ASV Experiences: Too Easy?

For the past year, I've gotten used to fighting with leaks and discomfort on both a CPAP (pressure of 13) and a BiPAP (pressure of 20/16). Every single night, without exception, I'd be awakened at least a half dozen times by mask leaks and noise.

I got my new ASV on Monday, and for three nights in a row, I've slept through the night. There are no noisy leaks or anything waking me up. When I do wake up in the morning, it feels like a very soft pressure -- barely noticeable. I can of course stop breathing (hold my breath) and get the ASV to sort of pulse at me, as if trying to trigger a breath, but I'm certainly not noticing this when I'm asleep. I haven't received my card reader yet, so I don't have data on what's going on throughout the night, but...does this sound normal? All the accounts from cpaptalk.com users I'd read on here made it sound like getting adjusted to ASV was an even bigger transition than CPAP and BiPAP. This feels barely noticeable. What gives?

Glad to hear it's going so well for you. I've known other people that have really liked it from the start as well.

My problems getting used to it were because I do not have a regular breathing pattern when I am awake. Sometimes I can go 30 seconds or more without inhaling after exhaling, and sometimes my breaths are longer or shorter. This means the machine can't get into synch with me, so we tussle until I get in sync with it. If I wake up during the night, we are in sync and it feels natural.

Every couple of weeks I'll wake up and have to turn the machine off to let it reset, because it's blowing at 20 IP and driving me nuts, even after I've been awake for awhile. I'm guessing that it's "chasing centrals" and then thinks I'm out of breath again.

I've found getting used to my ASV easier than straight CPAP (17 cm static pressure), mostly because I think the ASV unit uses only the pressure that you need on a breath to breath basis and adapts much faster than an APAP or auto-BiPAP. I need a much higher pressure when I am on my back (20 cm and up), but if I had that same pressure on my side or belly (only need 12 cm in those positions), I'd end up a blimp in the morning. That, plus my periodic breathing, made the ASV unit my magic bullet. I'm only a few weeks into my ASV, but love it already and feel much better. Duck to water for me.

Has anyone of you found improvement relating to the heart functioning different than being on CPAP?
To go on ASV have you consulted also with cardiologists?

avi123 wrote:Has anyone of you found improvement relating to the heart functioning different than being on CPAP?
To go on ASV have you consulted also with cardiologists?

I have a long history (15 years) of throwing PVC's, and central apneas can be associated with cardiac problems. My sleep doctor refered me for a stress test with echocardiogram just to be on the safe side, since I'm rapidly approaching the relatively young age that my mom had her first heart attack. I had no PVC's during the echo before running the treadmill, and no sign of heart issues during/after. So it looks like the ASV has eliminated the PVC's, which I've been suspecting since I haven't been feeling them much since starting xpap.

BrianinTN wrote:For the past year, I've gotten used to fighting with leaks and discomfort on both a CPAP (pressure of 13) and a BiPAP (pressure of 20/16). Every single night, without exception, I'd be awakened at least a half dozen times by mask leaks and noise.

I got my new ASV on Monday, and for three nights in a row, I've slept through the night. There are no noisy leaks or anything waking me up. When I do wake up in the morning, it feels like a very soft pressure -- barely noticeable. I can of course stop breathing (hold my breath) and get the ASV to sort of pulse at me, as if trying to trigger a breath, but I'm certainly not noticing this when I'm asleep. I haven't received my card reader yet, so I don't have data on what's going on throughout the night, but...does this sound normal? All the accounts from cpaptalk.com users I'd read on here made it sound like getting adjusted to ASV was an even bigger transition than CPAP and BiPAP. This feels barely noticeable. What gives?

This has been my experience also. It took me about three months to get used to wearing a mask but once over that, yes, its just barely noticeable both going to sleep and when I awake. It makes it very easy to fall back asleep if I am still sleepy and its a Saturday morning. What you are experiencing is totally normal, in my experience, so far.

BrianinTN wrote:For the past year, I've gotten used to fighting with leaks and discomfort on both a CPAP (pressure of 13) and a BiPAP (pressure of 20/16). Every single night, without exception, I'd be awakened at least a half dozen times by mask leaks and noise. ...

It's possible a central apnea caused you to awaken and then you noticed the leaks and such.

BrianinTN wrote:I got my new ASV on Monday, and for three nights in a row, I've slept through the night. There are no noisy leaks or anything waking me up. When I do wake up in the morning, it feels like a very soft pressure -- barely noticeable. I can of course stop breathing (hold my breath) and get the ASV to sort of pulse at me, as if trying to trigger a breath, but I'm certainly not noticing this when I'm asleep. I haven't received my card reader yet, so I don't have data on what's going on throughout the night, but...does this sound normal? All the accounts from cpaptalk.com users I'd read on here made it sound like getting adjusted to ASV was an even bigger transition than CPAP and BiPAP. This feels barely noticeable. What gives?

It is possible that with the ASV unit, your central apneas are now addressed. Thus, even if your mask leaks you remain asleep.

This was also my experience. I had HORRIBLE problems with my central apneas. Essentially, I had apneas frequently enough that I had almost no sleep for years. I would get four hours of sleep ... if I was lucky. Now, I can sleep 10 to 21 hours at a time (though I rarely do that).

So, while you might still have leaks and squeaks, it is possible you don't notice it as much. You sleep more soundly and thus get better sleep. That has been my experience and it may be yours as well.