I have been on Cpap now Bipap for 20 yrs, since respironics created the first CPAP...I tried auto titration and couldnt tolerate it. It would wake me everytime it kicked in..Im using resmed vpap2 now, its quieter than bipap pro, however i question its longterm durability...
APAP -vs-BiPAP (bi-level)
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rested gal
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- Location: Tennessee
Hi Lou,
You've been at it about 18 years longer than I have! My hat's off to all the longtime cpap veterans who were able to "do this" with the masks (maybe just one mask!) and machines of yore.
I'm not asking those things in any attempt to sway you to try autopap again - you've got years of experience and you know what you're doing. Your VPAP III is apparently doing fine for you and that's great! Bi-levels sure can make breathing out easier. I've tried three bi-levels just for the "fun" of it - a Respironics BiPAP, and two ResMed VPAP III's, one with ST-A (timed backup.) Sure did like the way bi-level exhalation pressure reduction lasts and lasts and lasts, until the person himself/herself actually takes another breath.
If I were prescribed a bi-level machine, I'd always want at least a trial on a state-of-the-art autopap, just to see if I really needed whatever straight pressure had been prescribed all night long. My autopap has to occasionally use 12 or 13 on me, which is no problem for brief periods. But when I tried setting the various bi-levels' at IPAP 12, EPAP 9, the 12 coming in all night gave me very painful bloating.
The biggest problem I've noted in reading about people being give a trial with an autopap is that all too often the doctor or DME chooses to set the autopap "wide open", 4 - 20. I personally think that in most cases, the low pressure should be set up pretty close to the person's prescribed pressure for smoother operation. A narrow range (primarily getting the lower pressure up) might work better for someone who is unusually sensitive to pressure changes while the autopap "does its thing."
The only exception (imho, and I'm not a doctor) would be if the person had been prescribed a pressure of 13 or more. In those cases, I'd set the autopap's low pressure probably no lower than 8 or 9 and see how it goes.
You've been at it about 18 years longer than I have! My hat's off to all the longtime cpap veterans who were able to "do this" with the masks (maybe just one mask!) and machines of yore.
I'm just curious...if you remember, what was your prescribed single pressure at the time you tried an autopap, and what range was the autopap set for? Which autopap was it?...I tried auto titration and couldnt tolerate it. It would wake me everytime it kicked in
I'm not asking those things in any attempt to sway you to try autopap again - you've got years of experience and you know what you're doing. Your VPAP III is apparently doing fine for you and that's great! Bi-levels sure can make breathing out easier. I've tried three bi-levels just for the "fun" of it - a Respironics BiPAP, and two ResMed VPAP III's, one with ST-A (timed backup.) Sure did like the way bi-level exhalation pressure reduction lasts and lasts and lasts, until the person himself/herself actually takes another breath.
If I were prescribed a bi-level machine, I'd always want at least a trial on a state-of-the-art autopap, just to see if I really needed whatever straight pressure had been prescribed all night long. My autopap has to occasionally use 12 or 13 on me, which is no problem for brief periods. But when I tried setting the various bi-levels' at IPAP 12, EPAP 9, the 12 coming in all night gave me very painful bloating.
The biggest problem I've noted in reading about people being give a trial with an autopap is that all too often the doctor or DME chooses to set the autopap "wide open", 4 - 20. I personally think that in most cases, the low pressure should be set up pretty close to the person's prescribed pressure for smoother operation. A narrow range (primarily getting the lower pressure up) might work better for someone who is unusually sensitive to pressure changes while the autopap "does its thing."
The only exception (imho, and I'm not a doctor) would be if the person had been prescribed a pressure of 13 or more. In those cases, I'd set the autopap's low pressure probably no lower than 8 or 9 and see how it goes.
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Lou
Hiya Rested ,
It was resmeds autotitration my pressure at that time was 13...im not at 15, My pressure varies <shhh> I set my own machine...factors change my pressure and i cant be going for a sleep study every 3 mths ...
Thankfully theyve made great strides with cpap...the first machine i had just about fit on a large nightstand and it was as loud as a 747....I have gone through all the revolutions of cpap...the masks and headgear are just great now....
It was resmeds autotitration my pressure at that time was 13...im not at 15, My pressure varies <shhh> I set my own machine...factors change my pressure and i cant be going for a sleep study every 3 mths ...
Thankfully theyve made great strides with cpap...the first machine i had just about fit on a large nightstand and it was as loud as a 747....I have gone through all the revolutions of cpap...the masks and headgear are just great now....