CPap to Bipap? side issues (masks).

I have a few side issues. I'll try to keep it brief.

But first off, I'm on Cpap and my quality of sleep has improved a lot (AHI was 101 in sleep study). Some nights are better then others (my 2 hour nap scored a 27 AHI last week, I blame the "new" mask the DME gave me, I'm switching back but to the original style of mask BUT they haven't had a Respiratory Therapist for a week (unreal) so I can't change back, or so they say until she's back. Time for a new DME perhaps. UGH). My insurance has paid 100% of masks/hoses etc so far.

Anyway, I'm at 14 pressure on a straight CPap. I want to maybe get a Auto Bipap machine.

My insurance is paying for the Cpap machine (renting it I presume, I'm six months into therapy). So i'm considering getting one from second wind, one of the cheaper ones I can find when I've got some money laying around. What kind of enhanced experience would Bipap give me?

My Insurance basically makes me "fail" into bipap from Cpap. So I can't get them to get me a Bipap machine because they said 14 isn't high enough. I need to be at 15 according to the Sleep Center to get a Bipap.

Side issues:
I've been getting a red rash with the Simplus Full face mask in a non contact spot (between my nose and top lip).

So I mentioned this to the RT at the DME and she had me try the Fit F10 full face mask. It feels small (that's what I had the 27 AHI during the nap with and I have a ton of leaks with it, it's going back as soon as the DME gets back to me). So I'm going to return it and I'll just get another Simplus I guess. I didn't dislike the Simplus mask overall. I've even been cutting up new handkerchiefs with a little nose/mouth hole to create a barrier. Helps a little.

Any other Full face masks to try? I'm considering a larger Fit F10 (it feels so small on me. The RT says it fits, but I don't think it does fit, no pun intended).
I only get one return on the mask (so after I return the Fit F10, that's it for awhile...however I still have the original Simplus I got back in February).

Overall, my AHI for six months is right around 5 (way better then 101). So at least therapy is working.

Thanks for reading.

Size aside for the moment, you can get liners to buffer irritation and small leaks from Padacheek.com.

The second issue is your pressure, and going higher than your present setting is potentially iffy because of possible centrals popping up, never mind the price of bipaps, though 'regular' machines will go to around 20 if you need more pressure... but do you really?

If you download SleepyHead (see first Announcement on main pg) and track what's going on overnight for a week or so, we can give you help with figuring out if pressure is the problem or something else, i.e. leaks. But while 5 is a better result than 100 (from your study), it is also the high end of what you should aim for - the lower the better below 5, so again the software should clarify things.

AHI and naps...during naps we don't always sleep nearly as soundly as we think we do and there's a very real chance that those events flagged during the nap are SWJ (sleep/wake/junk) events.
What was the event category breakdown of that AHI (how much in each category)?
Unless your real nighttime sleep is also showing a high AHI...I am not overly concerned about nap AHI numbers because sometimes the awake/semi awake flagged events really mess up the numbers.

In terms of Bipap (Respironics marketing term for bilevel) and how it feels. I think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread and I wish you could experience what it feels like withe some setting changes on your machine but your current machine can't come close to duplicating the "feel". If you were using a ResMed machine we could sort of duplicate how it feels by using EPR. Respironics exhale relief doesn't work like or feel like EPR feels.

If you really want to try BiPap...get with me privately...I might could be sweet talked into selling my PR System One 60 series BiPap Auto. It has 3 modes....cpap mode...fixed bilevel mode...auto adjusting bilevel mode. It won't come with the heated hose stuff but if you already have it on your Pro machine...just use that humidifier and power supply and save my humidifier as a back up.
I can't offer any sort of warranty on it like secondwind but I can beat their price substantially....so think about it. I need to check on the hours of use but around 1300 if my memory serves me correctly.
It is my back up to my back up machine...and I don't need 2 back up machines.

Take Pugsy up on her offer. I also use the PRS1 60 Series Auto BiPAP. Compared to the auto CPAP, um, there is no comparison. Very comfortable and effective. I gave up on fighting with insurance long ago. These machines are much easier and less expensive to simply acquire used.

Thanks for your replies.

I had a person tell me that my machine showed a lot of unsecured OSA's and to get Auto BiPap on the table. My sleep doctor poo-poo'd it and told me to quit scoreboard watching. That my therapy was good.

I've had A LOT OF LEAKS according to the software.

The 27 AHI was scores as a huge cluster of OSA's during the nap. The other thing that was striking is the fact I needed a nap. Naps had gone the way of the past after starting therapy. I took a nap because of daytime fatigue for the first time since February. When I saw the 27 AHI I did check the data and sure enough, just a huge cluster of OSA's.

I'll private you Pugsy. I'm not sure when some dough will roll in for this "experiment". I guess I should call my insurance company first and see what they might do with me. The Sleep doctor told me I had to fail my way into BiPap (I have to be honest, I'm not really sure of what Bipap entails other then perhaps some relief for someone like me on a fairly high pressure.).