ASV - Can't take deep breath or exhale?

[Four]

Hi, I have complex sleep apnea and have a Resmed AirCurve 10. I can't stand it, and take it off all the time. I can't take a deep breath or exhale much. It's so annoying .

Any pointers?

Cheers

[Julie]

What are your pressure settings?

Download Oscar here and post results (same thread plse).

http://cpaptalk.com/wiki/index.php/Oscar:organize

[Four]

Julie I just wanted to post that I still have this tab open, I just haven't downloaded Oscar. Just so you know you didn't waste your time, like you replied and nobody read it.

[Julie]

Oh - you didn't have to post that, but thanks (nice to know someone cares ), but I wanted to ask if you've tried exhale relief (PS)?

Without Oscar tho' it's hard to comment much on anything to help you... are you having tech trouble with it?

[GrumpyHere]

Without knowing your settings, here are some general suggestions.

Turn off ramp if you're using it. Ramp Time Off.

Set EPAP(ASV)/Min EPAP(ASVAuto) to 6-7 if you're using the default (don't lower it if your Rx is higher)

The default EPAP of 5(ASV)/4(ASVAuto) may not be enough.
Thus you may feel air starved.

Try Min PS at 3 if it is set to 0. The default is 3.
The difference between EPAP and IPAP will make breathing feel easier.

It does takes a while to get used to ASV.
Slow and measured breathing when beginning the session helps.

learn to start breathing slowly when you put on the mask. You will eventually adjust to the unit (in about 2 or 3 months).

I can't find the reference, but there is a technique that will make the AirCurve back off when it's not syncing to your breathing.

Blow back hard against the pressure for 3 seconds and the machine will reset its pattern. Then breathe slowly.

The thread bellow is a collection of good tips on cpap in general.
viewtopic/t156116/Best-tips-that-you-re ... board.html

Good luck.

PS do get and use OSCAR ASAP.

It's hard to search for ASV info on this board because you can't search for terms shorter than four characters.

Use Google instead. Type the following in the search field.
site:cpaptalk.com ASV "search term 1” ... "search term n"

[Four]

Been procrastinating, sorry. Problem comes and goes though, not sure why.

[GrumpyHere]

The reference for blowing back is on apneaboard.

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread ... SV-machine

There is a blowback technique that you need to use to tell the ASV to reset. Forcibly blowback and the algorithm will spend the next several minutes re-calibrating. Use it when you feel that the ASV is pushing against your expirations

Here is a few more threads that might be useful reading re:ASV

https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3A ... v+blowback

[GrumpyHere]

BTW the experts here prefer OSCAR screenshots in a specific format.

They also ask that questions specific to your therapy stay in one single thread - this one.
So that they don't hunt down other threads to know your history.
Or have to answer in multiple threads.

The easy way to set the OSCAR (v1.2) graphs in the preferred order and format:

1. Go to View menu - Reset Graphs - Standard

2. In View menu, turn on Sidebar

3. Again in View Menu turn off Daily Calendar and Pie Chart

4. Set Graph Height in File Menu -> Preferences -> Appearance Tab
The default should be 180.

On my setup, when set to 80, I get really squished up graphs.

At 192, the 5 graphs (flags, flow rate, pressure, leak, flow limit) are nicely spaced out.

At 160 I also get snores as the bottom graph.

5. Reset Graph Heights in View menu. This step may not be always necessary.

[Four]

Thanks