air.

RE: Super tired and air in stomach - Gideon - 02-14-2022

The single biggest difference is the PS of 4.

Try PS of 3 with min EPAP = min press -3
As that will better match your AutoSet.

The pS=4 is what I would have tried if your AutoSet was capable.

RE: Super tired and air in stomach - Boiler1121 - 02-15-2022

(02-14-2022, 06:11 PM)Gideon Wrote: Welcome to the forum and thanks for the chart.

Set EPR=3 as that lowers the average pressure,
set Max Pressure =10 to cap the max

Let's start with this.  Based on the chart I'd like to increase min to 8, but after we see what the above does.

Also, Try and turn the Ramp off.  I don't think you will need it.  If you do minimize the time on the ramp as your therapy does not fully function during the ramp, events are not responded to nor are they reported.


Thanks for the suggestions, Gideon! I'll try these out and report back in a couple of days.

@impolexg - Your experience with the AirSense sounds exactly how mine is. Fingers crossed that I'll be able to alleviate the aerophagia by just adjusting some settings.