I have my BiPap now what

RG, I try to understand how bi-level works based on your explanation. It seems that bi-level operates on the same principle an auto-PAP does. Otoh, I must be missing something, since if bi-level = auto-PAP then why do they make the bi-level's in the first place?

APAP stays at a low pressure until you have an apnea say 5 until you stop breathing then it kicks up until you stop having an apnea.

A BiPap stays at an inhale/exhale rate say 11/8 , from what I understand it has an algorithm where it someone figures a pattern to your apenas and is suppose to be able to see an apnea coming and catches it ahead of time or so Ive read??? While an APAP treats it once it s started a BiPap is suppose to be a step ahead of the game.

Also an APAP has the same exhale pressure as inhale - unless you have CFlex but then its still not nearly as lowered as you can with a BiPap, and I belive it loweres it differently as well. ALso on an APAP the CFlex becomes void in an apnea happens while a BiPap still uses a lower pressure. These are some of the differences that I know of between the 2.

I went back to APAP for now at least because Im guessing I might be one of those rarities that have apnea on the exhale and there for having a lower exhale rate is null and void for me - although I may aim to get CFLex since it shouldnt interfere as much with an apnea treatment for me. Or I may have not had the right settings or not given it enough time who knows. Hope that makes sense. Hoping the sleep doc can help decide the best solution for my situation.

An auto lets the pressure fluctuate, depending on the breathing disruptions it finds. The pressure will fluctuate regardless of whether you are inhaling or exhaling. Therefore, on an auto you may find yourself exhaling against the highest pressure in the range you gave it. Respironcs added an exhale relief option to its autos, which will drop the pressure, just a little bit when you exhale, but you may still find yourself exhaling at a pressure that it pretty close to the max.

On a bi-level machine, you inform the machine ahead of time which pressure you want for inhaling and which for exhaling. The difference between these two can be very big - much bigger than what can be achieved with the flex options. Therefore, on a bi-level machine, you will never find yourself trying to exhale against the maximum pressure that was set for inhale. Your maximum exhale pressure will not be enough to keep you airway open when you inhale - so you can't keep that as the top of the range. A good reason to create a separate machine.

On a bi-pap auto, you can separate pressure ranges for inhale and exhale. For instance: you need a higher inhale pressure on your back, and less on the side - and auto bi-pap will supply the higher pressure when needed, and lower it when it's unnecessary. Same for exhale - you do fine at a lower pressure for exhaling till you start dreaming. Then you need higher exhale pressure. An auto bi-pap can handle that, and change your lower pressure.

The changes in inhale pressure and exhale pressure on an auto bi-pap occur independently.

O.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): auto, Bi-Level Machine