cpap vs vpap

If I normally used a cpap and switch to vpap will I be able to notice much of a difference? Is the vpap just for people who have copd or other respiratory problems?

While VPAP is often advised for people with respiratory/lung issues it can also be useful for regular folks without lung issues who might simply need more pressure than cpap can deliver or they need more exhale relief than regular cpap can deliver.

VPAP is just Resmed's marketing term for bilevel and BiPap is the marketing term for Respironics bilevel devices.
In the Bilevel model line there are several different models that can do different therapies depending on a patient's needs...from the regular "plain" bilevels to the high end ASV type of bilevel devices used for centrals.
You don't have to have COPD or central sleep apnea to benefit from a bilevel device. For many people the way the "plain" (non ASV type) delivers the pressures is just simply more comfortable and they sleep better.

Pugsy wrote:While VPAP is often advised for people with respiratory/lung issues it can also be useful for regular folks without lung issues who might simply need more pressure than cpap can deliver or they need more exhale relief than regular cpap can deliver.

VPAP is just Resmed's marketing term for bilevel and BiPap is the marketing term for Respironics bilevel devices.
In the Bilevel model line there are several different models that can do different therapies depending on a patient's needs...from the regular "plain" bilevels to the high end ASV type of bilevel devices used for centrals.
You don't have to have COPD or central sleep apnea to benefit from a bilevel device. For many people the way the "plain" (non ASV type) delivers the pressures is just simply more comfortable and they sleep better.

Pugsy, which is the more comfortable to exhale on a bi-pap, lower number or higher number? After my last bout of double pneumonia, my pulmo. doc ordered a bi-pap for me, but he had the pressure set too low, I couldn't breathe in or out, so I raised it to my average daily pressure of 15, and went back to a note I kept from Snoredog, and put the exhale 6 below the inhale, BUT i still feel like I have to 'push' the air out when I exhale sometimes. My titrated pressure on the cpap was 17 with an average of 15. Should I raise them both up to 17/11 ? ( I have not had a sleep study done to get the correct pressure for the Bi-Pap . )

jsmythe wrote:Pugsy, which is the more comfortable to exhale on a bi-pap, lower number or higher number? After my last bout of double pneumonia, my pulmo. doc ordered a bi-pap for me, but he had the pressure set too low, I couldn't breathe in or out, so I raised it to my average daily pressure of 15, and went back to a note I kept from Snoredog, and put the exhale 6 below the inhale, BUT i still feel like I have to 'push' the air out when I exhale sometimes. My titrated pressure on the cpap was 17 with an average of 15. Should I raise them both up to 17/11 ? ( I have not had a sleep study done to get the correct pressure for the Bi-Pap . )

It's the difference between inhale and exhale that offers the relief. I am good with 4 or 5 cm difference.
I wouldn't go any higher than 6 cm difference without talking to my doctor because too high of a difference can lead to sort of hyperventilating and cause centrals.
The exception might be if someone already has lung issues that make using a higher difference what they need ....like someone with COPD issues. So if you still are having trouble exhaling then maybe a chat with the doctor is needed.

Assuming no lung issues though...then yes if you want to use 6 cm difference and more pressure is needed (what do your software reports say?) then you have to increase both EPAP and IPAP.
What machine brand are you using? What model? The Respironics BiPaps have additional exhale relief features above just the difference between inhale and exhale with either BiFlex or rise time adjustments adding relief.
ResMed VPAPs also have additional adjustments available to help with the timing of the pressure support which might help you.

thanks pugsy for the information. Appreciate it!!

Pugsy wrote:

jsmythe wrote:Pugsy, which is the more comfortable to exhale on a bi-pap, lower number or higher number? After my last bout of double pneumonia, my pulmo. doc ordered a bi-pap for me, but he had the pressure set too low, I couldn't breathe in or out, so I raised it to my average daily pressure of 15, and went back to a note I kept from Snoredog, and put the exhale 6 below the inhale, BUT i still feel like I have to 'push' the air out when I exhale sometimes. My titrated pressure on the cpap was 17 with an average of 15. Should I raise them both up to 17/11 ? ( I have not had a sleep study done to get the correct pressure for the Bi-Pap . )

It's the difference between inhale and exhale that offers the relief. I am good with 4 or 5 cm difference.
I wouldn't go any higher than 6 cm difference without talking to my doctor because too high of a difference can lead to sort of hyperventilating and cause centrals.
The exception might be if someone already has lung issues that make using a higher difference what they need ....like someone with COPD issues. So if you still are having trouble exhaling then maybe a chat with the doctor is needed.

