Desperately need help!

[copygirl]

I have a respironics auto bipap machine. How do I change it to auto cpap mode? I've looked in the online user manual but can't find the answer. I think it has something to do with pressure support.

It's a loooong story ... but basically, got the new auto bipap, and my AHI gradually went down to 6, which is really good for me! But the tech looked at the data and found the machine basically was operating in a kind of cpap mode--same IPAP and EPAP. She said it had something to do with pressure support. She changed that, and now the machine operates at a different IPAP and EPAP--but my AHI is terrible, 20 or 15 every night. I've lived with this for a few nights, hoping it would improve, but it hasn't, and my sleep is terrible--and she's out of town until Monday and nobody else can help me.

I am desperate to get a good night's sleep. I need help!

Please forgive the tone of this post. I am sleep deprived and about to lose my mind.

[copygirl]

If it matters, here's where I found the manual, but I can't find my answer in here:

http://www.libertymedical.com/uploadedf ... Manual.pdf

[Wulfman...]

I have a respironics auto bipap machine. How do I change it to auto cpap mode? I've looked in the online user manual but can't find the answer. I think it has something to do with pressure support.

It's a loooong story ... but basically, got the new auto bipap, and my AHI gradually went down to 6, which is really good for me! But the tech looked at the data and found the machine basically was operating in a kind of cpap mode--same IPAP and EPAP. She said it had something to do with pressure support. She changed that, and now the machine operates at a different IPAP and EPAP--but my AHI is terrible, 20 or 15 every night. I've lived with this for a few nights, hoping it would improve, but it hasn't, and my sleep is terrible--and she's out of town until Monday and nobody else can help me.

I am desperate to get a good night's sleep. I need help!

Please forgive the tone of this post. I am sleep deprived and about to lose my mind.

An Auto Bi-PAP machine is incapable of operating as an Auto CPAP machine........PERIOD!
It CAN operate as a single pressure, straight CPAP machine in the way it was previously configured......IPAP and EPAP set to the same pressure.

Did the tech have a prescription or order from your doctor to change the settings? They're NOT supposed to do that.


Den

.

[copygirl]

The tech set the machine like my doctor prescribed, but like I said, she knew something was *wrong* when it gave me an identical ipap and epap. She wasn't sure what was wrong, but she took it to another tech and they said it had to do with a "pressure support" thing. I obviously don't know exactly what it is.

I want to go back to the identical ipap and epap for a few days because at least with that I was getting some good sleep! Then, on MOnday, the tech can tell me what she wants to do next.

Edit: Does someone have a PDF of the clinical manual they can email me? ge ni fra 2 @ hot mail . com (remove the spaces)

[old dude]

The manual you show is a User's Manual, and to do what you want to accomplish you will need the Clinician's Manual. They normally take this manual out of the box before they give you the machine.

I mean this most respectfully, but given your state of mind as you write this I'm not sure I would attempt it on my own even if I had the clinician's manual. It's not terribly hard to do but it does require some clear-headed concentration. I'm sure there will be a point in time when you can easily make these changes yourself but for now I think I'd go back to my DME and ask them to take another shot at it.

[copygirl]

Like I said, my DME said there's nothing they can do until Monday. And I can't wait that long or else my mental status will deterioriate further

NO offense taken. Sleep deprivation dose terrible things to the mind.

[49er]

Like I said, my DME said there's nothing they can do until Monday. And I can't wait that long or else my mental status will deterioriate further

NO offense taken. Sleep deprivation dose terrible things to the mind.

Sent you a PM.

49er

[Wulfman...]

The tech set the machine like my doctor prescribed, but like I said, she knew something was *wrong* when it gave me an identical ipap and epap. She wasn't sure what was wrong, but she took it to another tech and they said it had to do with a "pressure support" thing. I obviously don't know exactly what it is.

I want to go back to the identical ipap and epap for a few days because at least with that I was getting some good sleep! Then, on MOnday, the tech can tell me what she wants to do next.

