Bipap Setting

[Nunuyezin]

My Husband has been on the Bipap 24/7 we intitally started with the lowest setting IPAP 6/ EPAP 4. Since then with the progression of the disease his need for air has increased. Now he is at 18/6. But lately he has been complaining of bloated stomach and discomfort and asks for the air to be reduced but when we reduce the Ipap to 17/6 t his oxygen saturation starts to decrease too and his hunger for air increases. Is there anything we should adjust to give him a relief for stomach bloating? Also, we constantly monitor his O2 saturation and there are times where it randomly drop from 98 to 90, 91 when that happens is there anything we need to adjust on the BiPap? He is currently in Hospice and is not getting any help as far as adjusting the BiPap setting. He is using Trilogy Evo. i have attached the prescription he is currently on for reference.

 

[lgelb]

I'm very sorry to hear about your husband. I will PM you since there are other questions to ask.

But for anyone reading this thread, there should never have been <4 between IPAP and EPAP. in ALS. So with EPAP=4, IPAP min should always be at least 8.

But almost everyone, except during coughing/choking, should have AVAPS (Respironics) or IVAPS (ResMed) enabled to adjust pressure to the volume needed, instead of a fixed pressure. Once the target volume (how much air per minute the person will move in and out) is established, the pressure follows within the preset range. Having to be ONLY 18/6 or 17/6 is like trying to drive your car safely at a single speed, regardless of road conditions.