This Machine is Going to Kill Me

Moogy · Post by **Moogy** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:05 pm

NightHawkeye:
When the machine transitions from the inhale pressure (IPAP) to the exhale pressure (EPAP) it kinda feels like it's sucking the breath out of you.

My BiPAP NEVER feels like it is sucking the breath out of me! Are you using biflex? Maybe that makes the difference.

Moogy

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:39 pm

Moogy wrote:My BiPAP NEVER feels like it is sucking the breath out of me! Are you using biflex? Maybe that makes the difference.

It was just my way of describing the feeling of a BiPAP going from inhale to exhale. It's OK if you don't feel it, Moogy. I only brought it up because I thought it might foster an understanding of how BiPAP interacts with aerophagia.

The actual physical phenomenon is that of a sudden pressure decrease. Before the pressure change occurs my diaphragm is working against a higher pressure and at the sudden change to a reduced pressure overreacts for a very brief instant before adjusting to the lower pressure. Several analogies, such as tug-of-war come to mind to explain how one has to adjust to sudden changes in force. BiPAP machines have adjustments to minimize this, but I don't know that it's possible to eliminate it entirely. I can still feel it with Bi-flex, but that may only be because I'm already aware of it. It is not bothersome though, and, yes, it is less noticeable with Bi-flex. (That is what bi-flex is supposed to accomplish.)

Regards,
Bill

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:43 pm

viewtopic.php?p=50714#50714

momexp5 wrote:I *so* apologize for not being in here much lately - to recap, on CPAP at about 7 (I'm a small-boned 120lb woman) I was having a lot of aerophagia problems. I went on the BiPAP with BiFLEX, at 8 IPAP and 4 EPAP, with the BiFLEX turned on. I had some trouble "synching up" with the machine, or vice versa - the machine would switch to EPAP before I was ready to exhale - but I found that the best solution was for me to go with the machine, to let the machine lead - and after just a few breaths worth of that, the machine synched up with me I am very happy with this now. I'm going to be taking the smart card to my ENT/allergist's tomorrow; the doctor said they could read it while I'm getting my shots.

O.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:43 am

ozij wrote:
momexp5 wrote:I had some trouble "synching up" with the machine, or vice versa - the machine would switch to EPAP before I was ready to exhale

Just as an aside, I wonder if the person who set up momexp5's bipap knew (or even bothered) to work with her and her machine a few minutes to adjust the comfort control setting. That would lengthen (to a certain limit) the amount of time the BiPAP could deliver IPAP pressure.

Putting the Comfort control at the highest number in the setting can lessen the chance of a BiPAP switching to the lower EPAP pressure while a person is still inhaling.

gkeenan · Post by **gkeenan** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:19 am

I've learned more here in the last few days that I'd learned in the past 6 yesrs. Thanks so much. I am being fitted for the pillows and have a heated humidifier on the way. I will try these along with the Priolosec to see if these help before chaning machines.

Last night was MISERABLE! Not only did my machine choke me to death (well not really, I'm here right) but it started BEFORE I fell asleep which hindered my confidence in falling alseep I was sooo scared, finally after about 2 hours of this darn bubble forming in my neck I took the mask off and went to sleep. I woke up about an hour later thinking it would be ok for me to try again...this time the darn thing glued my top lip to my teeth and sucked the air right out of my mouth soon after falling back to sleep. Needless to say I did not wear it for the rest of the night...I'm sooooo sleepy

The Cflex is now off

gkeenan · Post by **gkeenan** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:12 am

Hello all. I wanted to wait a couple of weeks to update you, just to make sure what I am reporting is correct. I have changed my face mask (I am now using the pillow) and have added the heated humidifier. I no longer wake up in the middle of the night ripping the unit off my face too afraid to put it back on and too afraid to go back to sleep. I actually had a very strange thing happen the third night with the new setup. I woke up (after a complete 9 hrs. of sleep) completely disoriented. I did not know where I was...I realized after lying there a few minutes that I had slept for 9 hrs. for the first time in years...I honestly think that is why I was disoriented. I am also taking my Nexium. I had a little bit of swallowing air the other night but just re-adjusted myself and was able to fall back to sleep. Thank you everybody for all your suggestions...it has been almost 2 weeks of solid sleep.

I do have a question about the humidifier...I had a hard time falling asleep last night because water kept forming at the bottom of the nose pillows (on the top of my lip) which made me wonder how I am able to breath in water and not drown... needless to say that kept me up for quite some time...I was however, able to put it aside (by telling myself I have not drowned yet...lol). Would someone please explain how the humidifier works and why using it does not cause problems.

G

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Mon May 08, 2006 8:21 am

G

You have just experienced the glorious and wonderfully entertaining phenomenon known as "rainout". It is condensation formed when cooler air passes over the hose and/or interface where warm humid air is being conveyed.

Solutions are:

lower the heat on the humidifier
raise the temperature in the room (redirect a fan if you have one running)
insulate the hose (use hose covers like the Snugglehose at https://www.cpap.com)
expensive last resort (used by many here) buy the heated hose from Australia
(http://www.sleepzone.com.au).

You are not alone, many of us have to deal with it. Some interfaces/masks are worse than others in having this problem.

SB

This Machine is Going to Kill Me

bipap against aerophagia at low pressure

Re: bipap against aerophagia at low pressure