Should I get a bi-pap?

I just had some blood work done and both I and my GP noticed my heart muscle (CK -Creatine kinase) up near the borderline of 300. He says don't worry about it. However, my heart rate is and always has been rather fast. I'd like to be proactive.

Since my CPAP therapy has never been that effective do to some centrals and just whatever- I have always been averaging around 10+ with the auto cpap. In the lab, they recommended a setting of 12 but that's when centrals started forming as well. The best AHI in the lab was close to 4. My sleep doc at the time said keeping at 5-5 and 9 would suffice if that makes therapy more comfortable.

Noise is always a big big issue for me. Either mask, hose, or machine noise has been problematic. I have my old Remstar Pro Auto under my bed so I don't hear it. Most of the time, I don't hear the mask or hose noise as well. I wear some good earplugs. However, on some trial machines like the Resmed Autoset and the older Remstar M series, the machines were too loud for me.

Lately, for the last two years, I have been having dry mouth all day and night. I also have difficulty swallowing. I am going to get more tests done to eliminate other possible causes.I am not taking any meds.

Since I am do for a new machine and my insurance will cover up to $2500 including mask, I was thinking maybe I should go for a bipap?

What are your thoughts?

If your centrals are significant, you should definitely press to be evaluated for a bipap.

The sleep doc at the University didn't think they were significant. I had a few during the PSG shortly after they bumped uped my pressure. However, I know for a fact my O2 levels are lower now than they used to be, my sleep is very fragmented, with many arousals.

I was looking at this machine but cpap.com doesn't have it: http://www.resmed.com/uk/products/s9_au ... c=patients

Justin Case wrote: I have always been averaging around 10+ with the auto cpap.

Just to clarify, are you saying your average AHI is 10+, or are you referring to the average pressure on your machine?

Justin Case wrote:I was looking at this machine but cpap.com doesn't have it: http://www.resmed.com/uk/products/s9_au ... c=patients

I noticed you linked to the ResMed UK site. Are you located in the US? I believe that model is not distributed in the US... The most similar machine here would be the S9 VPAP Adapt.

Do you use a nasal, hybrid or full face mask (the latter would catch mouth breathing air and re-route it to your airway rather than it being lost to the environment).