Can a high end bi pap "auto fix" apnea?

I was diagnosed with severe apnea a few years ago. I tried CPAP for many nights, basically never getting to sleep much at all on it. I quit years ago as well, and just tried out a dental appliance, which has helped some, but follow-up home tests still show ahi from 12-20 depending on which test and when we are talking. I also got on TRT, which is known to exacerbate. Sooo...I'd like to try bipap, because I know one of my issues is too much pressure on exhale, making me feel like I can never breathe normally or in rhythm.

Will current gen high end bipap machines "fix" this one their own? Can they auto adjust pressure, breathing rhythm, etc? Or is that foolish to think they would all of a sudden work for me? I also think I would be WAY more successful if I could use a nasal mask, but my mouth comes open. Even if jaw is closed, air still comes out, so I have to use full masks.

Any thoughts on this?
Thanks!

What kind of machine were you using "a few years ago". How many years ago?
There have been improvements in machines depending.
Did your machine back then have Exhale Pressure Relief?
The biggest difference In APAP and BiPAP is higher pressure and more Exhale Pressure Relief. (from what I understand)
I am just throwing that out there.
I have limited knowledge about all this.
There are people on here with much more knowledge than I.

I would say you can make therapy work for you with the help available on here.
And the right can do attitude.

There are ways to deal with mouth breathing also.(besides a FF mask)

JPB

hifiaudio wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 27, 2019 8:46 pm

I also think I would be WAY more successful if I could use a nasal mask, but my mouth comes open. Even if jaw is closed, air still comes out, so I have to use full masks.

Any thoughts on this?
Thanks!

I prefer a ff mask. That said, if you want to keep your mouth closed there are ways. Training your tongue to stay in one spot. Cervical collars. Chin straps. Tape. These are all used by one or more regular posters here....

It’s good you are giving thought to trying again. It’s awfully important for your long-term health.

To Jimbud’s good questions I will add one more: what specific brand of machine were you using? E.g., ResMed, Philips Respironics?

The reason most people give up on PAP therapy is the mask, not the pressure from the machine.

By all means go for a nasal mask. You might find nasal pillows even better. Two masks that are not very intrusive are the Dreamwear (mask and also pillows) and also Resmed's N30i/P30i. The hose connects at the top of the head and allows for full 360 degree rotation. To prevent mouth breathing with these sort of masks can I suggest two things. Practise the tongue suck method (plenty of threads here on that) and get a soft cervical collar to prevent chin droop narrowing your air supply and also helping to keep your mouth closed. This has worked for me.

Sorry for the delay. My CPAP is a respironics system one. The cervical collar is an interesting trick to try. I did try taping my mouth and other ways to try to keep it shut before but nothing was lasting or something I could live with. I also have a beard so not sure how that's going to work now doing something like that.

Bilevel machines have more options available to help with problems exhaling as well as timing of the inhale and exhale changes to better match your own breathing rhythm....
so yes...bilevel machines can do more in those areas than regular cpap/apap machines can do.