Edit: Does someone have a PDF of the clinical manual they can email me? ge ni fra 2 @ hot mail . com (remove the spaces)

It might help to know which specific machine model you have. Is it a fairly current 750 or 760 series?
It might make a difference as to what pressure it was set to (same IPAP & EPAP). Those numbers could possibly be tweaked (within CPAP mode) to improve the "numbers" (AHI, etc)

The general instructions have been posted here before (by me).
If you go up to the Search line and put in "Navigating the Device Screens" there will be (among others) a post by me on Feb. 5th of 2011 with a copy of the instructions out of the manual. It's for an Auto CPAP machine, but should give you some general idea of how to get into the configuration options.
If you have further questions beyond that (once you get into your machine) feel free to ask.
I also recommend going through ALL of the current configuration options set in your machine and write them down on a piece of paper for possible further reference.


Den

.

[old dude]

Like I said, my DME said there's nothing they can do until Monday. And I can't wait that long or else my mental status will deterioriate further

NO offense taken. Sleep deprivation dose terrible things to the mind.

You are absolutely not kidding about that! I have suffered with it for so many years and can completely empathize!

Just one more thought: can you get in direct touch with your doctor, bypassing your DME? My doc has his own RRT and she is at least as adept as my DME.

[copygirl]

My doctor isn't very helpful. I would have to make an appointment and probably couldn't get in until next week anyway.

If I truly can't get my sleep apnea resolved by a machine--which, it looks like, I can't--I will try to go see the pulmonologist who read my sleep study. I've never been to a pulmonologist before, but after literally years of this, I'm desperate.

But, for now, I'm just trying to get some decent sleep for the next five nights!!

Thank you all for hearing me out and putting up with my abruptness and crabbiness.

[copygirl]

The tech set the machine like my doctor prescribed, but like I said, she knew something was *wrong* when it gave me an identical ipap and epap. She wasn't sure what was wrong, but she took it to another tech and they said it had to do with a "pressure support" thing. I obviously don't know exactly what it is.

I want to go back to the identical ipap and epap for a few days because at least with that I was getting some good sleep! Then, on MOnday, the tech can tell me what she wants to do next.

Edit: Does someone have a PDF of the clinical manual they can email me? ge ni fra 2 @ hot mail . com (remove the spaces)

It might help to know which specific machine model you have. Is it a fairly current 750 or 760 series?
It might make a difference as to what pressure it was set to (same IPAP & EPAP). Those numbers could possibly be tweaked (within CPAP mode) to improve the "numbers" (AHI, etc)

The general instructions have been posted here before (by me).
If you go up to the Search line and put in "Navigating the Device Screens" there will be (among others) a post by me on Feb. 5th of 2011 with a copy of the instructions out of the manual. It's for an Auto CPAP machine, but should give you some general idea of how to get into the configuration options.
If you have further questions beyond that (once you get into your machine) feel free to ask.
I also recommend going through ALL of the current configuration options set in your machine and write them down on a piece of paper for possible further reference.


Den

.

Thanks! Right now my high number is 20 and low is 4 (ipap/epap). I'm pretty sure I have the latest machine; it's brand new.

I will search for that post.

[Sir NoddinOff]

Your pressure range of 4-20 is what we at CPAPtalk call 'wide open'. Or nearly so, depending on your machine. It's not a bad thing for a few nights to see what range of comfortable pressure is your 'sweet spot'... however it not a good setting for the long term because your BiLevel will zip from 4cmH20 to 20 at a moments notice, trying to blow the mask right off your face. Not a efficient way to stay asleep with that kind of surge. Lots of people have gone thru this, not me personally, so I'm sure somebody will explain how to set your correct pressure. You'll definitely need PC sleep software to do this. Good luck, I hope you get it sorted out soon. Note: there are some, tho not many doctors, who like this setting because they can just write you off as cured without lifting a finger. That's shameful, IMO>

[copygirl]

I think this may address my issue. I'll find out tonight.

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread ... ngs-for-PS

[copygirl]

OK, I set my MinPS and MaxPS both at zero in an attempt to replicate what happened before. We'll see how it goes tonight--maybe I'll create a kind of ghetto auto cpap.

[hueyville]

It can be set to run in c-flex mode which is how i run mine. PM me and i will walk u thru changing it over.