apap vs cpap

jomac30 · Post by **jomac30** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 4:45 pm

How would I know if I should ask my doctor for an apap machine? I'm currently using a cpap since January.
Are there any signs or symptoms that would indicate the need for an apap machine?

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:04 pm

The machine shown in your profile with the Encore Pro Software, should be all you need to find the best treatment pressure. You should have it dialed in.

The APAP would do the same, only just a little faster to find the answer. The only benefit, to APAP are the added option of using the lowest pressure you need throughout the night. Jim

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 5:05 pm

My biggest questions would be: How are you feeling? Have you noticed improvement since you started? What pressure are you on? Are you having any difficulties?

What I like about my APAP is the ability to read the data and fine-tune my therapy. Eventually I will probably set it in CPAP mode.

Mindy

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 6:50 pm

If you REALLY think you want an APAP, buy one out-of-pocket for a second/backup machine. (you just never know.....)

I have two Autos and have only used one of them in Auto mode for one week. I discovered that I already had my therapy "dialed in" on my Pro 2 and that my therapy "numbers" in APAP were higher than in straight-pressure CPAP......and the pressure changes disturbed my sleep.

They are all set for single pressure now.

Den

WNJ · Post by **WNJ** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:30 pm

APAP works better for me.

I was titrated at 13 cm, but found that a bit uncomfortable.

After some experimenting, I settled on APAP with a setting of 10- to 14-cm. I now spend about 70% of my night at 10 cm, which is very comfortable, and less than 10% at 13 cm or above, which is not comfortable.

My AHI is pretty consistently at 3 or below with APAP. OTOH, from the sleep study, they said that (steady) 13 cm reduced my AHI to 7.5. I’m not sure what my at-home AHI was with the CPAP I used for a while, since it did not have data capability.

YMMV

Wayne

billbolton · Post by **billbolton** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:39 pm

Wulfman wrote:that my therapy "numbers" in APAP were higher than in straight-pressure CPAP

That's been my experience too!

Cheers,

Bill

annie123 · Post by **annie123** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:41 pm

In the last 9 months I lost 89 lbs and after 11 months of successful treatment on a straight CPAP I was mouth breathing because the pressure was now too high. The doc suggested another sleep study. After reading the message boards for 11 months I knew an Auto PAP could figure out the new titration, and demanded one. It has worked (I'm at 6.2 CM instead of 8 CM) and was way cheaper and easier than another sleep study.

sleepindividual · Post by **sleepindividual** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:41 pm

You lost 89 pounds. So precise? Perhaps it was 88.7654 lbs?

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:56 pm

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:57 pm

billbolton wrote:
Wulfman wrote:that my therapy "numbers" in APAP were higher than in straight-pressure CPAP
That's been my experience too!

Cheers,

Bill

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:39 am

I do very well on autopap (and on the bipap auto) when I set the minimum pressure ("EPAP" pressure on the bipap auto) up high enough to be close to what my prescribed pressure would be if I were using straight cpap. Wards off most apneas right from the get-go.

So, why use autopap if I'm going to use it almost like a cpap anyway? I like having a LOT of ceiling up above that can be used if needed. I set the top pressure at 20 ("IPAP" pressure on the bipap auto.)

Neither machine ever uses anywhere close to 20 for me, but both types of machines do occasionally hit 13, 14, 15, and even 16 briefly, occasionally.
I like the assurance of having everything taken care of, even if the higher pressures don't have to happen much.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 1:23 am

I just went to my GP doctor I've been going to for 20 years, he just tore up the script from the Sleep doc and rewrote it for the Autopap. Said want the software? sure.

The way I look at it, you could be without a job (or insurance) tomorrow, with straight CPAP you are basically screwed, you would be crazy to pay $3-5k for a new study out of your own pocket if your needs changed, stupid industry, it is not like they give you a discount for paying cash, they would rather get less and do all the paperwork.

with an Autopap, there is no worries with that, machine is always going to adjust up or down as needed. Sleep on your side it will go down, sleep on your back it will increase.

CPAP never really worked out for me, I had 4 titrations and they still didn't get it right, if I used their suggested pressure I would continually wake up during the night either in a panic and/or suddenly awake wondering what the hell just happened.

I keep my pressure low (lower than lab suggested pressure) and allow it to go higher for that rouge apnea I seem to have. If you are using a 90% pressure and the other 10% are what actually wakes you up then what have you accomplished?

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