BiPAP vs Auto CPAP

[fredw]

I have been on CPAP for 4 years. Although I feel much better, I never felt like I was fully alert (still a little sleepy). After another discussion with my sleep doctor, when he wanted to do a 3rd sleep study to adjust my CPAP pressure, I decided to try my luck elsewhere. I still had to have another sleep study, but the new doctor seems to be willing to listen to me and what I want.

As I said, I have never felt fully alert, and this seemed to get a little worse after my second sleep study, when he upped the pressure. I also feel like I am fighting the pressure to exhale. I also developed a problem with mouth breathing with the higher pressure.

My question is, which device have people had more luck with? I was going to ask for an auto titrating CPAP with c-flex, but the sleep technician said I may want to ask about a BiPAP. Also, my insurance will pay for a new machine every 5 years (the new sleep doctor thinks he can convince them to get a new one now), but moving to a BiPAP may get around the 5 year rule. Although I would like the insurance company to help pay, I am willing to pay either price if that is what it will take to be fully alert.

Anyone care to share their thoughts?

[NightHawkeye]

My question is, which device have people had more luck with? I was going to ask for an auto titrating CPAP with c-flex, but the sleep technician said I may want to ask about a BiPAP. Also, my insurance will pay for a new machine every 5 years (the new sleep doctor thinks he can convince them to get a new one now), but moving to a BiPAP may get around the 5 year rule. Although I would like the insurance company to help pay, I am willing to pay either price if that is what it will take to be fully alert.

Hi Fred, and let me be the first to welcome you to the forum.

You're in luck. You can have it both ways. Just ask for the BiPAP-Auto by Respironics. One of its features is Bi-flex, which accomplishes the same sort of function as C-flex. It's the only auto-adjusting BiPAP, and also the only BiPAP with Bi-flex. It's a remarkable machine and its cost is not that much more than a regular BiPAP. A number of folks here have written about it and love it.

Regards,
Bill

[Moogy]

I love my Respironics AutoBIPAP! Even though I need high pressures part of the night (I often hit 20 cm briefly), I spend most of the night at lower pressures, and I NEVER have to exhale against 20cm.

Moogy

P.S. My insurance is BlueCross, and they didn't give us any trouble about the doctor's recommendation for an autobipap. However, I was not replacing another unit like you were.

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