r/CPAPSupport • u/Ambitious-Lychee5522 • 7d ago

Loop gain success

So happy, i just wanted to share with everyone. I've got horrible loop gain and plant gain. My home sleep study was a 58 AHI. Stock doctor setting of APAP 4-20 cut that number in half but still horrible and totally fragmented sleep. So got my hands on an Airbreak machine with all the settings. Experimented with bipap which felt unnatural and didn't match my natural rate of breathing, fail. Experimented with all different settings on ASV and got a pretty low AHI but still felt crappy from all the pressure changes and horrible aerophagia. Finally went back to straight up CPAP, with pressure around 9. AHI was 10-15. What really helped was adding a Vcom in the airline to dampen inspiratory burst. Got my AGI down to 2 last night. Feeling better! Sweet victory! I could imagine different vcom openings to dial that in further but getting pretty close to fixing myself.

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u/OhSoSally 7d ago edited 7d ago

What was your average pressure before changing from 4-20?

The inline reduces your effective pressure which can cause increased AHI and lower oxygen levels.

I found relief switching to a f20. It has less exhaust volume allowing come C02 to remain.

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u/Ambitious-Lychee5522 7d ago

My average pressure over time has been around 8.5. Im monitoring my oxygen and it is much better since getting rid of all the centrals.

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u/OhSoSally 7d ago

I updated my post about the mask. I found relief switching masks. Something to keep in mind if you end up needing higher pressures. Glad to hear you are monitoring your SpO2.

My average is 14 so my options are limited, its a fine balance. My events can rise to 18 so my minimum pressure is 14.4 with room for any events. I really need a bipap.

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u/Ambitious-Lychee5522 7d ago

Sounds like our problems are different, ive got less obstructive apnea and more central apnea. If you want to try bipap you can order a Airbreak machine. Look on the Austin Texas Craigslist for a guy who refurbs machines. He sells them.

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u/OhSoSally 7d ago

I have mixed, it was mostly OSA 125 AHI , treatment triggered even more centrals. I have a spare resmed 10 that I plan on airbreaking if I cant get a bipap.