BiPAP Settings Make It Impossible To Fall Asleep

I am new to CPAPtalk.com so please feel free to offer guidance on how to get the most out of this website.

I have been using a CPAP machine for about 8+ years. My doctor recently read the Sleep Report from my Resmed machine's data card which indicated I was experiencing about 50 central apnea events an hour. My doctor prescribed a BiPAP machine and a Sleep Study. The study technician found that a pressure setting of 19/9 cmH2O RR 12 reduced AHI to 3.2. I slept so well that night.

That was 2 months ago.

I haven't had a single night's sleep because the pressure wants to blow my mask off. The BiPAP startles me awake preventing me from falling asleep.

I've read a handful of posts with similar stories but all had different equipment and were several years old. I'm hoping to get some current advice.

I use the following equipment: Resmed AirCurve 10 machine with the Resmed AirTouch F20 mask

dhansen7832 wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 26, 2020 2:23 pm

I am new to CPAPtalk.com so please feel free to offer guidance on how to get the most out of this website.

welcome to the zoo! sorry this hasn't been answered. unfortunately, i'm not able to answer either.

but by posting this, maybe someone else who has the answer will happen by.

good luck!

Do you know why you were prescribed the 10S vs the VAUTO ? Yours is a fixed pressure Bilevel machine vs Auto.

Actually, my machine is the Resmed AirCurve ST with Humidifier.

LSAT wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 27, 2020 1:16 pm

Do you know why you were prescribed the 10S vs the VAUTO ? Yours is a fixed pressure Bilevel machine vs Auto.

For centrals, they should have been prescribed an ASV, that constant PS of 10 will ensure that they have centrals though. ugh.

I'd never heard of the VAUTO until your reply. I went to the Resmed website and looked at the differences between the VAUTO and the ST models.

Is it possible that I was prescribed the ST due to my central apnea issues?

The Sleep Study showed that my AHI events dropped to 3.2/hour at a pressure of 19/9.

Could the doctor be thinking that my pressure needs to stay at that level which would disqualify the VAUTO model?

dhansen7832 wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 27, 2020 1:41 pm

I'd never heard of the VAUTO until your reply. I went to the Resmed website and looked at the differences between the VAUTO and the ST models.

Is it possible that I was prescribed the ST due to my central apnea issues?

The Sleep Study showed that my AHI events dropped to 3.2/hour at a pressure of 19/9.

Could the doctor be thinking that my pressure needs to stay at that level which would disqualify the VAUTO model?

You need an ASV for the central apnea.

An ST is an ancient, and brutal machine, roughly the equivalent of a stone club vs an xacto knife.

Big full face masks like the F20 can be more reactive to the change in pressure than smaller masks (less surface area for the air pressure to push on the smaller the mask is). If you need a full face mask you could try one of the smaller under nose options (DreamWear Full Face, F30i, F30, Amara View) or you could try a nasal mask (or even a nasal pillows mask) if you can breathe through your nose.

I just added some health conditions to my profile.

I've been diagnosed with COPD and have both obstructive and central apnea.

Remove the AirCurve 10 S model from your equipment profile....it's going to confuse people.
Instead add your AirCurve 10 ST model in the comments section along with your other notes.

The ST does an "okay" job for central apnea only people when set up properly but a horrible job when people have both central apneas and obstructive apneas. The ASV model treats both quite effectively. It would also let you use settings that would be much more comfortable for you and you would more likely be able to sleep with those settings. The ST is essentially a fixed pressure machine...ASV auto adjusts as needed for obstructive AND central apneas. It's a much better way of dealing with OSA and CSA.

The AirCurve 10 VAuto or S model bilevels...not good for treating central apneas at all.