First A-flex experience odd

andy88488 · Post by **andy88488** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:05 pm

Hi all,

I had my first night with my new APAP last night. I set the initial pressure to 8, and A-flex to 2. It seemed very odd to me. I recognize that it will take me some time to get used to the new features, but the way it worked seemed odd.

At first, A-flex seemed to be following my breathing, lowering pressure on the exhale, raising back up on the inhale. It was fine except that it had the effect of making my breathing sound louder. But after a while, the machine seemed to be starting the inhale /exhale cycle without waiting for me, which felt very odd. There were times when I felt like the machine was telling me when to breath, not the other way around.

It took me forever to get to sleep. As I said, I recognize that this new machine, being APAP and having exhalation relief, will take some getting used to, but should it be following my breathing cycle, not leading it?

Andy

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jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:42 pm

andy88488 wrote:There were times when I felt like the machine was telling me when to breath, not the other way around... As I said, I recognize that this new machine, being APAP and having exhalation relief, will take some getting used to, but should it be following my breathing cycle, not leading it?

People sometimes have this experience on C-Flex so I expect it can happen with A-Flex too? I think it usually goes way fairly quickly. Don't follow the machine, just try to breath normally, it should follow you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:04 pm

Just my experience - I never COULD get used to Aflex, and switched back to Cflex. I just couldn't get into psynch with it, the way I can with Cflex. Don't beat yourself up if you can't tolerate it, either. It's a very individual preference thing.

Cheers,
Babs

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:39 pm

I'll have to "second' what Babs said.......My "primary" machine is a "M" series Auto CFLEX.....and my back-up unit is a newer "M" series AFLEX.

I tried the AFLEX.....and didn't like it. I thought I might be the "Lone Ranger" or something....because everyone raves about how great AFLEX is......but, after a year on CFLEX, I couldn't see a reason to change to AFLEX.

So, I think it all boils down to what a person "likes"....what "feels the best".....not what someone else says is the latest and greatest.

I plan to continue running my CFLEX machine "until the wheels fall off" of it.....and continue using EP 1.6.22 software with Analyzer. It all works well for me.....and I "don't want to fix what ain't broke".

Gerald

Captain_Midnight · Post by **Captain_Midnight** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:06 pm

...APAP and having exhalation relief, will take some getting used to, but should it be following my breathing cycle, not leading it?

Yes, it should follow. Otherwise, you are on something akin to a respirator. (Perish the thought.)

In my 2 yr experience w CPAP, (8 cm, CFLEX = 1), I found it to have a more precipitous change between inhale and exhale cycles. Sort of....ON......OFF....ON...OFF. I also found that I tended to take shorter, more frequent shallow breaths (I think this is called breath stacking).

Now, on AFEX (set at 2, range 7.5-9.5) the breaths are much more natural, and unhurried. Although I never counted BPM, I'm certain that I'm more breathing more relaxed, fuller, and slower breaths at night.

And, with AFLEX, I wake up less frequently, and my AHI is lower. So, just proving that different therapies have differing effectiveness within a population, AFLEX works better for me.

Good luck adapting to AFLEX or finding a therapeutic strategy that works well for you.

Regards all - - Tom

DanGr · Post by **DanGr** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:32 pm

I only started using a CPAP 2 weeks ago and my first ever xPAP is the A-Flex, since I was a noob I decided to just go to A-Flex setting 3 right away and get used to it and it worked for me even on the first night.

For me aside from the Mask (and mine is quite comfortable actually) I don't even notice I am on xPAP and have air pressured into my nostrils (aside from like twice when I woke up and felt the 12).

Heck, I so don't feel the pressure and the A-Flex feel so natural sometimes I wonder if there is even air blowing!

(6 to 12, 12 being my 90% so probably will be increased in 2 weeks)

Regards,
DanGr

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:33 pm

Hi,

I have A-Flex and at first it did seem very much like you describe. I adjusted fairly rapidly (within a week) so that it seemed like a very minor problem by then. Sometime after that that sensation disappeared altogether. I've heard that if you try to control your breathing that will happen and best thing is to just let go.

Mindy

andy88488 · Post by **andy88488** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:58 pm

mindy wrote:Hi,

I have A-Flex and at first it did seem very much like you describe. I adjusted fairly rapidly (within a week) so that it seemed like a very minor problem by then. Sometime after that that sensation disappeared altogether. I've heard that if you try to control your breathing that will happen and best thing is to just let go.

Mindy

Yes, I think that I was semi-inadvertently trying to control my breathing. I'll try just letting go.

roster · Post by **roster** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:01 pm

The key is to relax and let breathing be the automatic response it is. That may be easier said than done at first. I had a little trouble starting out with A-Flex.

Now I am very happy with my A-Flex because it reduces aerophagia and mask leaks for me.

When I find myself trying to control my breathing, several deep exhales letting shallow inhales "just happen" will relax me and "restart" the automatic breathing response.

Stick with it and hopefully you will soon enjoy the nice benefits.

First A-flex experience odd

First A-flex experience odd

Re: First A-flex experience odd

APAP following or leading breath cycle?