Giving CPAP a second try... Need advise please

vertebra · Post by **vertebra** » Fri May 04, 2007 12:50 am

I never got used to my Fisher & Paykel HC233 with Heated Humidifier. I would wake up every 2 hours with aerophagia. I have bought the just about every mask(Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillow System, Breeze SleepGear CPAP Interface System, Mirage Activa Mask with Headgear and the Ultra Mirage II Nasal Mask with Headgear) and heated hoses from Australia. I have a hard time exhaling so I was thinking about getting a Auto CPAP machine. After reading the forums it looks like the Remstar is the way to go. I read everything and still don't know which one to get. Remstar Plus, Remstar Auto, Remstar Pro, Remstar
Pro 2, Remstar Pro M, Remstar C-flex, Remstar A-flex. I am Dizzy. I just want
a easy to set up machine that can automatically acclimate to my breathing. Thank You, Mark

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:08 am

lower pressure and exhale relief are what seem to lessen the effects of aerophagia. If you have GERD it makes it worse, it can help if you address that at the same time.

I have no idea what your pressure is, to suggest the appropriate machine. If your pressure is below 10 it doesn't make a lot of sense going to a bipap when you can simply setup to the pressure so the machine runs at a lower pressure while still applying adequate treatment.

If you are over 10cm and for compliance sake, then look at the bipap auto. It can offer more exhale relief than the autopap, but again it depends on what your current pressure is, what type of events were seen on your PSG. If you are a chronic snorer, that can trigger many autos into increasing pressure. With aerophagia, you don't worry about the snores and you set pressure so the aerophagia is eliminated and you use the machine.

With your current F&P machine, if it has a ramp use it, if you can get by with 1-2cm lower pressure, then lower it and use the machine. Therapy at a lower pressure is better than no therapy at all.

THier · Post by **THier** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:13 am

Been there done that,,, errrr doing that now. You sound like you are having the exact problem I have,,, I have a Remstar Pro w/cflex now,,, doc is getting me an APAP but feels I may need a Bi-level machine. With a Bi-PAP you set inhale and exhale pressures,, ex. inhale for me is a 12,, exhale could be dropped as low as I need,, 4,5 2, whatever. They also have Auto Bi-PAP, When I had an auto last year,, my pressure varied from 9 to 14. I truely know what you are going through,, I wish you the best of luck,

Tom

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:22 am

THier wrote:exhale could be dropped as low as I need,, 4,5 2, whatever.

Not quite... That EPAP needs to be high enough to still prevent apneas. The IPAP prevents Hypopneas and Flow Limitations.

THier · Post by **THier** » Fri May 04, 2007 2:28 am

blarg wrote:
THier wrote:exhale could be dropped as low as I need,, 4,5 2, whatever.
Not quite... That EPAP needs to be high enough to still prevent apneas. The IPAP prevents Hypopneas and Flow Limitations.

OK I stand corrected,,, like my reply stated,,, I am still having problems,, still trying to get it figured out. Thanks for pointing out my error!!

Tom

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:12 am

vertebra, what is your current single prescribed pressure?

vertebra · Post by **vertebra** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:51 am

My pressure at the sleep study was 13. When I went back to complain about the aerophagia the answer I got was "well, you can lower the pressure to your comfort" Can I just switth from a CPAP to a BiPAP without another study? BTW Thank you

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Fri May 04, 2007 9:09 am

vertebra wrote:Can I just switth from a CPAP to a BiPAP without another study?

Postings here indicate the answer to be yes, usually . . . Insurance often won't pay for BiPAP unless you've tried CPAP and find that it doesn't work right for you. Aerophagia and difficulty breathing out with standard CPAP are the reasons docs and insurance companies seem to find acceptable for moving folks to BiPAP.

Regards,
Bill

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:12 pm

vertebra, if your doctor will write a new prescription for you for "bipap", I'd get the Respironics BiPAP Auto with BiFlex. Combines the best of both worlds (imho) -- auto-titrating to find what varying pressures you need during the night AND the comfort of exhaling with a bi-level machine.

If the doctor won't write the Rx for bipap, then I'd use my current "cpap" prescription to order an autopap machine from an online store like cpap.com.

One of these autopaps is what I'd want, in this order:

REMstar M series Auto with A-Flex

REMstar Auto with C-Flex -- either the M series or the older, slightly larger one...people on the message board often refer to the older one as the "classic" or the "tank" - a reference to its size.

Another autopap I like is the Puritan Bennett 420E.

Whatever machine you get, do get a heated humidifier for it...either an integrated heated humidifier or the stand-alone Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier (can be used with any brand of autopap.)

vertebra · Post by **vertebra** » Sat May 05, 2007 6:51 am

I just wanted to thank everyone for their help.

THier · Post by **THier** » Sun May 06, 2007 2:38 am

vertebra wrote:I just wanted to thank everyone for their help.

Let us,,,, uh me,,, Know how it goes,,,, I get an APAP AGAIN monday for a two week trial,, then maybe a BiPAP.

Tom

Giving CPAP a second try... Need advise please

Giving CPAP a second try... Need advise please

My pressure

Re: My pressure

Thank You

Re: Thank You