Hey there @TAB being a bit of a lurker here…read you have AFib, and that a doc wants you back on CPAP….?
Hopefully they have explained some important points for you, however if not I wanted to kindly help with some key stuff that could make a difference…
AFib-related disordered night time/sleep breathing is treated using ASV, not CPAP. Critically, ASV is much more comfortable, adapts to the unique sleep breathing patterns that exist in AFib patients, and takes a lot of stress off the heart. There are some contraindications, including left ejection fraction being below 45% in systole heart failure conditions (check with your doc, LVEF below 45% is easily measured using a cardiac ultrasound), but it’s well worth asking for ASV trial instead of returning to CPAP when CPAP doesn’t suit afib patients at all due to the unique breathing patterns experienced by afib patients. ASV machines are available to rent, and the prescription is written by a smart sleep doc…. Usually, if a smart technician is reading your download from the CPAP and notices the critical patterns shown by those who need either BiPAP or ASV (the way the wavy lines look gives a unique pattern, and in combination, you can usually see if someone needs a Ventilator (BiPAP or ASV).
The doc who referred you to have a sleep study should have the info from your CPAP machine downloads, as well as knowing you have afib, and combined (if they are a sleep specialist/pulmonologist) they should well and truly know ASV is suitable to trial. The machine parameters (data inputs needed for individual care) are much more complex, and (depending on manufacturer) include Pressure Support, Min / Max pressure IPAP, Min / Max pressure EPAP, Timed Inspiration, Respiratory Rate, and Rise Time.. may include more, but these are pretty much the basics of what I found really helpful in receiving a prescription to set someone up on ASV (just to give you an indication of how vastly different it is to plain CPAP).
I used to set these up on almost a daily basis, for afib people.
Contraindications.
AFib ASV Treatment.
Just thought I’d throw this into the mix, considering that in all the experience I have and research that’s out there, CPAP will not be sufficient nor comfortable, because it’s not the appropriate type of therapy… like saying here’s a Band-Aid to treat your broken ankle 🌺
