C-Flex vs. Aflex--increased ahi

dankalm · Post by **dankalm** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:12 pm

For the past year, I used an auto Resiprionics Machine with Cflex--my original cpap prescription was 15--with the auto machine, with diet and exercise, i've dropped my average pressure to 9cm--all good with 1.7 ahi on a ffm. So as usual, I dropped money into my HSA account (health savings account) wanted to get an Aflex machine--even with the Cflex, I'd get air in my stomach.

So, with their usual exceptional service, Cpap.com took good care of me and shipped me out my machine. With Aflex, I'm seeing ahi's of 4-6 vs. my normal 1.7. I switched my new machine into Cflex mode and saw my number two nights ago at 1.9 and last night an amazing .5.

Has anyone else had similar situations and figured out a work around. I like the Aflex in terms of breathing patterns, but the numbers are not there. Please let me know if anyone has had similar experiences. Thanks.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:16 pm

You didn't say what your pressure range was with the A-Flex, but from what I've read from users who switched, they had to up their bottom/minimum pressure.

Den

dankalm · Post by **dankalm** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:45 am

I've sent a basement of 8 and a high of 20. On the Aflex--would you kick it up to 9 or 10? The Cflex setting of 8 works so what correlates to Aflex? Thanks.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:52 am

Whatever helps improve your numbers......

You've (apparently) got the software to monitor it. I would look at what your typical 90% pressure number is and move the bottom pressure up (at least very close) to that.

If the minimum pressure has to move too far to start treating events, you're going to have a higher AHI because it takes too long to get there.

Den

dankalm · Post by **dankalm** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:42 pm

OK so I bumped my bottom pressure from 8.0 to 10.5. My results were interesting--my ahi went down to 1.2 which is grand. It virtually eliminated hypopneas and I had 8 apneas. I've never had more apneas than hypopneas that I can ever remember. Any thoughts if this is concerning?

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:55 pm

In the Daily Details Report, you should be able to see at what pressure(s) the apneas were occurring. If they're happening at higher pressures, you may need to lower the top pressure. If they're happening at lower pressures, you may need to bump it up.
I couldn't find if you had told us what pressure range you were using.......

Den

dankalm · Post by **dankalm** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:57 pm

Thanks Den--my original pressure range was 8-20 with higher than normal ahi. Based on our dialogue, I switched to 10.5 to 20 and got much better hypopnea results, but only slightly on the apneas. I don't understand the effect of lowering the high pressure--I get the low pressure increase.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:21 pm

dankalm wrote:Thanks Den--my original pressure range was 8-20 with higher than normal ahi. Based on our dialogue, I switched to 10.5 to 20 and got much better hypopnea results, but only slightly on the apneas. I don't understand the effect of lowering the high pressure--I get the low pressure increase.

There could be any number of things that are causing the residual apneas. My thought was that if they're occurring at higher pressures......the pressure itself could be causing them.
Or, you may even need to increase the bottom pressure by just a bit more, too. That's why you have the software.

It might be a good idea to just leave things alone for a few more nights and see what shakes out.

Glad to hear the number of events came down.

Den

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:49 am

As Den said, you need to study your nightly details and figure out what is going on with your software.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:09 am

I didn't observe an increase in AHI, but I had to bump the Minimum pressure as it was too low with Aflex.

What I did notice after about 3 months use is my fatigue level increased, increased to a point where there was no difference between using and not using the machine.

I switched back to my 420e and got immediate relief and have stuck the Aflex in the closet.

420e is quieter and easier to pull reports anyway.

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