Help with results of lab tests

vinegar and water for the hose... unless you truely want to buy something, some folks have used Controll 2 (or is it 3)?

machine... I have no idea.

cortez356 wrote:Thanks for the hints and tips. Can someone explain the difference between apap and cpap? I am seriously thinking of buying a machine. Have not decided if I will buy a new Intellipap from Second wind or a used one of say craigslist, If I buy new I will need a prescription. I hope the sleep lab that did my test will provide this. We are in Mexico and I know a few Mexican Drs. One would write the script but how are these written? Does anyone have an example

Hi,

CPAP = blows air at a single pressure. The pressure does not vary, and does not change on inhale or exhale.
CFLEX = the same, but the exhale pressure drops by 1 to 3 cm to make it easier to breath out

APAP = the air pressure can vary within a range of pressures, but it still stays the same inhale to exhale
AFLEX = the same, but the exhale pressure drops by 1 to 3 cm to make it easier to breath out

The idea of an APAP is that it can detect breathing difficulties and adjust the pressure upwards to suppress events, and then lower the pressure when it isn't needed to make it easier to breathe. APAP machines can help you "auto-titrate" where the machine will home in on your idea pressure over time. The downsides are that some people are bothered by APAP and do better on CPAP, and some people have disorders that APAP doesn't seem to treat as well.

An APAP can run in CPAP mode, so I'd get the CPAP.

There are several other types of machines, such as BiPAP, VPAP, ST, and ASV. These are increasingly sophisticated machines that are used in special circumstances.

I'd prefer to see you buy a machine from Second Wind rather than Craig's List. With Craig's List, you never know where the machine has been, or who died using it. Second Wind cleans, tests, and calibrates each machine, and they stand behind what they sell. If you want new, there is no one better than the forum sponsor (cpap.com).

-john-

to add to jweek's post

Intellipap has Smartflex (not sure if there's a limitation of CPAP/APAP)
Resmed has EPR (told that there isn't a limitation of availability on S9's)