Moving from AS 11 to Lowenstein PRISMA 20a

Hi
I have been using Airsense 11 since 2021. I recently researched and purchased the Lowenstein Prisma 20a (for sale in the forum). I spent a lot of money on this machine and don't want to give up on it so easily, but I just don't want to lose any more sleep. I have dialed in my Airsense 11 settings within 1cm almost and it's been more or less working for a while. But it isn't great, I still wake up most mornings not ready to go, not feeling refreshed.

I don't have energy to run or do the things I want to do.

So the Lowenstein, in theory would fix a lot of my issues. However my body is so used to the airsense 11 and how it does things. I have a lot of issues breathing out against pressure and the Lowenstein ramps up too quickly after my exhale drop that it just messes with me. I wish I could change the timing on how fast the inhale comes back. I need an IPAP pressure of 9.6-10.2, but my body struggles when I have IPAP 6 or higher. Can anyone help? I hate that my experiments have to cost me a night of sleep. Is there anything I can do while still using my airsense 11 that I can get used to the Lowenstein? Should I leave my pressure settings wide open until I can dial them in like my Airsense 11? Took over a year to get to where I am with the Airsense. I don't want to have to go through that again.

Does the Lowenstein have a "Mask Type" setting like AS11? If it does try setting it to "Full Face Mask." I received some advice here saying to try the FFM setting for all mask types. I did that last night on my AS10 with excellent results. Breathing felt much smoother than when using "Nasal Mask" and/or "Pillow Mask" settings for my DreamWear nasal mask.

jlsmithseven wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 02, 2024 10:41 am

I have a lot of issues breathing out against pressure and the Lowenstein ramps up too quickly after my exhale drop that it just messes with me. I wish I could change the timing on how fast the inhale comes back. I need an IPAP pressure of 9.6-10.2, but my body struggles when I have IPAP 6 or higher.

Perhaps you mean 'ePap'? That's the one you breathe out against. e.g. you need an iPap of 10, but an ePap of 6?

Bi-level is the solution for me. You live at one pressure except when you're inhaling, then the support (PS) is pumped up for a moment... all tunable, with duration and trigger/cycle sensitivity. EPR in comparison is where you live at a certain pressure and your *exhalation* is dipped for a non-tunable duration/trigger. I'm not familiar with the L machine, not sure it can do this.

I haven’t tried the FFM setting and I don’t think the lowenstein has it, at least not this model.

So the EPR 3 dips effective pressure to the Epap right. The bi level machine lives at one pressure? So if I had inhale at 10 and exhale at 6, it will live at 8?

I can take a video of what I’m experiencing with the lowenstein, great machine and durable but the way it keeps the pressure is uncomfortable from the airsense 11

jlsmithseven wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 03, 2024 10:21 am

So the EPR 3 dips effective pressure to the Epap right. The bi level machine lives at one pressure? So if I had inhale at 10 and exhale at 6, it will live at 8?

C/APAP lives at the high pressure... bi-level lives at the low pressure. C/APAP dips the exhales, bi-level punches up the inhales. C/APAP non-tunable, bi-level tunable as well as self-regulating... it remembers your breathing pattern and matches it... gets to be very subtle after a while.

I have read about people having trouble with the transition to biPAP from APAP as well. Not sure of their main complaints but I do think it has to do with that timing. I think the majority said to put it on rapid response or whatever it was. I know that some people also ordered the wrong machine. Most people wanted the VAUTO but some got the S version or another version. Is there a good place to see the difference or which one would be good for just having more EPR (essentially)? I think it is the AirCurve VAUTO correct?

jlsmithseven wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 04, 2024 2:17 am

I have read about people having trouble with the transition to biPAP from APAP as well. Not sure of their main complaints but I do think it has to do with that timing. I think the majority said to put it on rapid response or whatever it was. I know that some people also ordered the wrong machine. Most people wanted the VAUTO but some got the S version or another version. Is there a good place to see the difference or which one would be good for just having more EPR (essentially)? I think it is the AirCurve VAUTO correct?

Here's a good resource:
https://www.respshop.com/manuals/37212_ ... n_menu.pdf

Sounds like what I need for sure. The easybreathe mode in S mode how does that compare to using vauto? Does it time your breathing pretty well while asleep?

I have a chance to get an aircurve 10 tonight. Do you think my therapy will be more comfortable with it than my airsense 11? I have small airways and I feel the ps support is most important for me.

jlsmithseven wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 04, 2024 12:30 pm

I have a chance to get an aircurve 10 tonight. Do you think my therapy will be more comfortable with it than my airsense 11? I have small airways and I feel the ps support is most important for me.

I say yes... proof of pudding is in tasting, of course.

That deal fell through. There was 0 used hours but I asked for the run hours and it was 21000! So I passed on it. I wish someone could trade my prisma 20a for an aircurve . Don’t care which model but I’m out $1600 and it still hurts because it’s a lot of money