Question about Bipap and central apnea

[keepsmyelin]

I haven't been on this forum in quite a while. You all were very helpful and once they set me up with a BiPap,
I thought everything was settled.

I went to the Pulmonologist for my 6 month check. I use a Respironics BiPap which I changed to when I started
having lots of central apnea. Everything evened out and my AHI was at 2, and he was happy with that. But in the
last few months I've had trouble, feeling like there's not enough pressure during the inhale and I'm not getting
enough air.

He looked at my data printout and I'm back to having more AHIs. My average seemed to hover around 10 AHis
and there were peaks of 35-38 sometimes. So he sent in a RX to DME folks to come out and up the pressure
on the BiPap...which hasn't been done yet, but it's only been 3 days and they're usually a week behind.

My question: I'm going back in 2 months and if my AHI is still high, they'll do another sleep study. But
he intimated that some changes might be necessary. How high can you elevate the pressure on a BiPap?
I think he's upping the inhale to 15 or 16 now. Can you just keep upping it, or is there a point at which
you have to stop? And at that point, what are the alternatives?

Spoiler: I have MS with a large lesion in my medulla and it messes with my other autonomic functions
like heart rate, bp, and obviously my respiration, so I'm not surprised the AHIs might be worsening (progressive diseases progress)
just wondering if they keep raising the pressure to combat a rising number of AHIs.

[Pugsy]

Exactly which model bipap are you currently using?
Model number is a 3 digit number on the bottom of the blower.

With the increased AHI what category of event are you seeing an increase in?

[keepsmyelin]

Well I see lots of number on the bottom.
It says BiPap S/T C-Serios DOM
Ref 1061461
then there's a serial number ending in CB17
a 2.xx in a box
Are any of those the numbers you're looking for?
I don't see a 3 digit number

The pulmonologist said central apneas were the problem.

[Pugsy]

It might be a 4 digit number since you say BiPap S/T C Series and you mention 1061461.
Those models of machines had 4 digits and I forgot about that choice.

I was wondering if you had a regular bipap (model 650/660/750/760) or one of the other models 960 and above which are used for centrals.
I was thinking if you were using one of the regular models that they might move you up to one of the other higher models but you are already using one of those.

[keepsmyelin]

There's a IPX1. I just googled that number/letter set and Respironics and came up with lots of links, so I imagine that's the model number

[keepsmyelin]

There's a IPX1. I just googled that number/letter set and Respironics and came up with lots of links, so I imagine that's the model number

Nope that's the transformer number...oh well

[Pugsy]

It's probably the 1060/1061 which is the model number with the last 1 normally meaning a machine supplied outside the USA...or it was at one time.

[palerider]

There's a IPX1. I just googled that number/letter set and Respironics and came up with lots of links, so I imagine that's the model number

IPX1 is not the model number, it's the IntrusionProtection against objects and water.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_Code

is there a REF number on the bottom, or MODEL number?

[palerider]

It's probably the 1060/1061 which is the model number with the last 1 normally meaning a machine supplied outside the USA...or it was at one time.

pretty sure that the S/T part is significant, which would correlate with the 1061. bipap with timed backup rate.

[keepsmyelin]

It's probably the 1060/1061 which is the model number with the last 1 normally meaning a machine supplied outside the USA...or it was at one time.

pretty sure that the S/T part is significant, which would correlate with the 1061. bipap with timed backup rate.

REF 1061401

[JDS74]

With a BiPap S/T machine, the max pressure can be 30 cm H2O so your doctor can increase it quite a bit.
With a "regular" BiPap such as the 750 or 760, increased pressure can induce additional central events.
However the S/T deals with them by its timed breathing function so that should not be a worry.
If you have another sleep study, it is possible that your machine will be swapped out with a PR 960 ASV machine which can handle central events in a different way than your current S/T machine.

[Keepsmeylin]

With a BiPap S/T machine, the max pressure can be 30 cm H2O so your doctor can increase it quite a bit.
With a "regular" BiPap such as the 750 or 760, increased pressure can induce additional central events.
However the S/T deals with them by its timed breathing function so that should not be a worry.
If you have another sleep study, it is possible that your machine will be swapped out with a PR 960 ASV machine which can handle central events in a different way than your current S/T machine.

Thanks. that was the info I was looking for. I wasn't aware there was another type machine. And knowing the upper limits of my machine helps as well.