Looking for advice

[JeffH]

After an interesting, educational week, (but not much sleep) I've figured out some things.

1. My pressure is too low on my CPAP machine. After taping my mouth last night I was waking up this morning and rolled over on my back. I laid there a minute and about the second exhale, I could feel myself shut down. My pressure is set at 14 right now.

2. Taping mouth shut works pretty good.

3. DIY mouth appliance is interesting, but kind of uncomfortable.

4. I think I need an autopap machine. Can they be set to where they work as a CPAP but still vary the pressure as needed? The one time I used a machine that varied the pressure it drove me nuts. I felt better with the machine blowing all the time.

Thanks for your input.

[Julie]

Yes to #4 question.

[JeffH]

Thanks. That's good to know.

[SelfSeeker]

Hi JeffH.

The Respironic Auto and M Auto machine can be set to work as a straight CPAP machine. So can the Resmed.

What do you mean about you feel better about the machine blowing all the time. All the machines blow all the time.

Are you confusing the auto "blowing" with the exhaling relief, know as the CFlex on Respironics and EPR or something like that on Resmed.

Exhaling relief is also possible on the Straight CPAP machines as well.

I think what you are trying to say is you want a machine that varies the pressure but does not have the exhale relief with each breath. Is that what you are saying?

When a machine is set as a CPAP, the pressure stays constant, it may go down with each breath if the exhale relief is turned on.

If you want a machine to vary pressure as your body needs it then you are looing for an Auto CPAP.

With the Respironics Auto CPAP:

the machine can be ran both in straight CPAP mode or as an auto CPAP mode. In both of these modes the CFLEX (less pressure with each exhale) can be turned OFF or on to a setting of 1-3.

With some of the Resmeds, do not know them as much:

the machines can be run in auto or straight CPAP modes. I think that the exhale relief EPR can only be used in straight CPAP mode. (someone please correct me if I am wrong.)

I hope this has not confused you even more.

4. I think I need an autopap machine. Can they be set to where they work as a CPAP but still vary the pressure as needed? The one time I used a machine that varied the pressure it drove me nuts. I felt better with the machine blowing all the time.

[JeffH]

Thanks SelfSeeker. I am clearer on what happens now. I just spent about 30 minutes talking to Paul @ cpap.com and he helped me understand the difference between the two.

Maybe I'm on the road to sleep. I just ordered the M series autopap and hopefully, that will cure my ills. This forum has really been helpful this week. Thanks to everyone for there help.

[SelfSeeker]

Congrats on your new purchase Jeff.

Your welcome.

I just wanted to make sure you were not confusing auto CPAP and exhale pressure relief, because from your sentence 4, I was not sure you were clear about the difference between an auto CPAP and exhale pressure releif such as CFLEX.

Welcome to the world of hoseheads.

The fun has just began.

Thanks SelfSeeker. I am clearer on what happens now. I just spent about 30 minutes talking to Paul @ cpap.com and he helped me understand the difference between the two.

Maybe I'm on the road to sleep. I just ordered the M series autopap and hopefully, that will cure my ills. This forum has really been helpful this week. Thanks to everyone for there help.

[JeffH]

Not a newbie, been on CPAP for about 6 years...just not up to snuff on the lastest stuff.

HOPEFULLY the autopap will cure the problem.

[SelfSeeker]

I stand corrected.

I can't imagine having started CPAP treatment without these wonderful boards full of advice and helpful people to guide me and answer my questions.

I doubt that 6 years ago there was such an ample amount of information and forums to turn to.

I hope you find a good treatment for yourself.

Enjoy yourself. I really like monitoring my nights with the software.


(You do know that xPAP is not a cure, but a treatment for OSA and other some other problems.)

Not a newbie, been on CPAP for about 6 years...just not up to snuff on the lastest stuff.

HOPEFULLY the autopap will cure the problem.

[Snoredog]

The M series auto is a good little machine, you'll like it. In addition to Cflex which will be a huge improvement to you on exhale relief, you can set the machine will a range which will further improve comfort.

I would bump it up from the Minimum default 4cm pressure setting but you could set it to a range like 6cm to 15cm and it would make life easier. Machine would run at the lower pressure until it seen an event that needed higher pressure, ramp up and treat it then lower back down when sleep settles.

You probably only need the current 14cm pressure a few minutes per night, doesn't make much sense to run at that pressure all night long for 7hrs when you only need it a few minutes.

That machine also has a neat feature called AutoRamp. With it, you can set your Min. pressure to say 10cm and the Max to 15 or 16cm then have a Ramp starting pressure of 6cm for 30-minutes and when you turn on the machine you hit the Ramp button, it drops from the Min. 10cm pressure to 6cm for 30-minutes then ramps back to the 10cm pressure setting where autopap therapy begins. If you are awakened during the night for any reason you can hit it again and restart the process. Some nights pressure is no big deal but others it can be annoying even if you have been on cpap for years. Great machine you'll like it.

[JeffH]

Going with an initial apap setting of 10 to 20 and a cpap setting of 15.

[rested gal]

Going with an initial apap setting of 10 to 20

I'm no doctor, but that sounds good to me, since you said this:

"1. My pressure is too low on my CPAP machine. After taping my mouth last night I was waking up this morning and rolled over on my back. I laid there a minute and about the second exhale, I could feel myself shut down. My pressure is set at 14 right now."

If the 10 - 20 doesn't work out well for you, I'd set it at 14 - 20.

and a cpap setting of 15.

I guess you mean trying the autopap set for straight cpap mode at 15. That would be a good experiment too. Might be that a straight 15 or 16 would work better for you than auto mode. The nice thing is that you have a machine that you can now experiment with -- using different ranges in auto mode and different straight pressures in cpap mode.

Good luck!

[JeffH]

Took my old Sullivan to the resp. tech. today and she upped it to 15. Should know if that is about right over the next 4 nights while I wait on my new machine.

At least now I have a little hope of getting a good nights sleep.

Thanks all.