How do I set my Dreamstation BiPAP to timed mode?

I think I have a mild case of Central Sleep Apnea. It takes me 4 hours to fall asleep because I wake up gasping for air when my diaphragm stops moving right as I doze off. So I bought a Dreamstation BiPAP and it helps me breathe.

I've been using the BiLevel setting at IPAP: 6, and EPAP: 4. Even then, my lungs sometimes forget to take a breath. Does the Dreamstation have a setting to automatically start the next breath, or a timed mode so I'm constantly breathing? Or should I have my pressures set higher? I was reading this article about BiPAPs and it says that a BiPAP can be set to function on a timed mode:



How do I do that with the Dreamstation BiPAP?



==== Sleep study results: ====
I got a sleep-study done that shows I have severe problems falling asleep due to Respiratory-Event Related Arousal (RERAs). I experienced 34 RERAS, (often followed by adrenaline rush), which meant it took me 416 minutes to reach REM sleep, and I only slept for 2.5 hours during the study. My AHI was pretty low (1.6), but my Respiratory Disturbance Index was 15.1. The final line says "Sleep architecture revealed severely reduced sleep efficiency, and reduction in REM sleep, which are non-specific findings". So basically they don't know what's wrong with me. Is my condition an unwise way to use the BiPAP machine? Would using it make my CSA worse?

There is nothing in what you posted that would make me think you have central sleep apnea. Why do you think that?

wetwilly wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 30, 2023 1:21 pm

How do I do that with the Dreamstation BiPAP?

It depends on which model DreamStation Bipap you have been using.
They don't all have those particular mode of operation choices.

Exactly which model are you using?

If you don't see those options in your mode selection menu....you probably aren't using a model that supports timed breaths.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 30, 2023 4:13 pm

There is nothing in what you posted that would make me think you have central sleep apnea. Why do you think that?

I've been jolting awake right as I fall asleep. I've been noticing that my breathing becomes shallower and shallower as I'm dozing off, but right as I knock out, my breathing stops, and my body wakes up to breathe "manually". Sometimes with adrenaline rushes. Did you see the results of my sleep test I posted above? They logged 34 Respiratory-Event Related Arousal (RERAs), Respiratory Disturbance Index was 15.1. It took me 5.5 hours of the test to finally fall asleep, they marked it as "severely reduced sleep efficiency". I only slept 2.5 hours during the study, which is kind of typical when I don't take pills. Even when I take Ambien, my body jolts me awake after ~2 hours because my breathing has stopped.

I've also been having lots of Clear Airway apneas and Hypopneas, as logged on my machine. This was all the sleep I could muster, while on Ambien:

Is 20 hypopneas and 8 Clear Airway apneas normal in 4 hours? I have no obstructions, my diaphragm just stops moving.

I think it's CSA because the 3 primary symptoms are:

• Observed episodes of not breathing or abnormal breathing patterns during sleep

• Abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath

• Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)

If not CSA, then what do you think it could it be? I'd be willing to consider opinions, because the sleep study results were "non-specific findings".

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 30, 2023 4:37 pm

Exactly which model are you using?

The underside says "REP DreamStationAutoBiPAP DOM" Manufactured 2018-03-09. Recertified Device.
Software V1.2.0.3418

Do you know which models would have this feature? I think a timed mode would greatly help my rousals from hypopneas and clear-airway apneas.

wetwilly wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 30, 2023 5:51 pm

underside says "REP DreamStationAutoBiPAP DOM" Manufactured 2018-03-09. Recertified Device.
Software V1.2.0.3418

That model won't do timed breaths.

Are you self treating or do you have a doctor guiding you with the use of these machines?
Sounds like you are grasping at straws and self diagnosing and self treating??

wetwilly wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 30, 2023 5:31 pm

Did you see the results of my sleep test I posted above?

Your medical team made no mention of central sleep apnea.

You should be posting charts.

2 Centrals per Hour is nothing and not likely a contributing factor to your sleeping problems.

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑

Mon May 01, 2023 8:26 am

You should be posting charts.

I just got OSCAR and loaded the results from last night (Thanks to @Pugsy).

I wore the machine while trying to fall asleep for a long time, but was unable to fall asleep. I finally took a sleeping pill that my primary-care physician prescribed, and slept from ~4:50am to 7:30am, so here's a zoomed detail on that section:


My AutoBiPAP settings are:
- IPAP Max: 11.0
- EPAP Min: 4.0
- PS Min: 4.0
- PS Max: 4.0

As you can see, there are lots of Clear Airway events. Another thing worth noting is that there are several additional moments of very little breathing effort:

I wear an oximeter, and that event at 4:54-4:56 made my O2 drop quite a bit:

The oximeter recorded 13 of these drops during this period


My body jolts me awake gasping for air. It's exactly these type of events that make falling asleep naturally nearly impossible. That's why I was asking for a timed breaths setting with the BiPAP, to minimize these oxygen drops. The sleep doctor said I just needed to relax, turn off all distractions, and do breathing exercises, which was pretty dismissive. That's why I'm here asking for advice. If not Central Sleep Apnea, any idea what this could be?

If you want people to take the time to look at your stuff, then please post it properly:

wiki/index.php/Oscar:organize

palerider wrote: ↑

Mon May 01, 2023 11:45 am

If you want people to take the time to look at your stuff, then please post it properly:

I apologize. I updated my post above, but here's the screenshot as outlined in the Organize link:

The first part of your night was good, the second part looks like you weren't sleeping, rather drifting in and out, and likely having transition apneas, that the machine just scores as 'central'.

palerider wrote: ↑

Mon May 01, 2023 3:31 pm

the second part looks like you weren't sleeping.

Funny enough, I was sleeping because I took a sleeping pill at 4:30, and this is when it kicked in. That's the only explanation to the drop in my oximeter at the same time that I had two 30-second Clear-Airway apneas. I don't think this would happen while I'm awake.

Show me about a minute before that first CA that you highlighted there please.

Those look like post arousal.

Here you go!