auto bipap biflex questions

hello
I have been using a respironics BiPAP Auto Bi-Flex for 14 days with a full face mask
my ramp starts at 4 and ramps up for 5 minutes to a pressure of 8
my pressure settings are between 8 and 25 (which is as high as the machine can go)
I wake up multiple times throughout the night when the pressure gets high
according to the led readout, my 90% pressure for the 7 day average is 13.5/11.1
my 7 day average of AHI is 5.3

a couple of questions...

when the high pressure wakes me up (let's say 13) does it eventually ramp back down to 8?

I haven't waited to find out...instead, I hit the ramp button and it immediately goes down to 4 (which is a dramatic change)

another question...

will hitting the ramp button and sending it back to 4 change any of the data like the AHI or the pressure readout?

is there a problem with hitting the ramp button repeatedly if I have not yet fallen asleep in the alloted 5 minutes I have it set at?

thanks

evan

nmevan wrote:hello
I have been using a respironics BiPAP Auto Bi-Flex for 14 days with a full face mask
my ramp starts at 4 and ramps up for 5 minutes to a pressure of 8
my pressure settings are between 8 and 25 (which is as high as the machine can go)
I wake up multiple times throughout the night when the pressure gets high
according to the led readout, my 90% pressure for the 7 day average is 13.5/11.1
my 7 day average of AHI is 5.3

A BIPAP has separate inhale and exhale pressure, and in addition, in a Respironics BIPAP, there's a definition of the largest allowable difference between them. The terms are IPAP EPAP and PS. What are yours?

a couple of questions...

Sites like http://sleepapnea.respironics.com/technology/ and http://bipapautomseries.respironics.com/ and similar ones from Respironics will give you clear reliable information on the Respironic automatic bi-level machines.
Try our CPAP wiki too -- yellow lightbulb on top of screen. Lots of stuff to learn there.

when the high pressure wakes me up (let's say 13) does it eventually ramp back down to 8?

Don't confuse ramping with automatic adjustment. Automatic machines have rules for adjusting the pressure down automatically - and time after the last rise in pressure is one of them. The pressure will adjust down, eventually, but since you're awake, you can used the ramp button to bring the pressure down to your comfort level. However, see my response to your next statement.

I haven't waited to find out...instead, I hit the ramp button and it immediately goes down to 4 (which is a dramatic change)

I suggest you train yourself to start at a higher ramp -- raise it in 0.5 increments -- eventually you won't need it. If your starting ramp pressure lets too many breathing obstructions happen - that's not good. When ramp is too low, some of us can't fall asleep because of the obstructions it lets through.

is there a problem with hitting the ramp button repeatedly if I have not yet fallen asleep in the alloted 5 minutes I have it set at?

Yes. Hitting the ramp repeatedly when you're semi-awake works against you, since that's a sure way of keeping you from getting the pressure you need to keep your airway open.