Asthma and CPAP's

I don't remember if I posted a question about asthma (currently inactive) and CPAP/autopap. I am getting the 420E on Friday, which I think can be set either
way.......I seem to recall that there were a few postings re: asthma and not using the autopap settings? Am I confused? Any experiences?

Thanks

I'd like to know this, too, but one question I have is, what is "inactive asthma"? I've had asthma most of my life & have never heard of this term. I manage my asthma, but it's always there. If I don't use my meds I will have an attack & sometimes I have an attack even when using my meds. I'm confused by your use of the words inactive vrs active asthma. Are you talking about people who have asthma attacks related to activity or some other isolated cause?

Thanks for asking me that question! I said to the pulmonary doctor, what the he-- are you talking about? I HAVE ASTHMA. He said NO YOU DON"T. I said YES I DO. He said your pulmonary function test does not show this. PFT. All I can tell you is I've had attacks...Guess what I'm attemtping to ask if someone is symptomatic and going thru some attacks, how is this impacted/use of/CPAPs.

Sorry if I wasn't clear...I had never ever ever heard it called INACTIVE either. Guess its a JERSEY thing. ha............ha.....even I'm LOL on this one!

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to know this, too, but one question I have is, what is "inactive asthma"? I've had asthma most of my life & have never heard of this term. I manage my asthma, but it's always there. If I don't use my meds I will have an attack & sometimes I have an attack even when using my meds. I'm confused by your use of the words inactive vrs active asthma. Are you talking about people who have asthma attacks related to activity or some other isolated cause?

Gailzee, the issues with "active" asthma that I had mentioned were two-fold: 1) carbon dioxide retention is possible (caveat not specific to AutoPAP), and 2) asthmatic flow limitations can theoretically fool an AutoPAP's algorithm into increasing pressure, which is actually counter productive for asthma.

Additionally, you may want to read this reference regarding asthma relative to sleep apnea:
http://www.sleepapnea.org/asthma-osa.html

My suggestion is to try the machine in AutoPAP mode and see exactly how you fare. You may want to set the top-end of your pressure range at or very close to your PSG titrated value to be on the safe side. If you receive runaway pressure on the 420e because of asthmatic swelling/restriction, you might also want to experimentally turn IFL1 off.

Assume the 420e will work beautifully unless proven otherwise! If it doesn't respond well to your breathing pattern, then make adjustments accordingly. If you can run your 420e in AutoPAP mode with no problem whatsoever, you're probably going to enjoy the lower mean pressure that an AutoPAP can yield.

Thank you SWS. What is IFL1? I suppose I'll be learning when I get my machine Fri. I've made a note of your suggestion. Also thanks for the link re: asthma and CPAP. I've printed the article on asthma, good food for thought for my DME/RT. My pulmonary guy says no asthma, so what the he-- is an attack?. I'm sure not making it up as I go along. But they go by tests, not what the patient says! Anyway, even tho' he says ''no asthma'' he says stay on SINGULAIR. Check the price on that drug. oh boy.
I am perplexed about the asthma connection. I will see how it goes.
Thanks for your advice I do appreciate it v.m.


quote="-SWS"]Gailzee, the issues with "active" asthma that I had mentioned were two-fold: 1) carbon dioxide retention is possible (caveat not specific to AutoPAP), and 2) asthmatic flow limitations can theoretically fool an AutoPAP's algorithm into increasing pressure, which is actually counter productive for asthma.

Additionally, you may want to read this reference regarding asthma relative to sleep apnea:
http://www.sleepapnea.org/asthma-osa.html

My suggestion is to try the machine in AutoPAP mode and see exactly how you fare. You may want to set the top-end of your pressure range at or very close to your PSG titrated value to be on the safe side. If you receive runaway pressure on the 420e because of asthmatic swelling/restriction, you might also want to experimentally turn IFL1 off.

Assume the 420e will work beautifully unless proven otherwise! If it doesn't respond well to your breathing pattern, then make adjustments accordingly. If you can run your 420e in AutoPAP mode with no problem whatsoever, you're probably going to enjoy the lower mean pressure that an AutoPAP can yield.[/quote]

I don't know, your pulmonary dr. sounds a little off to me. If he says you don't have asthma, why are you on Singular? That makes no sense. I guess I'd be asking more questions! Also, Singular includes two meds, one for the attacks & a steroid to prevent attacks. If you don't have asthma it seems strange that he/she has you on this. I use Albuterol & Flovent, two separate inhalers which is a lot cheaper than the Singular which is highly advertised & a money maker for the drug companies. You might want to ask your dr. about this.

I am going to see my GP next Wed. I'm going to ask him about going off the Singulair. Mainly due to price. If any drug rep is reading..so what can I tell you. Even thru Canadian Rx's, it's not an inexpensive, and the steroid component I do not want at all. I'm dealing with one issue at a time, tomorrow is CPAP day for me. This should be something else...........Next wk its the Singulari.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know, your pulmonary dr. sounds a little off to me. If he says you don't have asthma, why are you on Singular? That makes no sense. I guess I'd be asking more questions! Also, Singular includes two meds, one for the attacks & a steroid to prevent attacks. If you don't have asthma it seems strange that he/she has you on this. I use Albuterol & Flovent, two separate inhalers which is a lot cheaper than the Singular which is highly advertised & a money maker for the drug companies. You might want to ask your dr. about this.