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Please help me with my bipap

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CaptainMiscavige +0 points · about 5 years ago Original Poster

I have the Respironics dreamstation

I clicked the button and the ramp button and went to my therapy on the machine and I don't understand what this means.

there are five boxes and the first says 'AUTOB' second says 'IPAP 20.0' third says 'EPAP 8.0' fourth says 'PS 3.0' fifth says 'PS 7.0'

that is apparently my therapy can anyone translate that for me? and which one would I need to edit to bring down the pressure a little bit myself? you can change it on the machine.

The pressure is high and messing with me its hard to use the machine more than like 30 mins to an hour. I actually used to use cpap. bipap is hard but the docs think I need it.

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Sierra +0 points · about 5 years ago Sleep Patron

Off the top, I have never used a DreamStation. Here is a link to a Technical Manual which may help you some. I find it a rather poor manual because it covers the whole range of Respironics machines from a simple fixed CPAP up to the Auto BiLevel you have.

Here is my best guess of what your settings mean:

  • AutoB - It is set to BiLevel with Auto pressure control
  • IPAP 20 - I suspect this is the maximum IPAP or inhale pressure, and is set at 20 cm.
  • EPAP 8 - I again suspect this is essentially the minimum EPAP pressure or essentially minimum pressure during an exhale.
  • PS 3 - This is likely the minimum pressure support or differential between exhale and inhale.
  • PS 7 - This would likely be the maximum pressure support, and the machine is allowed to vary pressure support between 3 cm min and 7 cm max.

If you want to lower the starting pressure you would likely have to lower the EPAP. It can be set as low as 4 cm.

This all said, if you are using it for an hour or so, it will be controlling pressure based on events. So it doesn't matter if you start at 6 cm or 4 cm, it could ramp pressure up to as high as the maximum which is 20 cm, based on events happening, unless you set the maximum lower.

You probably would be best to talk to your doctor about the issues you are having. A BiLevel is a fairly complicated machine and can be hard to get it adjusted right.

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CaptainMiscavige +0 points · about 5 years ago Original Poster

i think you hit the nail on the head wow that does seem right!, i exhale and its 8 and when i inhale it is 11 but sometimes its went up higher even in a short amount of time and then it goes back down and up again and feels hard to breathe sometimes its just odd.

thanks a lot for the response. i was permanently banned on the cpaptalk so i figured id post here about this.

I wanted to lastly ask you im 24 when I was like 18 or so they had me on cpap, now its this machine after a couple polysomnography earlier this year. what does that indicate to you? I also had REM without atonia similar to the mm2 thalamic Creutzfeldt-jakob patients. and I know when it comes to these sleep doctors they are a different breed. they are not like a neurologist. seems like its hard to get help from sleep doctors

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Sierra +0 points · about 5 years ago Sleep Patron

I am not a sleep doctor of any kind, just a CPAP user, and can't help you out with the medical stuff. What is your breakdown of apnea events? Is is all obstructive, or are you suffering from any central apneas? The reason I ask is that the settings on your BiLevel are not a lot different than what one could set an APAP to.

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CaptainMiscavige +0 points · about 5 years ago Original Poster

thank you for the kindness and answering my question. it did show me how to change it. I changed it didn't help much. I just cant rest or restore since Ive been a child I have accepeted that haha

and yeah mainly central and respiratory distresses, hypopnea in the polysomnography Im pretty sure I remember them telling me that. I don't think there was any obstructive. maybe 1 or 2 osa events.

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Sierra +0 points · about 5 years ago Sleep Patron

Unfortunately BiLevels are not always effective on central apnea, and may not be any better than an APAP. The first line of treatment with centrals is to keep pressure as low as possible, as more pressure usually results in more central. The second line is to try breathing support with a higher differential between inhale and exhale. That appears to be what the doctor is now trying. But, it can be difficult to achieve. In any case I would suggest you go back to your doctor to see what adjustments are possible.

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CaptainMiscavige +0 points · about 5 years ago Original Poster

Thanks again. one last question would you know why after not even an hour I will be shivering cold like a mothef---er? and when I rip the mask off I stop feeling froze. and I never get cold.

bless

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Sierra +0 points · about 5 years ago Sleep Patron

Do you have a heated hose and humidifier? I have both with the hose temperature set at 27 deg C or about 81 F. I never feel cold unless the vent air from the mask blows on my arm.

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CaptainMiscavige +0 points · about 5 years ago Original Poster

not a heated hose. and I don't like the humidifier I removed it from the machine. I didn't use it when I used to use cpap either.

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Sierra +0 points · about 5 years ago Sleep Patron

The heated hose may make the humidifier more effective. And warmer!

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