Successful AHI reduction with APAP + TheraVent

I thought there would be some interest in the fact that it worked or maybe some curiosity as to why it worked but not a parade of people trying to say it doesn't work. I have 5 positive chart that say it works.

Anyway, forgive me for presenting something interesting - feel free to go back to your lives...

stcrim wrote:presenting something interesting

Most of us know that an unacceptably high AHI can be reduced by a higher exhale pressure. You did it with an inconvenient and difficult use of TheraVent and CPAP. We do it with a convenient and very easy increase in the CPAP pressure.

Help me here. What am I missing?

stcrim wrote:I really didn't post this with the intent to debate whether it works or not! You can see form the charts above there is a huge difference. TheraVent slows the breathing down while on the APAP which in turn dramatically reduces the AHIs.

The homemade version of TheraVent that I used last night did great. I'm not saying this is something anyone should try - the post is just FYI.

An issue is if you could use just a CPAP or APAP machine without the Theravent, to achieve those improvements in AHIs, why not do so?

Another issue is that you rely on "Mask Pressure" to base your conclusions on. But there is no such thing as accurate mask pressure, not in Sleepyhead and not in ResScan. It is an estimated mask pressure. Only a few CPAP makers install a pressure sensor in the mask.

Below is last night's report "without" using TheraVent. My AHI was 7.59 and my CAs were off the chart. If you will look up thread you will see that "with" TheraVent my CAs practically drop off the chart.

My respiration was and average of 17 with the 95% rate being 20 which implies I way over breathe during the night without TheraVent+APAP. Rather than attack the idea make suggestion how to achieve positive results with machine settings alone. I have used higher pressures but that didn't improve my numbers but did cause more annoying leaks.

I am open to suggestions that will get my AHI below 1.0 in the same way TheraVent=APAP does.

APAP without TheraVent:

stcrim wrote:I am open to suggestions that will get my AHI below 1.0

Well,

stcrim wrote:I have used higher pressures but that didn't improve my numbers but did cause more annoying leaks.

it would seem you have to solve the leak problems to eliminate the necessity to use TheraVent as an adjunct to CPAP.

Sorry, I can't help you with leaks. Leaks were never an issue for me even at pressures of 16.

But many others have addressed leaks and maybe they will chime it.

Good luck.

If you look at my "clear airway" count with APAP only and my CA count with APAP and TheraVent you will see with TheraVent CAs are almost nonexistent. My guess is that CAs are mostly the breathing pausing because of Carbon Dioxide washout. The body is trying to create balance so it pauses to help build additional CO2.

Is there a way to naturally build CO2 with just APAP therapy???

stcrim wrote:If you look at my "clear airway" count with APAP only and my CA count with APAP and TheraVent you will see with TheraVent CAs are almost nonexistent. My guess is that CAs are mostly the breathing pausing because of Carbon Dioxide washout. The body is trying to create balance so it pauses to help build additional CO2.

Is there a way to naturally build CO2 with just APAP therapy???

Member Morbius might be interested in this. Send him a PM with a link to this thread. He can be very helpful at times.

stcrim wrote:
Is there a way to naturally build CO2 with just APAP therapy???

yes, by adding dead space in the mask and the air supply hose.

http://rtboardreview.com/public/web_lin ... rcuits.pdf

have you checked if a machine like VPAP ST-A could solve your problems?

One more really interesting thing - this: http://candsnet.com/images/index.html is a chart of my flow rate on TheraVent + APAP and APAP alone. Each is the common theme throughout the night when there are no events. It's amazing how different they look.

Stcrim, I think you may be on to something.
I found your post because I seem to be hyperventilating, and am looking for more information.
I'll write again as I learn more.

stcrim --- on that latest diagram. Could you expand the 2:00 O'Clock time setting to show respiration and include tidal volume? Just curious,
and I'm still learning. Thanks.

That chart expanded at 2:00 a.m. is below. I think there is no question that hyperventilation comes into play. When I use the TheraVent to add exhalation pressure my AHI gets down to and below 1, where without it my numbers are7 to 10 at best. Adjusting the EPR and going without TheraVent does not help.

I have tons of Clear Airways without TheraVent and virtually none with it. I assume the CAs are from the body trying to recover Co2 which it does not need to do with exhalation resistance.

Bump - is it possible that the original poster had palatal prolapse (or expiratory palatal obstruction) and he/she inadvertedly solved it?

https://sites.google.com/view/palatal-prolapse

Dr. Park discussing expiratory apneas presenting as central apneas, which the original poster complained of suffering from: https://doctorstevenpark.com/expiratory ... ral-apneas

This is certainly interesting and super relevant to my interests. If the OP had expiratory apnea secondary to palatal prolapse, what he/she did was ADD pressure on exhalation, which keep the palate from flopping upwards. This is, essentially, the opposite of EPR.

Woah.