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Sierra

Sierra
Joined Jul 2018
Bio

CPAP: AirSense 10 AutoSet

Set to CPAP Fixed Mode

Pressure 11 cm

Ramp: Auto

Ramp Start: 9 cm

EPR: 2, Full Time

Mask: ResMed AirFit P10 Nasal Pillow

Canada

Sierra
Joined Jul 2018
Bio

CPAP: AirSense 10 AutoSet

Set to CPAP Fixed Mode

Pressure 11 cm

Ramp: Auto

Ramp Start: 9 cm

EPR: 2, Full Time

Mask: ResMed AirFit P10 Nasal Pillow

Canada

Yes, flow limitation and obstructive events are related. Flow limitation often precedes an obstructive event. I think your basic problem in getting a prescription for a BiLevel machine is that your current machine is getting your AHI below the standard 5 level which is considered acceptable treatment. It is struggling a lot to do it, and frequently is hitting the 20 cm limit of the APAP, but the average AHI is still reasonable from a medical treatment perspective. So, the AHI is the weak point of your argument for a BiLevel machine. Your strong points is the duration of time that the machine is at 20 cm of pressure. I would expect that is not all that comfortable and may impact your sleep, and she should be told that (if it is true). The big advantage of the BiLevel for you is not the maximum pressure increase, it is the Pressure Support of up to 10 cm that would be of value to you. She should know that Pressure Support is what is needed in the case of flow limitation issue. Again you would need to convince her that flow limitations are a problem affecting your sleep, and need to be reduced independently from reducing the frequency of obstructive events. It is a bit of speculation on my part, but I would expect your overall pressures would go down if you had more than 3 cm of pressure support. What you really need is breathing support from a bigger differential between IPAP and EPAP. This addresses flow limitation on both inhale and exhale.

The other evidence you could give here is a zoomed in shot of your flow rate during these times of flow limitation. Not sure what yours looks like, but my wife has higher flow limitation than I do, and here is an example when FL gets up to 0.5 or so. You can see that the tops (peak inhale flow) of the breaths are flat topped and irregular. If yours are similar, that would be something you could take an image of an show her.

From the look of the flow chart it would appear my wife suffers more from flow limitation on inhale (up direction) compared to exhale.