Respironics Trilogy Ventilator "Flutter"

[HerbInRedBluff]

Hello,

I just recently went on the Respironics Trilogy Ventilator (setting 12) with piped in oxygen (2.5L) for sleep apnea and COPD.

My question: Occasionally - throughout the night (always on exhale) the ventilator back pressure will flutter or pulse if you will. I liken it to exhaling while puffing rapidly or saying the "p" rapidly... (hope that made sense).

Can someone tell me what the machine is doing and why?

Herb

[Sir NoddinOff]

Upon a rare occasion, I get that same flutter with my ASV when my breathing gets temporarily out of synch with the machine. It would sometimes wake me up if I wasn't sound asleep... it was also worrisome at first but now I just sleep thru it. It seemed to occur more often when I was using my Wisp nasal mask last year. I'm now using a ResMed Airfit F10 and it's rare that it happens anymore. Other than that I don't know what to recommend since I've never used a Trilogy. I assume it's a bit more aggressive regarding pressure delivery than my ASV.

[Madalot]

Hello,

I just recently went on the Respironics Trilogy Ventilator (setting 12) with piped in oxygen (2.5L) for sleep apnea and COPD.

My question: Occasionally - throughout the night (always on exhale) the ventilator back pressure will flutter or pulse if you will. I liken it to exhaling while puffing rapidly or saying the "p" rapidly... (hope that made sense).

Can someone tell me what the machine is doing and why?

Herb

I also use a Trilogy and without knowing your exact settings/mode, I am only guessing. But it SOUNDS like you might be using AVAPS-AE and you will get that flutter (known as an FOT - Forced Oscillation Technique) on exhale on and off throughout the night. The FOT results in a pulse-like sensation. For some people, it's so distracting they can't sleep. I've learned to cope with it as it helps when I flip onto my back.

[HerbInRedBluff]

Upon a rare occasion, I get that same flutter with my ASV when my breathing gets temporarily out of synch with the machine. It would sometimes wake me up if I wasn't sound asleep... it was also worrisome at first but now I just sleep thru it. It seemed to occur more often when I was using my Wisp nasal mask last year. I'm now using a ResMed Airfit F10 and it's rare that it happens anymore. Other than that I don't know what to recommend since I've never used a Trilogy. I assume it's a bit more aggressive regarding pressure delivery than my ASV.

Sounds very similar to what is happening, although last night, if it happened, I slept through it. Thanks for responding.

Herb

[HerbInRedBluff]

Hello,

I just recently went on the Respironics Trilogy Ventilator (setting 12) with piped in oxygen (2.5L) for sleep apnea and COPD.

My question: Occasionally - throughout the night (always on exhale) the ventilator back pressure will flutter or pulse if you will. I liken it to exhaling while puffing rapidly or saying the "p" rapidly... (hope that made sense).

Can someone tell me what the machine is doing and why?

Herb

I also use a Trilogy and without knowing your exact settings/mode, I am only guessing. But it SOUNDS like you might be using AVAPS-AE and you will get that flutter (known as an FOT - Forced Oscillation Technique) on exhale on and off throughout the night. The FOT results in a pulse-like sensation. For some people, it's so distracting they can't sleep. I've learned to cope with it as it helps when I flip onto my back.

It appears you've hit the nail on the head as it were. I finally got a call back and pretty much got the same answer. I'm sure I can learn to live with it. Thanks for responding.

Herb

[Sir NoddinOff]

Upon a rare occasion, I get that same flutter with my ASV when my breathing gets temporarily out of synch with the machine. It would sometimes wake me up if I wasn't sound asleep... it was also worrisome at first but now I just sleep thru it. It seemed to occur more often when I was using my Wisp nasal mask last year. I'm now using a ResMed Airfit F10 and it's rare that it happens anymore. Other than that I don't know what to recommend since I've never used a Trilogy. I assume it's a bit more aggressive regarding pressure delivery than my ASV.

Sounds very similar to what is happening, although last night, if it happened, I slept through it. Thanks for responding.

Herb

Yeah, Herb, it's a totally weird feeling because it's sorta deep down, like a gurgling earthquake in your lower airway or something. It's not painful or anything like that but just the kind feeling that makes you think: What the c**p was that! I hope you don't get revisited by it.

[Madalot]

Upon a rare occasion, I get that same flutter with my ASV when my breathing gets temporarily out of synch with the machine. It would sometimes wake me up if I wasn't sound asleep... it was also worrisome at first but now I just sleep thru it. It seemed to occur more often when I was using my Wisp nasal mask last year. I'm now using a ResMed Airfit F10 and it's rare that it happens anymore. Other than that I don't know what to recommend since I've never used a Trilogy. I assume it's a bit more aggressive regarding pressure delivery than my ASV.

Sounds very similar to what is happening, although last night, if it happened, I slept through it. Thanks for responding.

Herb

Yeah, Herb, it's a totally weird feeling because it's sorta deep down, like a gurgling earthquake in your lower airway or something. It's not painful or anything like that but just the kind feeling that makes you think: What the c**p was that! I hope you don't get revisited by it.

Unfortunately, the FOTs on the Trilogy in AVAPS-AE will happen every night, all night (on and off). They will start about 7 minutes into treatment. You'll get about a minute of them, a minute without them, then a minute with them and on and on it goes. I eventually fall asleep. Every time I wake up and move, they start again. There have been a few nights that they have driven me crazy and I couldn't fall asleep. On those nights, I switch back to standard AVAPS just to get to sleep.

[JTwilley]

I'm new to the forum and I'm glad I found this thread! The "stutter" you guys talk about has been driving me insane!

I was recently in the hospital with Pneumonia and I also have COPD so while I was in the hospital, they put me on a hospital breathing machine.
Now that I'm at home, I've got this brand new portable Trilogy 100 machine sitting next to my bed as a rental. Thank God for insurance, that's all I can say. This machine is....(Ex-Pen-Sive!!)

I also have a new Rep that knows nothing about me or my hospital stay...and next to nothing about the machine she represents. She is also the only person covering 1/3 of West Houston so getting her to reply or come by is impossible!! I've seen her twice in almost 3 months and I've been putting up with this stutter the whole time.

Anyway,I'll stop whining now and just say she's due here today and I plan to ask about the settings you guys discussed above. I'm tired of getting beat up by the exhale stutter from this machine, if switching back to standard AVAPS will work, then that's what I'm going to ask her to do. I hope she knows how! Anything else you might suggest?