Continuous Pressure for Central Apnea

[dee604]

Hello wonderful new friends.
I am new to apnea and have been snooping around cpaptalk.com for a week or so. I've not come across my problem, so have come to you xpap jedis to tap into your wisdom.

My respiratory therapist is wanting to reduce my central apnea by putting me on continuous pressure rather than apap.
Question 1: Does this sound like a reasonable strategy to try?

I have done enough reading to understand that any xpap readings that occur while awake are garbage. I believe I'm sleeping better since starting apap, but still waking numerous times through the night.
Question 2: Could the central apnea episodes be related to night waking?

Thanks to all who read this and take the time to respond.

[LSAT]

If you really have Central Apnea, you may need an ASV machine rather than a regular CPAP/BIPAP. Just because you are getting CAs doesn't mean you have Central Apnea. If your AHI is high and most of the events are CAs in clusters, Central Apnea is a possibility...otherwise not. We need more specifics about your machine, mask, pressures, average AHI, etc.

[dee604]

SH apr 22 19.PNG (147.43 KiB) Viewed 3452 times

Thank you for your response LSAT.

I'm still on loaner equipment, using Philips Respironics Dreamstation and ResMed Airfit P10 Nasal Pillows.
I expect you can get the rest of the data from the image I've uploaded.
Please advise if there is more I can offer to help you to help me.

It is only today that the Respiratory Therapist changed me over to CPAP from APAP. Therefore the graphic still shows APAP therapy.

I'd be interested in hearing about anything of concern xpap masters see in the data.

Regards, Dee

[palerider]

I wouldn't say that it's a good idea.

[dee604]

CA.PNG (30.94 KiB) Viewed 3379 times

To my novice eye, these look like authentic CAs, not related to wakeful periods.
It seems that most, if not all of the CAs reported over this night have this same narrow bandwidth, non-jerky flow rate associated with them.

Is that consistent with how the experienced cpap'ers would interpret my CAs in this snip?

Thanks again for any assistance.

Dee

[palerider]

I'd say the first two look pretty legit, along with the waxing and waning preceding them... the third there might be the result of a arousal.

[ajack]

It is reasonable for your therapist to have a fixed pressure under 10 and turn the flex off. If there were no or few CA central apnea, in your sleep test. The odds are these are new user CA clear airways and may resolve over the next 12 weeks. It may just be your body balancing the o2/co2 levels. A constant pressure with no flex may be better than you have now.

I personally would leave it in apap, have the min pressure of 8 and turn the flex off.

[katestyles]

It is reasonable for your therapist to have a fixed pressure of 9 or 10 and turn the flex off. If there were no or few CA central apnea, in your sleep test. The odds are these are new user CA clear airways and may resolve over the next 12 weeks. It may just be your body balancing the o2/co2 levels. A constant pressure with no flex may be better than you have now.

I personally would leave it in apap, have the min pressure of 9 and turn the flex off.

Why would you say to turn off the flex? I thought that flex was just a comfort feature.

[Julie]

Don't put too much store in what some here come up with...

[ajack]

flex alters the inhale and exhale pressure. This reduced pressure on exhale can increase clear airway by further reducing co2. constant fixed seems to work better, and lanky, sa sleep tec on the other site, or his youtube explains it better.

I'd always check from another source anything from a forum, especially from those that set up a tent as an expert.

[katestyles]

flex alters the inhale and exhale pressure. This reduced pressure on exhale can increase clear airway by further reducing co2. constant fixed seems to work better, and lanky on the other site or his youtube, explains it better.

I thought flex only altered the exhale pressure.

Any chance of a link to the video?

[ajack]

yes it does reduce exhale pressure. This can cause more CA, so it is said by those that know. so it alters the inhale and exhale pressure. or another way, the inhale pressure stays the same and the exhale drops. either way there is a difference.

[katestyles]

yes it does reduce exhale pressure. This can cause more CA, so it is said by those that know.

Now you are confusing me. Does it alter the inhale and exhale, or just the exhale?

[ajack]

just the exhale.

[dee604]

flex alters the inhale and exhale pressure. This reduced pressure on exhale can increase clear airway by further reducing co2. constant fixed seems to work better, and lanky, sa sleep tec on the other site, or his youtube explains it better.

I'd always check from another source anything from a forum, especially from those that set up a tent as an expert.

Hi ajack.
I've tried to find the youtube video you referenced, but when I entered the search term ' sa sleep tec' I just got links to rap music
Any chance you can provide a solid link for those of us trying to learn?

Cheers, Dee