CPAP APAP BiPAP

[milboltnut]

CPAP..... constant flow

APAP..... computational... ok.. elaboration.... The air pressure delivered from the machines acts as a splint, keeping your throat from collapsing in on itself so that you can breathe freely through the night without ?any? apnea events. So it fluctuates..................

CPAP machines can only be set to one pressure setting that remains consistent throughout the night. Regardless of body position, weight loss or gain, or what stage of sleep you are in, the air pressure from a CPAP machine doesn't change.


BiPAP.....more pressure when you breathe in and less pressure when you breathe out..... so with a CPAP you have the "FLEX" adjustment.. for exhaling.... so why the BiPAP?

Dr. said I may need different machine... and my CPAP is still feeling me out.

[Julie]

A little confusion there - Cpap is a one-pressure machine (or optional mode on an Apap machine). Apap (autopap) is a cpap with the ability to have both min. and max settings, so ranges from the min. as high as necessary to intercept events anywhere below the max setting, then returns to the min. until further notice of another event. Both are splints.

Bipaps = will let others explain it better below, but is generally for those who need higher pressures than a regular C or Apap.

[LSAT]

CPAP/APAP are limited to 3 in the pressure adjustment between inhale and exhale....Bipap/Bilevel machines have a greater adjustment capability.

[milboltnut]

so how do you explain my CPAP pressure fluctuations on my OSCAR app?

[LSAT]

Since we don't know what specific machine you are using, what mask you are using, what your pressure settings are, what your sleep study said, how long you have been using your machine...etc. Everything is a guess. Why not post some Oscar charts...Read this FIRST. viewtopic/t172378/Sticky--Newbies-PLEAS ... STING.html

[Pugsy]

Flex exhale relief is only available on Respironics machines. It isn't a fixed drop during exhale like ResMed's exhale relief is.
Flex exhale relief is flow based in how much exhale relief (or drop from inhale). The most a person can get (from a Respironics machine) is a 2 cm drop even at a setting of 3 and a person can get that only if they breathe rather forcefully.

Your pressure numbers vary because your pressure varies. When inhale pressure increases...exhale pressure also will increase but the most difference is 2 cm and you might not even get that depending on how forcefully you breathe.



If someone gets a bilevel machine....the drop between inhale and exhale isn't limited to a maybe 2 cm drop with Respironics machines or a 3 cm drop with a ResMed machine. There are many more adjustments available in terms of exhale drop with a bilevel pressure machine over a regular cpap/apap machine. Greater flexibility. Bilevels (BiPap is just a Respironics bilevel machine) are prescribed when people need more exhale relief than their current cpap/apap machine can provide or pressure needs exceed the max that the cpap/apap can go to.

[milboltnut]

APAP reduces pressure during exhale ?

[chunkyfrog]

Please fill out your equipment, so we can address responses to describe YOUR machine.
This will help reduce your confusion.

[Pugsy]

APAP reduces pressure during exhale ?

Yes...if exhale relief is turned on.
Along with the normal pressure changes that it might do depending on what it senses needs to be done or not done.

[milboltnut]

Please fill out your equipment, so we can address responses to describe YOUR machine.
This will help reduce your confusion.

Phillps Respironics dreamstation 5-20 cm prescription 5 start pressure flex 3 setting

resmed nasal head harness with nasal pillow p 30 i pillow. Also a chin strap.

[milboltnut]

since I've been using this machine over a month now.... obstructive apneas have been low, under 15.

My central apneas have been high, like above usually above 25.. very rarely below 20...

[Julie]

Obstructives are not 'low' at 15... low would be less than 3, pref. 1 or less. You need to post graphs etc. according to Oscar's info - download it (see top of page) and we can tell you what's what much more usefully.

[milboltnut]

can't figure how to download it

[LSAT]

can't figure how to download it

Without data there is no way to accurately help you...work on it.

[milboltnut]

trying to figure out how to copy or transfer app info to this forum