Automatic CPAPs

I have move to 15 on my CPAP and my Doctor wants to put me on an automatic CPAP. I understand that if you wear a pillow type of mask and roll over slightly on your side and lose pressure, the automactic CPAP will throw the pressure much higher than you were and wake a lot of people up. Is there truth to this?

No complete opposite, for example if you need 15 cm pressure while sleeping on your back or supine position you may only need 10 cm or less on your side, the autopap will sense that difference and lower pressure.

Your doctor probably also wants to see if your pressure requirements have changed without doing a PSG.

If they are giving you a new Autopap, I would ask for the AFlex machine, OR if your pressure needs appear to be increasing I would go with a Bipap Auto. Any time you get to 15 cm or higher I would suggest the Bipap over the AFlex.

veast wrote:Is there truth to this?

The nature of PAP machine running in an "auto" mode is to vary the flow rate somewhat depending on the exact conditions the user is experiencing (which may or may not have anything specifically to do with leaks).

Some users certainly do find that variation in flow rate while asleep is disturbing, and can be aroused specifically by it. Other users don't notice it at all.

There's only one way to find out if it will disturb your sleep or not, and that is to try it!

All the "auto" flow generators can also be run in a standard, fixed flow rate CPAP mode, so if the variable flow APAP mode turns out to be disturbing for you, you can always revert to a CPAP mode,

Cheers,

Bill