Regular Cpap vs Apap?

den always (for some reason) forgets, or forgets to mention, that auto machines also react to hypopneas.

Wulfman... wrote:........APAPs change pressures due to detecting Flow Limitations and Snores and, depending on the algorithms of the machines, sometimes Apneas.....after they're over......

Out of curiosity, what sort of event other than an apnea (or removal of the mask) will cause flow limitation?

rkl122 wrote:Out of curiosity, what sort of event other than an apnea (or removal of the mask) will cause flow limitation?

Study this excellent chart, and if you still have a question, reword it - http://s1148.photobucket.com/user/kaias ... 4.jpg.html

Wulfman... wrote:I doubt that you really understand how APAPs work and how/why pressures change

You might be surprised how much I know and how little you know. Posting the same thing thousands of times does not give one deep knowledge. Failure to have thousand of posts does not mean a lack of knowledge.

Wulfman... wrote:They won't go from 8 cm. to 15 cm. instantaneously.

No shit, Sherlock.

WarmBodies wrote:

Wulfman... wrote:I doubt that you really understand how APAPs work and how/why pressures change

You might be surprised how much I know and how little you know. Posting the same thing thousands of times does not give one deep knowledge. Failure to have thousand of posts does not mean a lack of knowledge.

Wulfman... wrote:They won't go from 8 cm. to 15 cm. instantaneously.

No shit, Sherlock.

Actually you are completely wrong. You are arguing with one of the most knowledgeable people on the board when it comes to the technical details of EXACTLY how they work.
WE have many people here who are very competent engineers.

kteague wrote:Unless you see a demonstrable need for the auto adjusting feature I wouldn't feel bad about not having an APAP.

I disagree. Unless you have had the opportunity to try an auto, you will never know whether an auto is more beneficial than not. The OP would have been better off to insist on an auto THIS purchase since he was paying for it. That would give him the opportunity to try both cpap and auto and see which worked better for him. If straight pressure worked better, then he could ask for a cpap in 5 years when eligible for a new machine.

There is also variance between manufacturers. I had already been using a used S9 when my Airsense for Her arrived. I tried it one night and it would not record, so I returned it and received a loaner of a Respironics 560 auto for 2 weeks. The auto on that just did not work for me so after 5 days, I switched to straight pressure, which worked fine. However, overall, the Resmed auto algorithm has worked far better for me than any straight pressure.

To the OP: the problem you are dealing with are doctors who are stuck in old technology. Many see no advantage to an auto. IMHO, doctors to avoid. Unless you have a blood pressure issue, there is no reason for you NOT TO TRY an auto. Those machines have a cpap option. You were basically screwed over by your doctor - perhaps try to return the machine for a switch.

SewTired wrote: Unless you have a blood pressure issue, there is no reason for you NOT TO TRY an auto.

Why should someone with a "blood pressure issue" avoid using APAP?

Yes, why would someone with high blood pressure avoid an auto pap?

I know I'm a little late in this thread, but I got beat up pretty good a while back suggesting that some folks prefer straight cpap vs auto pap. Some folks feel better with one or the other. Whatever.. Sheriff

Sheriff Buford wrote:some folks prefer straight cpap vs auto pap

They sure do. Many of them ran APAP with an open pressure range (4 - 20) and/or a minimum pressure just too low. Others never got leaks under control or have bad sleep hygiene.

Personally, my pressure line is low most of the night and then ramps up fairly high around 3:30 or 4:00. I am very happy with this situation and clearly would not want to use CPAP set all night to the higher pressures needed early in the morning.

I've experimented with a high pressure 15.0 versus my prescribed 9.0 and it was extremely comfortable to me. Zero discomfort. It actually was more comfortable as I felt it was easier to breath. I'm using P10 nasal pillows and suffer from congestion so maybe that is why. I honestly don't think I'd even mind max pressure (is it 20.0?) if I tried it so maybe a straight cpap will be okay for me.

Though is it possible to exchange my machine to my DME? I've only had it for less than two weeks now. If I go to my physician asking for an auto pap and he obliges, will my insurance cover a new machine?

You have to ask your insurance co. if they'll do it (the charge to them will be the same btw, whatever your DME tries to tell you).

Wonderbrah wrote:Though is it possible to exchange my machine to my DME? I've only had it for less than two weeks now. If I go to my physician asking for an auto pap and he obliges, will my insurance cover a new machine?

Go to the DME and demand an APAP. If you have a good DME, they will exchange it for you. They can use your current prescription and set it to the straight CPAP pressure that is on your script. (You don't need to tell them you will change it when you get home.)

If the DME stonewalls you, you will have to get an APAP script from your doc. Do this right away before 30 days is up on your current machine.

You have to make an exchange of machines. Your current machine is probably still in the rental period. Your insurance provider will not pay for a second machine.

Julie wrote:You have to ask your insurance co. if they'll do it (the charge to them will be the same btw, whatever your DME tries to tell you).

As far as the insurance company is concerned, he has the machine his doctor prescribed. The insurance company will not and cannot change the machine. It's up to the DME to do this. The billing code is the same, so nothing will look different to the insurance company.

SewTired wrote:

"Unless you have a blood pressure issue ... "

Chicagogranny wrote:

"Why should someone with a 'blood pressure issue' avoid using APAP?"

Some medical sources say that APAP is contra-indicated in cases of heart failure. But that is different from hypertension (aka high blood pressure).

Perhaps SewTired has mis-read - or mis-remembered.

In any event, one would hope the prescribing doctor would know whether the patient had CHF or not - and would limit the scrip accordingly.