CPAP with C-Flex to APAP without C-Flex

[nittanyfan66]

I am wanting to buy an Intellipap Auto Adjusts APAP machine because of the size for travel convenience and for low noise ratings. I currently use a Respironics with C-Flex. After using a regular CPAP for years, going to the C-Flex was like night and day for me; it was really great. I see the Intellipap does not have a similar feature, but I was wondering if the auto adjusting capability of this would make up for it. Can anyone tell me if it would be ok or a mistake to go from a regular CPAP with C-Flex to this APAP machine without the C-Flex feature? I'd like to buy one for a trip but I don't want to find out that I can't get used to it or dislike it after. I'm not really sure what the APAP does for you but I thought it lowered and raised the pressure as you needed it...but not sure. Any advice is appreciated.

[el_zorro]

About 3 weeks ago I was in the same situation as you and was about to pull the trigger on an Intellipap. Going without CFLEX or EPR was my only concern about this machine. I ended up getting a great deal on a Resmed S8 Autoset II on the auction site that has EPR which is good but not quite as smooth as CFLEX+. One thing you could do it shut your CFLEX off for one night and see how you do.

[LinkC]

To answer your question: APAP and C-flex are entirely different things. C-flex, as you know, provides pressure reduction during exhale, making it easier to breathe out. APAP changes the pressure OVER TIME by responding to apnea events. It does not change the pressure within a single breath. It's nowhere near that fast (nor is that its purpose!)

If you currently have an M-series, you can separate the CPAP unit from the humidifier for travel, unless you NEED the humidifier.

[AirBreather]

About four weeks ago I switched from a Respironics with C-Flex to a Resmed S8 Autoset II with EPR. I am sleeping better with the Resmed, but don't know whether the difference is due to EPR vs. C-Flex, Autoset vs. CPAP, or both.

I haven't been without some type of expiratory pressure relief years for several years, but I didn't have problems sleeping without it years ago, so buying a machine that doesn't have that feature wouldn't be of much concern to me. However, where the change to C-Flex was like "night and day" for you, el_zorro's suggestion to switch off C-Flex in your Respironics for a test before investing in a machine you may not like seems like a good plan to me.