question on resp rate and tidal volume, racing heart rate

[Morbius]

An alternate way to achieve a similar result is to switch off aflex on ur machine.

Hanz actually looks to be on CFlex (at least on the 12th), but exactly what effect would you expect by doing that?

[Morbius]

A section from October 9th:

[HanzT]

I'm guess that's better than my current pattern? I'm still processing all this info but I really appreciate it.

[Guest1]

An alternate way to achieve a similar result is to switch off aflex on ur machine.

Hanz actually looks to be on CFlex (at least on the 12th), but exactly what effect would you expect by doing that?

the aflex and cflex technology start out by reducing the EPAP by a bit more than 2 cm from the IPAP (the current pressure of the machine) on Start of exhale but settle at exactly 2cm below IPAP at end of exhalation. EPAP pressure is what matters for eliminating Obstructive Events. If you switch off any flex technology, you will in effect raise your EPAP by 2cm (essentially making EPAP = IPAP). This is a bigger boost in EPAP than just raising the pressure by 0.5 cm and keep flex on.

[Pugsy]

the aflex and cflex technology start out by reducing the EPAP by a bit more than 2 cm from the IPAP (the current pressure of the machine) on Start of exhale but settle at exactly 2cm below IPAP at end of exhalation. EPAP pressure is what matters for eliminating Obstructive Events. If you switch off any flex technology, you will in effect raise your EPAP by 2cm (essentially making EPAP = IPAP). This is a bigger boost in EPAP than just raising the pressure by 0.5 cm and keep flex on.

That is not how Flex works.
The amount of reduction is based on the person's on air flow or how forceful they breathe and the most that it can reduce is up to 2 cm reduction at the max setting. See what Respironics says at this link.
http://aflex.respironics.com/
The "up to 2 cm" is documented in one of the manuals.

http://s1081.photobucket.com/user/Onesh ... ort=3&o=68

[teddancin100]

I wouldn't be too concerned, could be old memories of going into rem sleep being a bad thing, I used to try to keep away from rem sleep with tv and stuff because my heart would dip below 50 beats a minute and my oxygen to 40%, holding my breath for up to 2 minutes. Could be nightmares too, I used to get nightmares all the time when I was having an apnea, how many apneas are you having an hour with the cpap? My specialist says 5 is pretty healthy. I was having 62 before. I'm not fat either!!! Was just diagnosed a week ago so just an opinion, been on the cpap since, I prefer a constant pressure of 11 personally. I was on an auto pressure machine for a while and the low pressure was making it hard for me to get enough air when it switched to it. Could also be a factor.

[Morbius]

If you switch off any flex technology, you will in effect raise your EPAP by 2cm (essentially making EPAP = IPAP).

Expiratory Flex is only applied during exhalation, so therapeutic pressure is back to baseline when the next breath is ready to be taken (and not for nothing, but if your explanation were true, it would have been EPAP = CPAP) so we would not expect to see any change there.

[Morbius]

I'm guess that's better than my current pattern? I'm still processing all this info but I really appreciate it.

No, it's much worse. Note RR of ~30. Back then you appeared to be constantly 2clutching, making your true RR twice as high as it was (or should be).

So in addition to fixing that FL, "IMHO" it would be beneficial to figure out the cause of the "high RR", because it may not be benign artifact.

Towards that end, it may be worthwhile to consider the CFlex as a factor. Perhaps it is causing the machine to "chatter" on exhalation (not the first time this would have occurred-- who remembers the 15 cmH20 "stutter"?).

[HanzT]

Last night I tried some experiments. First, I wore my dental sleep apnea device to open my airway. Then I changed to A-flex until I woke up at 3:10am. At that point I turned off A-flex and went to straight CPAP (no flex). My breathing rate dropped to a normal number. How is my flow rate and tidal volume? Please see the zoom. I don't know those as well. Thanks. PS you might have to drag your screen wider to see the entire chart.



Here is a zoom on my last session


I'm still not sure why I wake up with my heart racing, but I'll deal with that later.

[Morbius]

How is my flow rate and tidal volume?

Fabulous. Reposting so the side is seen better:

[Morbius]

However, you might want to U/L the new data. I believe it looks better because the artifact is gone (hereafter known as "CFlex Bounce"), but we should look to see the status of the FLs.

[HanzT]

However, you might want to U/L the new data. I believe it looks better because the artifact is gone (hereafter known as "CFlex Bounce"), but we should look to see the status of the FLs.

Morbius, that would be awesome! I can't thank you enough. The 4am-6am session is the one with no flex and my dental device.

Also, there are about 20 times the APAP raises pressure from 8 to 9.5 for 4 or 5 minutes. I can't see what its reacting to, and not much changes that I notice.

Here are the links:

Memory card data: https://www.dropbox.com/s/p7tqrzbbdn0sx ... s.zip?dl=0

Sleepyhead data: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ssr96e3asl1y ... 2.zip?dl=0

[Morbius]

So early on, the CFlex Bounce is noted:



but with the CF off the waveforms cleaned right up:



There still is a little FL, and had to really hunt to find RERAs (FLs that are terminated by larger, sharper breaths):



but overall that area looks great.

Now to sustain.

[HanzT]

Ok. Cool! That's great. So the fact my flow is only +20 or so is Ok?

[palerider]

Please see the zoom. I don't know those as well. Thanks. PS you might have to drag your screen wider to see the entire chart.



Here is a zoom on my last session

if you select 'large thumbnail' down at the bottom of the imgur selection, then the charts look better on the forum, and you can still get the full size ones.

but it's even better to select the 'linked bbcode' as well as the large thumbnail.