What is the best machine for easy inhale and exhale

[77Godspeed]

I really need a machine that has a really good exhale, inhale transition and that does not have runaway pressure, I seem to experience that with the intellipap. thanks for the help!

[rested gal]

Well, a "best" machine for easy inhale/exhale could be different for different people. Type of machine, brand, settings, etc. And certainly would depend on "what needs treating."

In general, a bilevel ("bipap") machine provides the easiest exhalation. In bilevel machines, my personal preference is for ResMed's VPAP Auto.

Any brand/type of xpap machine gives me comfortable, effective treatment. In an autopap...I like the ResMed S9 AutoSet with EPR.

I don't need bilevel therapy. Plain CPAP at one straight pressure, even without any exhalation relief feature at all, does fine for me. I just like the way the two bilevel settings feel very natural to me for breathing in and out.

[trike-mike]

I concur with what rested gal says. For me, I like my Respironics PR1 APAP and typically prefer it running in C-Flex vs A-Flex mode (A-Flex seems to "chop off" the inhale for me somewhat). However, when traveling, I have the small, light, and cheap Zzz-PAP CPAP with a fixed pressure and no exhalation relief and sleep just fine with that.

The above being said, the mask can have a lot to do with that as well (seems to for me anyway) and I find that I have some masks that "breath easier" than others along with the fact that I typically never use nasal pillows with the straight CPAP since I just can't get past the "inflated nostril" feeling when trying to get to sleep it imposes and use either a nasal or FFM with that one.

[chunkyfrog]

Is there a link to comparative waveforms somewhere?

[Guest]

Well, obviously I'm new to all this and have only tried two machines...one that was given to me and the recent one I bought. I love my PR System Pro with C Flex+!! The difference between the two machines was like night and day as far as trying to breathe with it. The older felt like breathing against a brick wall...the new...breathes with me and smoothly!! Now, if I can just get the mask thing right!!!

[LinkC]

Chunky-- I'm sure someone could collect waveforms from the literature of various machines/modes. But I'd guess studying the waves would be far less helpful than actually trying them.

[Janknitz]

Be aware that your needs may change over time, too, so maximum flexibility is good. I had my Aflex set up to 3 for the longest time and always felt like I was being forced to breathe. I definitely needed the pressure relief at first, but recently I turned Aflex down to 1 and I was astonished at how much smoother the breathing is. I'm probably going to turn it all the way off one of these days.

People do talk about one machine being "rounder" than another in terms of how it switches from inhale to exhale. ResMeds drop the pressure and return the pressure at different points in the breath cycle than Respironics machines, and some people have a preference for one or the other. Never having the ability to experience anything but the machine I'm on, I don't know what the differences are.

Any chance your vendor will let you try each machine for a week?

[archangle]

What are your current pressure and EPR settings?

Consider setting a lower maximum pressure if your machine runs away on you.

How long have you been using the machine? I find I get used to the pressure and do fine without EPR after a while.

[physicsbob]

Have you tried adjusting the inhale (IRnd) and exhale (ERnd) pressure wave form in the smartflex menu of your Intellipap. These control how machine transistions, they run from 0 sharp transision to 5 longer but smoother transision For your pressure runaways in the clinnian menu you can control the sensititivity of apnea detection and/or lower your max pressure .

[GumbyCT]

I think a BiLevel is the Ultimate in exhale relief.