Well, we now have a new reason for my 7yo's severe apnea.  it is being changed from obstructive to central per the sleep dr.  so now, not only are we looking at lifelong bi-pap, we are looking at brain surgery too.  We also got the results from the last sleep study and his pressures changed from ( get this.....Not a typo....) 6/3 to 16/5 !!!!!!!!!!!
I was like yeah....THATS gonna happen.   Anyone knowing of a good neurosurgeon let me know.  The MRI results shows a Chiari 1 malformation and a Syrinx.  I don't even know what to do right now.  Thanks for listening.  Hope this helps someone realize that maybe their kid NEEDS an mri.

Hi Carrie:
Boy, that's awful, talk about out of the frying pan...

Anyway, is your BiPAP now set to "timed" mode using "back-up" breaths"?  In true central apnea, you can crank up the pressure all day long and usually nothing happens.  If there is no effort made to trigger the machine, no breath will be delivered, so who cares what you have the pressure set at.  Timed mode does not always help a great deal in adults, but with a child, the more compliant lungs may respond a little better.  Certainly enough that you won't need 16 of IPAP.

Do you have the results of the sleep studies?  What were the AHIs, desaturations and the AHIs in REM vs NREM?

There is also a new BiPAP coming out like now that is designed to treat central apnea (it's made for a CA type called Cheyne Stokes Respiration, but depending on a few things, might be appropriate in your case).
Write back.
sleepydave

I cannot get them online??  technical help here please :)