Assuming no lung issues though...then yes if you want to use 6 cm difference and more pressure is needed (what do your software reports say?) then you have to increase both EPAP and IPAP.
What machine brand are you using? What model? The Respironics BiPaps have additional exhale relief features above just the difference between inhale and exhale with either BiFlex or rise time adjustments adding relief.
ResMed VPAPs also have additional adjustments available to help with the timing of the pressure support which might help you.

I do have severe COPD as well as sever sleep apnea. Was using Respironics Auto Cpap, and now have Respironics PR System One Auto Bi-Pap with Flex feature. I don't have a reader for the sd card, so have no clue what my readings are since the cpap. (really loved Encore Pro!, have Encore Viewer on disk.) I am due for another sleep study, going on 8 years since my last one.

My apologies Blueeyes, I did not mean to hi-jack your thread.. I am sorry..

jsmythe wrote:I do have severe COPD as well as sever sleep apnea. Was using Respironics Auto Cpap, and now have Respironics PR System One Auto Bi-Pap with Flex feature. I don't have a reader for the sd card, so have no clue what my readings are since the cpap. (really loved Encore Pro!, have Encore Viewer on disk.)

If your computer has a slot for the SD card from the PR S1 then you don't need a special card reader.
If your computer doesn't have a slot for the SD card then all you need is a cheap generic SD card reader/adapter so that you can plug one end of the adapter into a USB port on your computer and the SD card into the other end.
You will likely need a newer Encore version though...send me a private message and I can help you out in that regard.
The older versions of Pro and Viewer won't work with the PR S1 machines.

Since you have known lung issues then you might benefit from an increase in the pressure support (pressure support is just the difference between inhale and exhale) so going from 6 cm to 7 cm might help but I advise running that past your doctor just to make sure he is okay with it. You could play with it just to see though and then talk to him about it.

You might also try playing with the BiFlex settings to see if one setting feels better to you.
If you turn off BiFlex then you have rise time available which you could also play with to see if one setting feels better.
Both rise time and BiFlex offer a little different feeling during exhale because they affect the timing of the drop during exhale and the timing of the increase during inhale.
So either is worth investigating and experimenting with to see if it helps your exhale issues.

Oh...don't worry about side tracking the thread. It's a rare thread here that doesn't get side tracked and actually the information here about how bilevel machines work and the exhale relief features are probably informative in general and not really that much of a side trip.

SD card readers are really cheap and readily available at amazon, walmart, bestbuy, etc. There are many for $10 or less and they plug right into the usb port on your computer. It's well worth picking one up so you can see how you're doing. The data is there - take advantage of it!

Thank you Pugsy and yaconsult, my comp has 6 slots for cards, lol,, I don't even know where the card is on my machine or what kind it is, let me go take a look/see and find it. And yes I prolly do need a newer version of the Viewer, obtained mine about 5 yrs ago or so. I never had a way of reading it I thought so never bothered to take it out. I used to monitor regularly when I had the smart card in my M Series then Pro would no longer work in my new comp at the time and I just gave up. But I have been getting Lousy sleep for the last several months and stay exhausted because of it, I want to see if the machine may be the culprit. I know virtually nothing about Bi paps unfortunately..so yes, your information is very informative, at least it is for me. Let me get back in a minute with more info on my card, I will PM you Pugsy in a few minutes.. Thanks everyone for the help and info...

jsmythe that is ok. I am learning from everyones post. I love reading all the information being put on here. Have a good one!!

Cool, you are all set then! The cpap machines use the most common size of SD card so I'm sure it will plug into your computer. Now, in regards to software, the excellent free sleepyhead software is so much better than the manufacturer's software! So if it supports your machine, just forget about anything else and go straight for the sleepyhead option - Pugsy has all the links you need at the top of the forum.

I believe that on your machine, the card plugs into a slot on the back of the cpap near the top. It has an internal latching mechanism so you push it in even further and then it will pop out a bit - enough for you to get your fingers on it and pull it out. I suggest you insert and remove it until you get a good feel for how it works. It's very easy and you won't have any trouble. You will see a message on the display when you plug the card in as it reads the card after it is latched in place.