Help with aerophagia

[aribenet]

Hi all,

I've been using my resmed airsense 10 autoset for almost two years now and doing mostly great, but lately (let's say a month or so) I've been waking up really bloated. I was wondering if reducing my min pressure might help with this. Here are my device settings:
Mode APAP
Pressure Min 8.00 cmH2O
Pressure Max 16.00 cmH2O
Antibacterial Filter No
Climate Control Auto
EPR Off
Essentials Plus
Humidifier Status On
Humidity Level 5
Mask Pillows
Ramp Off
Response Standard
Smart Start On
Temperature 27 ºC
Temperature Enable Auto

And here are a couple of random nights:
Channel Min Med 95% 99.5%
Pressure 8.00 8.28 9.18 9.72
EPAP 8.00 8.28 9.18 9.72
Minute Vent. 2.88 8.75 12.25 17.75
Resp. Rate 11.20 20.20 27.60 35.20
Flow Limit. 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.12
Leak Rate 0.00 4.80 19.20 28.80
Snore 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Insp. Time 0.08 1.26 1.70 2.64
Exp. Time 0.18 1.70 2.12 3.16
Tidal Volume 120.00 420.00 620.00 920.00

Channel Min Med 95% 99.5%
Pressure 8.00 8.48 9.16 9.66
EPAP 8.00 8.48 9.16 9.66
Minute Vent. 2.00 8.63 12.75 17.13
Resp. Rate 8.40 20.00 27.20 33.80
Flow Limit. 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15
Leak Rate 0.00 3.60 28.80 40.80
Snore 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Insp. Time 0.46 1.26 1.84 2.56
Exp. Time 0.02 1.68 2.12 3.10
Tidal Volume 80.00 420.00 660.00 920.00

So reducing the max pressure, as is sometimes recommended would be completely useless, as I'm not even close to reaching it. So I thought about reducing the min pressure, as I'm spending most of my time on that pressure value and this would make me be on a lower pressure that might as well be enough for me. Does it make sense? How much do you think I should try?

Thank you so much for the help!

[LSAT]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHYBTW9Zev8

[zonker]

Hi all,

I've been using my resmed airsense 10 autoset for almost two years now and doing mostly great, but lately (let's say a month or so) I've been waking up really bloated. I was wondering if reducing my min pressure might help with this.

I would say it wouldn't hurt to lower your min pressure. here's the good news: a resmend machine can be adjusted by tiny increments. as .2. so, for example, let's say you lower min to 7. aerophagia disappears! (just for the sake of this example) but oh noes! your ahi goes up. the good news would be that you could start experimenting with that min and increase it from 7 to 7.2. and then see where that lands you.

this has been referred to as that "zonker protocol". (hat tip to dogslobber) when you make any changes like this, make sure to give it 3 or 4 nights to "settle in" before making any changes.

good luck!

[Dog Slobber]

this has been referred to as that "zonker protocol". (hat tip to dogslobber)

I love that name.

[Dog Slobber]

Having said that, as I recall the Zonker Protocol is dependent on a reduced maximum pressure.

You can try The Zonker Protocol, pioneered by member Zonker

• Set your minimum and maximum pressures sufficiently low, so you don't experience aerophagia. Because your pressures are below what your needs are, you will likely experience more events.
• Keep it at these levels for a week.
• Increase your pressures by 0.2
  if you experience aerophagia, go back reduce back
• Wait another week, and keep repeating.

Zonker used this approach and over a period of months was able to increase his pressures to address hs Apnea properly without suffering from aerophagia. Your goal is a Max Pressure with no limit, Min Pressure to adequately address your needs and no aerophagia.

[zonker]

Having said that, as I recall the Zonker Protocol is dependent on a reduced maximum pressure.

hey, I'd rather misquote myself than anybody else!

to the op-yup, that solution took ME months. I hope, if you follow my course, it doesn't take that long. still, slow and steady wins the race.

[aribenet]

Hi all,

I've been using my resmed airsense 10 autoset for almost two years now and doing mostly great, but lately (let's say a month or so) I've been waking up really bloated. I was wondering if reducing my min pressure might help with this.

I would say it wouldn't hurt to lower your min pressure. here's the good news: a resmend machine can be adjusted by tiny increments. as .2. so, for example, let's say you lower min to 7. aerophagia disappears! (just for the sake of this example) but oh noes! your ahi goes up. the good news would be that you could start experimenting with that min and increase it from 7 to 7.2. and then see where that lands you.

this has been referred to as that "zonker protocol". (hat tip to dogslobber) when you make any changes like this, make sure to give it 3 or 4 nights to "settle in" before making any changes.

good luck!

I will give it a try. Thank you!

[Charlieboy UK]

you could also try lowering your max pressure... mine used to go to 16...and I used feel like I was blowing up like baloon... really hurt in my belly.. my APAP machine is now set 4-8 very low... but my AHI is around 2/3 and Sp02 is always above 95%.

[zonker]

I will give it a try. Thank you!

let us know how it goes.