New to ASV therapy, need advice

[sawinglogz]

Wow, those are messy charts. A few things I noticed:

1) You're set to a fixed breathing rate. You should ask about setting that to Auto. If it's trying to make you breathe too quickly, your body is going to fight it since it doesn't want to hyperventilate. Auto will adapt to you to some extent, but I don't think it'll go to zero.

2) Are you one some meds that are suppressing your respiratory system? It's amazing that the thing is cranking out max pressure swings and there's still no blip on your breathing.

3) Are the pressure settings too high for your mask? If the pressure swings are simply leaking out the sides of the mask, then you're not really getting the full pressure swing.

[Snowleopard28]

sawinglogz wrote:
1) You're set to a fixed breathing rate. You should ask about setting that to Auto. If it's trying to make you breathe too quickly, your body is going to fight it since it doesn't want to hyperventilate. Auto will adapt to you to some extent, but I don't think it'll go to zero.

That's a good point! I noticed, on my last sleep attempts, before I feel asleep and was just laying there, I started to relax, breathing slowed and the machine started trying to breath for me. It was a really weird feeling. I'll check about that setting. Thanks.

sawinglogz wrote:
2) Are you one some meds that are suppressing your respiratory system? It's amazing that the thing is cranking out max pressure swings and there's still no blip on your breathing.

I am on a pain med that is notorious for suppressing respiration's. Methadone. I've been taking it for pain for over 8 years, among others. What do you mean about the "blip on your breathing" What do I look at for that?

sawingloz wrote:
3) Are the pressure settings too high for your mask? If the pressure swings are simply leaking out the sides of the mask, then you're not really getting the full pressure swing.

I'm using the Wisp nasal mask and the Ruby adjustable chin strap and I don't think it's leaking but I when a wake my mouth is like a desert!!!! Even with the humidifier set at Classic Mode 4.(thanks to a forum member's post a read)

When I look at all the patient triggered breaths for every session, there is a pattern. just like the last I posted. Starting up, then a big dip, then back up just before I awaken. What this means? I'm not to sure except maybe the machine can't handle me or a wrong setting that makes my brain have to wake me because of co2 increase not o2 decrease. I think I read a post here from someone about co2 overshoot and undershoot. Not sure I completely understand.

[sawinglogz]

What do you mean about the "blip on your breathing" What do I look at for that?

I was looking at your last row of Encore waveform data (starting at 7:20 am). Those are some serious pressure swings to encourage you to breathe (red lines), but your actual airflow (blue lines) is barely moving.

I'm using the Wisp nasal mask and the Ruby adjustable chin strap and I don't think it's leaking but I when a wake my mouth is like a desert!!!!

A definite sign of air moving through your mouth. With that pressure, I bet air is escaping through your lips, even with your jaw closed. You might look into a FFM, if you can tolerate one.

When I look at all the patient triggered breaths for every session, there is a pattern. just like the last I posted. Starting up, then a big dip, then back up just before I awaken. What this means?

I can't say for sure about methadone-induced lack of respiratory effort, but for me, with complex apnea, I find my PTB % drops every time pressure increases. As soon as pressure subsides, PTB % bumps right back up.

[Kiralynx]

Nothing would make me happier to be proven wrong in this situation but not everyone has their pain go away with optimal therapy.
I sure didn't...in fact things have gotten worse in the pain department for me.
So you got relief and I didn't and things have got worse. The vertebra in my neck has slipped more and pressing further onto the spinal cord. The best cpap therapy in the world isn't going to be able to move it back. Already had one surgery some years ago for 2 of them but we couldn't fix all of them at that time.

Wouldn't we all? In my case, there was no physical cause other than the low oxygen causing pain, so my ASV did the trick.

In yours and SnowLeopard's case, there is definite physical causation for the pain. So yes, you're right, there. And reading what SL said about the history... jeeze, it made me hurt just thinking about it.

And I hope you can find some kind of relief!