My VPAP and me aren't getting along

About one month into the ResMed VPAP Auto 25 and I can not tolerate the pressure changes that it makes when on VAUTO mode. Even ones as small as a pressure spread of 1.4. I end up with a belly full of air every time I attempt this and it only keeps me awake.

The last several nights I've ended up putting it on CPAP mode with a EPR of 1 or 2 and can get to sleep. This is the point I started at a month ago when things weren't going very well for me.

My question is to people that have been thru this...

1. I know I have centrals and this is an attempt to treat these. HOW do you get used to the pressure changes? Sleep doc really wants to put me on a ASV machine, but from what I understand about them (short burst of air to get you breathing when you have a central) that sounds like torture to me. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.


JeffH

Jeff,
I'm sorry to read your VPAP trial isn't working.
Since you really want to hear from ASV users, perhape editing title to indicate you want to know about the ASV experience could help.
Is there any way you can have an ASV for a month? Say the doctor Rx's it and you rent one?

O.

Jeff, the beauty of the ASV is that you can run it EPAP=IPAP, if the change disturbs you, as it did me. You usually don't notice the back-up kicking in because you are asleep, but sometimes it will kick in when I roll over. I find it comforting to know that it is there and it works.

OutaSync wrote:Jeff, the beauty of the ASV is that you can run it EPAP=IPAP, if the change disturbs you, as it did me. You usually don't notice the back-up kicking in because you are asleep, but sometimes it will kick in when I roll over. I find it comforting to know that it is there and it works.

What do you mean by EPAP=IPAP?

Thanks

JeffH

Inhale pressure same as exhale pressure. I don't use the Bi-level feature as the change in pressure on each breath drives me crazy.

OutaSync wrote:Inhale pressure same as exhale pressure. I don't use the Bi-level feature as the change in pressure on each breath drives me crazy.

Man, do I understand that!

Thanks

JeffH

For some, it's a "comfort feature'. For us, it's torture.

So do you know if the Resmed machines can be set up that way also? Or anybody know this?

I just got off a site that was describing these machines and it sounded like the resmed could only be set up with a minimum pressure spread of 3. Is this right?

Thanks

JeffH

Sorry, I don't know anything about the Resmed machines. There are a lot of people here who do know, so you should get some help soon.

JeffH, I also have the ResMed VPAP Auto 25. It can be run in CPAP mode (which I understand you are doing) where IPAP=EPAP. I also have never encountered any problems in BiPAP mode of setting the IPAP and EPAP greater than 3 cm apart. From what I understand the ASV machines are new, different from the older SV machines. It doesn't have a timed backup mode, but when it senses you should be taking a breath and are not, it gives you breaths until you start breathing regularly again. It's useful in Cheyn-Stokes respirations and central apnea (as I understand it). Hopefully if you were asleep the air would not bother you and hopefully it would not come as a "blast of air". Luckily I am not as sensitive to the changes in pressure with auto and Bilevel as you seem to be. If you have central apnea I think a trial on the ASV would be worthwhile. They are so expensive they are usually not recommended unless needed. Good Luck.

Mary Z wrote:JeffH, I also have the ResMed VPAP Auto 25. It can be run in CPAP mode (which I understand you are doing) where IPAP=EPAP. I also have never encountered any problems in BiPAP mode of setting the IPAP and EPAP greater than 3 cm apart. From what I understand the ASV machines are new, different from the older SV machines. It doesn't have a timed backup mode, but when it senses you should be taking a breath and are not, it gives you breaths until you start breathing regularly again. It's useful in Cheyn-Stokes respirations and central apnea (as I understand it). Hopefully if you were asleep the air would not bother you and hopefully it would not come as a "blast of air". Luckily I am not as sensitive to the changes in pressure with auto and Bilevel as you seem to be. If you have central apnea I think a trial on the ASV would be worthwhile. They are so expensive they are usually not recommended unless needed. Good Luck.

Thanks Mary.

JeffH wrote:So do you know if the Resmed machines can be set up that way also? Or anybody know this?

"that way" being like a CPAP with a single pressure? Yes, the VPAP ASV can be set up that way:





And as MaryZ said, so can the ResMed VPAP Auto:

rested gal wrote:

JeffH wrote:So do you know if the Resmed machines can be set up that way also? Or anybody know this?

"that way" being like a CPAP with a single pressure? Yes, the VPAP ASV can be set up that way:





And as MaryZ said, so can the ResMed VPAP Auto:

Thanks RG. Gives me a little hope then. I'm one of those that just can't tolerate pressure changes.

JeffH wrote:Thanks RG. Gives me a little hope then. I'm one of those that just can't tolerate pressure changes.

Jeff, just to clarify... someone mentioned to me that if by "that way" (when you were responding to OutaSync's post earlier in this thread) you were wondering if your Resmed ASV could be set up the way Bev described setting her Respironics ASV --- namely with PS=0cm while ASV is also allowed...

The answer is no. The ResMed ASV cannot be set up with anything less than a PS=3 while ASV mode is allowed. Only the Respironics ASV can do that.

You can put your ResMed ASV machine into CPAP mode, though, as described in the picture of the menu settings.

I'm aware of about a dozen of us who find the pressure transition between IPAP and EPAP too abrupt w/our S8 VPAP Auto or S8 II VPAP Auto 25s in Spontaneous (straight bi-level) mode. What we've found is that setting the Pressure Support to the EXACT distance between IPAP and EPAP in VAuto mode, i.e. IPAP 13, EPAP 8, Pressure Support 5, smooths out the pressure transition to smooth as glass. That then allows the VPAP Auto and Auto 25 to run as a straight bi-level in auto mode but w/the EasyBreathe technology engaged which isn't active in Spontaneous (straight bi-level) mode. Setting the S8 or S8 II VPAP Autos in this manner is equivalent to Respironics' EPAP = IPAP.