CPAP was great!! Bi-Pap, not so much........ anyone else???

I am a new user of CPAP after finding out that my O2 sats were falling to 55% during my sleep study. I was placed on a auto CPAP the next day and had fantastic life changing results starting the following day! After my Doc got the actual results of the study he changed me over to a Bi-Pap (20/14). For the 10 days on the auto CPAP (going up to 17) I was feeling so great it was off of the charts. Now after 3 days on the Bi-Pap I am back to feeling tired, nodding off, and overall feeling pretty much like I did before the study. It seems that for some reason while trying to fall asleep I feel like I have to force myself to inhale and exhale to make the unit work. I know that is just in my head, but the changing pressure triggered by my inhale and exhale are driving my feeling of needing to be aware of it. I dont know what happens after I fall asleep but it must not be good if I am feeling crappy again. I am going to contact my Doc and equipment provider but wanted to see if anyone else has went through anything like this........//mike//

[quote="mghaner"]I am a new user of CPAP after finding out that my O2 sats were falling to 55% during my sleep study. I was placed on a auto CPAP the next day and had fantastic life changing results starting the following day! After my Doc got the actual results of the study he changed me over to a Bi-Pap (20/14). For the 10 days on the auto CPAP (going up to 17) I was feeling so great it was off of the charts. Now after 3 days on the Bi-Pap I am back to feeling tired, nodding off, and overall feeling pretty much like I did before the study. It seems that for some reason while trying to fall asleep I feel like I have to force myself to inhale and exhale to make the unit work. I know that is just in my head, but the changing pressure triggered by my inhale and exhale are driving my feeling of needing to be aware of it. I dont know what happens after I fall asleep but it must not be good if I am feeling crappy again. I am going to contact my Doc and equipment provider but wanted to see if anyone else has went through anything like this........//mike//

I hated using the APAP. It just felt weird and kept me up all night. My stats were not good, either.

I went back down to straight CPAP 10 cm, with Cflex 3, and I'm much more comfortable, and my stats look okay.

YMMV.
Babs

I got hold of my Doc and he is going to drop the inhale pressure down to 17. He also suggests that I use some wedge pillow deal that ramps up to ten inches at the head end. Do any of you use these?

I think your doc is treating part of your medical condition you haven't yet shared with us. If it is working - you are golden.
Good Luck,
GumbyCT

I would have to agree with the suggestion of the Auto Bipap (with BiFlex model).

That gives you the inhale/exhale relief + will auto adjust the pressure if the machine detects apnea pre-cursor signs (Snore, Hypops, Flow Lims etc:).

But I would besetting epap min to 12 CMS based on what you have explained. Perhaps even a bit higher. Max PS can be 20 CMS without any worry.

My guess is your tiredness with the Bipap is that
1) The epap is too low (Recomm lift it by 2 CMS) and
2) The epap/ipap gap is too big (that gets solved by 1 above)

Am betting you will notice an immediate difference if you lift epap by 2 CMS.

Good luck

DSM

Not sure what the poster was getting at about my medical condition. All I know of is "severe obstructive sleep apnea" as far as I know that is it. I am not receiving treatment for any other issues or conditions. last night was the first night with the lower pressure on the Bi-Pap (16I-10E) and using the wedge pillow and I feel great today. I did wake up 2x to adjust my nasal mask and other then that I had a great night with about 8 hours sleep. I am really not sure what the pillow is all about but it did not seem to bother me at all and in looking at it I am thinking that it may actually be used for some recreational uses as well but I will save that for another forum.............