CPAP vs APAP

SleepLessInKansas · Post by **SleepLessInKansas** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 5:33 pm

Hello Everyone. First posting. What a great site and group of members for straight talk. I wish I'd found this site four years ago when I was first diagnosed. OK...for my question: I'm ready to purchase a new machine. I started using a Respironics LX. which the DME provider "LOST" during repair, was given another new one (Brand??). It was horrible. Retuned it three days later. It would not deliver the air, I felt like I was pulling the air out of the machine. They provided me with an ResMed S7 Lightweight. It doesn't work much better. I have new insurance now and they will purchase a new machine. When I first started with a CPAP, it seemed like when I start an inhalation the machine pushed the air into my lungs (similar to diving with a SCUBA tank). Neither of the last two machine acts like that. I'm wondering if APAP would be a better alternative than CPAP? I'm looking at an M Series Pro with humidifier. What do you think?

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 5:57 pm

Since you didn't list your titrated pressure, I will qualify my answer.

If your pressure is under 15, I would get a Remstar Auto with cflex.

If it's over 15, you might want to consider a BiPap - discuss this with doctor.

The M series hasn't come out with the Auto yet.

I would get an Auto instead of a straight cpap.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:02 pm

I think the titrated pressure was listed: 12 cm/H2O.

My first thought is: I would get out my trusty meter, or a tube of water,
and check the machine. Twelve centimeters H2O displacement is a nice round number. It shouldn't be too hard to measure. What pressure is displayed on the screen? Is it 12 cm/H2O?

My second thought is: Get a DME manual (eBay) for the unit you have, and learn to set it up.

Of course an APAP is better than a CPAP. That is why it sells for more money. Heck, I paid $400.00 for a used RemStar Auto. New ones, with humidifier are $725.00.

I don't think the M series Pro is an an auto, and the M series auto is not available yet. If it's a straight CPAP, you want, there are lots of RemStar Pros and Pro 2s for sale on Yahoo Auctions. However, RemStar autos a bit harder to find.

What

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:20 am

How do the Remstar Pro's and Pro 2's different from the Remstar Plus with C-Flex?

Last night was the first night I got 7.5 hours (my fault) and I feel pretty good today but I noticed I have trouble with the pressure setting when I've been drinking or when I sleep on my side. For my back 13 seems just right.

Here's an oddity: My wife said I was lightly foaming at the mouth last night. She said she watched me a bit last night and that's what she noticed and then I wiped my mouth off she said. Yuck! And she said most of the night I don't let air escape out my mouth but I will at times.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:54 am

SleepLessInKansas wrote: OK...for my question: I'm ready to purchase a new machine. I started using a Respironics LX. which the DME provider "LOST" during repair, was given another new one (Brand??). It was horrible. Retuned it three days later. It would not deliver the air, I felt like I was pulling the air out of the machine. They provided me with an ResMed S7 Lightweight. It doesn't work much better. I have new insurance now and they will purchase a new machine.

My guess is they set you up with the ramp enabled on both of the new machines you tried and the pressure starts too low for you. Go through the menu on your Resmed S7 Lightweight and turn off the ramp and see if that helps. It if seems like too much, go back and turn the ramp on, but increase the starting pressure. It's probably set to start at 4cms. That makes most all of us feel like we're not getting enough air. Maybe you'd want to try resetting the ramp to start a couple cms below your titrated pressure.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:57 am

As I understand it, the 'Pro' and the 'Auto' have advanced software monitoring, but the Plus and the Lite only record compliance hours.

Yes, I bought an 'auto' because I require much less pressure on my side than on my back..Positional issues are a good reason to get an auto...

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:02 am

This is the argument I'm going to present to my equipment provider (DME?) which is part of the same office as my Sleep Center. It's all one office. One stop shop. But I don't want to suggest the auto m series just yet because it hasn't come out. Or SHOULD I?

I know very few of us actually drink with OSA (wink) and I only drink on occasion. But now that I'm 36, weeks are FLYING BY at warp speed compared to when I was 20 and younger. So, 2 weeks can go by very quickly for me. Anyway, let's say I have a few on Friday night, I might need more pressure that evening. And on my side I don't need as much and the pressure will wake me up, thus making sleeping on my side difficult.

IF the Remstar Auto M Series with C-Flex was already out, I'd just start asking for it but it's not. "Coming Soon" is the best I can find so far.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): C-FLEX, auto

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:06 am

oldgearhead wrote:As I understand it, the 'Pro' and the 'Auto' have advanced software monitoring

The Pro does not have advanced software monitoring but the Pro 2 does. I have a Pro and it provides compliance data only.

David

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:08 am

Rastaman wrote:How do the Remstar Pro's and Pro 2's different from the Remstar Plus with C-Flex?

You want to compare the Remstar Pro 2 CFlex, the Remstar Plus CFlex and the Remstar Pro CFlex?

Here's a cool tool to use from the cpap.com website. It allows you to compare whatever machines you want. Here's the link:

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-compare-select/CPAP

You'll have to uncheck the boxes of all the machines except for the 3 you're interested in.

Rastaman · Post by **Rastaman** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:30 am

Excellent tool. Thankyou. And you can see prices easily too. Now, If I can just figure out when the Remstar Auto M Series with C-Flex hits the market, then I'll know everything I need to know. Many thanks!

Btw, last night I sleep very well. 7.5 hours! When I'm on my back the pressure of 13 is just fine. When I'm on my side though. I wake up alot. Hmmmmmmmm..........Feels like I'm in a wind tunnel during those times. Nasal pillows seem to be working well.

CPAP vs APAP

CPAP vs APAP

Re: CPAP vs APAP