VCD - Anyone know if it will prevent my using my machine?

[dllfo]

I did a search before I asked the question. My pulmonary doctor, besides loving the Encore Pro/MYEncore setup....said he thinks I have VCD, Vocal Cord Dysfunction.

So if I have VCD, can I still use my Auto BiPAP? While I don't wish this on anyone, it would be nice to know if anyone here has it or knows if it will effect my ability to use the machine. I asked my doctor and he never answered for some reason. Any inputs appreciated.

Thanks, Dave

[Snoredog]

VCD would cause the machine to confuse/pick up normal breaths as snores, possibly triggering the snore detection circuit and increasing pressure erroneously.

You can still use an auto machine you just have to limit the Max. pressure to 1 or 2 cm of last known titration.

If you are using a REMSTAR machine don't worry about it so much it limits the snore response automatically, VCD or no VCD.

[rested gal]

dllfo, if you do have vocal cord dysfunction, I believe that can render just about any kind of cpap treatment, even plain straight cpap, very ineffective.

That diagnosis would make sense of the extreme number of obstructive apneas I saw on the Encore Pro reports you kindly let me see.

No kind of "continuous positive air pressure" can work well against the kind of air way closure involved in VCD. CPAP, BiPAP, AutoPAP, BiPAP Auto...all of them work on the premise that they'll be pushing air against soft tissue. The kind of closure that is involved with VCD is a whole other ballgame, complicating considerably the goal of getting effective treatment with any kind of cpap machine.

I'm no doctor, but I'd strongly suggest you pursue whatever it takes to:

1. Find out for sure if you do have vocal cord dysfunction, and what the cause is. Sometimes it can be a matter of the vocal cords being bathed with acid, as with acid reflux disease. There's such a thing as "Silent GERD", meaning you could have acid reflux without ever knowing it..with no overt symptoms to alert you to it.

2. If you have either condition -- VCD or GERD, get it treated. CPAP treatment cannot work truly effectively until you do. Air pressure hitting a brick wall can't do much to open the airway.

An interesting link to discussion about another message board poster (loonlvr) and how undiagnosed or undertreated GERD can play a role in rendering xpap treatment ineffective, and how treatment for acid reflux can turn things around for the good:

Nov 05, 2005 subject: SUCCESS AT LAST-GERD,420E, PRILOSEC AND BENADRYL
-SWS's thoughts on loonlvr's massive clusters of events and loonlvr's followup post.

I'd note here that it wasn't a matter of which machine was being used. It was probably a matter of stopping the hard swelling of throat tissue in loonlvr's case, from unrecognized, untreated GERD. No machine was going to help until that condition was taken care of.

Good luck dllfo. I believe your pulmonary doctor is on the right track, but it looks like it will be up to you to work on it, as he apparently wasn't aware of how badly VCD can interfere with any kind of cpap treatment. Get a referral to a doctor with a lot of experience in diagnosing and treating GERD and VCD.

[Mikesus]

I had VCD and Gerd. I was treated in Denver for both, and one of the treatments for VCD is a breathing technique that forces air back down against your vocal cords. IF your VCD is not treated, you might see an APAP hit the top all the time as it is seeing the blockage as an apnea event. With straight CPAP it actually mimics the treatment and helps in the long run. That said, nothing will help the VCD if it was caused by Gerd until you get the Gerd taken care of. Has your doc scheduled a laryngoscopy? From what I was told in Denver (at National Jewish) the only way to dx VCD is to see it happening. (via the scope)

Here is a good resource on VCD if you haven't seen it yet.

http://www.njc.org/disease-info/disease ... ement.aspx

I would have your lung doc do more than a spirometry test to verify the DX, and then try to find the trigger if that is in fact what is happening.

[dllfo]

Thank you for the info. My background/exposure to chemicals:

I have been exposed to a LOT of chemicals, and drank drano when I was 3.

My pulmonary dr. scheduled the laryngoscopy immediately, giving me handouts about the hospital in Denver. He seems to be very aware of VCD and taking all the steps you mentioned.

My biggest health issue is that I am worn out most of the time. Thank goodness for the machine. I usually sleep pretty well. My last read out had my API's below 10 for the first time in a month or so.

Oh well, knowing what the problem IS should be the first step in stopping it.
Thanks so much for your help. When I am told something else migth be wrong with me, it is great to have people who have been there, done that.