Respironics BiPap Auto SV new user with problems

Hey dsm,

Glad to know you. TY so very much for your help and attention. I will definitely look over all of this information.

Cheers,

Alex

RT is the initial timed portion of Ti represented by an upward slope from Initial Respiration to Target Inspiration measured in 100 millisec increments 1 - 6.

Generally:
An RT of 2 to 4 is recommended for patients with OBSTRUCTIVE components of Sleep Apnea.
An RT of 5 and 6 is recommended for patients with RESTRICTIVE components of Sleep Apnea.

A RT of 2-4 will get you to Target Inspiration more quickly to help clear OBSTRUCTIONS. You will Inflate faster, if you will.
A RT of 4-6 will get you to Target Inspiration slower to wind through all the RESTRICTIONS. You will inflate slower, if you will.

It is probably unlikely that your Sleep Apnea is Restrictive in nature.
Most people have Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
You probably have obstructive Sleep Apnea.

You can ask your doctor if your apnea is obstructive or restrictive in nature.

I would suggest experiment with a trial of RT: 3.

You will feel that you you get to Target Inspiration more quickly more quickly than at a RT: 6. In layman's terms, you will get a full breath faster, which may make you feel like you are breathing deeper.

Try it. You may like it.

Let us know.

Banned

Following on Banned's interesting breakdown of risetime allocation, I am wondering what causes those occasional nights when my chest feels like it is strained & breathing becomes a bit painful.

It is something I have seen others mention from time to time & has happened to me occasionally since I 1st went on a cpap machine (single pressure).

I have fleetingly wondered if it was related to CO2 levels (perhaps the mask vent holes got blocked for a while) - also wondered if it was a by product of bilevel use (except it had been occuring when I was on both cpap & apap). I also wondered if it was a circulation issue but not really sure how or why.

Today I am still not certain what it is or why it happens & am wondering if anyone else has thoughts on the natter.

DSM

While looking into some other info & having the Knightstar Bilevel Clinical manual open, I rediscovered this interesting chart that adds to this discussion re I:E ratio etc:

It highlights the potential for CO2 rebreathing based on ipap epap & ratio. It is an interesting bit of info.

Points of interest (obvious sort of stuff) ...
- The bigger the gap the greater the Vt (Tidal volume)
- Increase BPM & that should also increases Vt
- but, alter I:E & that can both alter the Vt and presence of CO2

Side effects of too much CO2 are ...
- Rapid breathing (as the lungs try to 'blow off the CO2')
- Disturbed sleep & Body stress etc:

DSM