Confused about the APAP versus CPAP and BIPAP

When I bought my CPAP auto with CFLEX about two years ago I was told that it was the best machine available. Now I'm wondering if I should have gotten a BIPAP or APAP.
Is there a website that tells the difference in these machines.
Would I have to have another sleep study? I don't really have a DME because I paid for the machine myself. I used my prescription from way back to get it.
I guess I'm kind of wingin' it.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): bipap, cflex, CPAP, DME, Prescription, auto, APAP

If you have the machine shown in your profile, you do have the Remstar APAP "Classic Tank". At the time you bought it, it was the "Best", that you require, and probably still is.

They have came out with the Remstar "M"agic APAP with A-Flex, but since you can't buy it in "Classic Tank", and never will be able to, you came out the winner.

Bi-PAP, is for extreme problems and high pressures, that's not what you need.

CPAP,is just a APAP, with it's brain removed, If you own a APAP, you can disable it's Brain, but you can't install a brain in a CPAP.

IF the "M" is so good, Why does Respironics Bipap Auto SV, top of the line, use the "Classic Tank" platform? No answer needed it speaks for it's self.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-bundle ... undle.html Jim

[quote="vdol52"]When I bought my CPAP auto with CFLEX about two years ago I was told that it was the best machine available. Now I'm wondering if I should have gotten a BIPAP or APAP.
Is there a website that tells the difference in these machines.
Would I have to have another sleep study? I don't really have a DME because I paid for the machine myself. I used my prescription from way back to get it.
I guess I'm kind of wingin' it.

WOW,DSM! You have that plank nailed down so tight it will never squeak! No more room for nails on that one. Jim

I guess I'll keep what I have especially since I plunked out about $850 big ones for it out of pocket. I didn't have insurance at the time, but don't get me started on that.
Gracias

Goofproof wrote:WOW,DSM! You have that plank nailed down so tight it will never squeak! No more room for nails on that one. Jim

Jim,

Having bought all the gimmicks & tried them, the commentary was easy

Doug

[quote="Goofproof"]

<snip>

IF the "M" is so good, Why does Respironics Bipap Auto SV, top of the line, use the "Classic Tank" platform? No answer needed it speaks for it's self.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-bundle ... undle.html Jim

[quote="dsm"][quote="vdol52"]

The Auto feature is great for doing home titration for those serious enough to monitor the data from the machine. Once someone has their optimal CMS setting, they are far better off switching to either BiLevel mode or to a CPAP fitted with A-Flex or EPR. The long term results will be far more consistent than staying on a machine constantly in Auto mode unless the user has narrowed the low & high CMS range to say -3 + 1 from their optimal CMS setting.

It is one of the industry's ironies that so many people are talked into buying Autos and take them home set to 4-20 low high. This is plain stupidity.

Unfortunately some features on machines become sales gimmicks more than they are serious therapy improvements.

Good luck

DSM

[quote="cindyh"][quote="dsm"][quote="vdol52"]

The Auto feature is great for doing home titration for those serious enough to monitor the data from the machine. Once someone has their optimal CMS setting, they are far better off switching to either BiLevel mode or to a CPAP fitted with A-Flex or EPR. The long term results will be far more consistent than staying on a machine constantly in Auto mode unless the user has narrowed the low & high CMS range to say -3 + 1 from their optimal CMS setting.

It is one of the industry's ironies that so many people are talked into buying Autos and take them home set to 4-20 low high. This is plain stupidity.

Unfortunately some features on machines become sales gimmicks more than they are serious therapy improvements.

Good luck

DSM

vdol52 wrote:When I bought my CPAP auto with CFLEX about two years ago I was told that it was the best machine available. Now I'm wondering if I should have gotten a BIPAP or APAP.
Is there a website that tells the difference in these machines.
Would I have to have another sleep study? I don't really have a DME because I paid for the machine myself. I used my prescription from way back to get it.
I guess I'm kind of wingin' it.

um Auto w/Cflex is an APAP. Which machine is better depends on your pressure, type of events seen and how you have the machine set up.

If your pressure is only 8 cm or 10 cm you probably won't benefit much by going to a Bipap. After all, the Bipap Auto is based upon the CPAP version Auto.

The Bipap may help with problems of aerophagia. If you are using a CFlex Auto now, I know there is a lot of improvement going to AFlex, it is a quieter machine, therapy at least 50% more comfortable even using higher pressures.

A while back if you were able to stumble across and access Respironics dealer website (now don't quote me exactly) but it said something along the lines in offering their dealers a 30-day exchange program on the AFlex machine.

It basically said if your customer cannot tolerate the comfort offered by the new AFlex machine they (Respironics) would supply a new Bipap machine of dealer's choice to the customer at no additional cost to the dealer.

I seen that offer as pretty strong confidence level in that machine's ability (in them) in making an offer like that, we all know there is more than a $600 cost difference between those machines.

So basically, if you need Bipap and they supplied you with an AFlex machine and you couldn't tolerate it as the patient, they would exchange it for a Bipap Auto at no additional cost.

But I still think your pressure requirement an if you have difficulty with aerophagia plays a determining role in that selection.

dsm wrote:[quote="cindyh"

Cindy,

Can you clarify the points a little. Just need to be clear on what is what

- You say that at CPAP titration of 16 CMS you had difficulty breathing out

- Doc then requested a BiPap titration & the recom was 20 Ipap & 8 Epap (this doesn't seem right ? - that looks more like the settings used on an Auto)

- Then you got a Remstar Auto (not a Bipap) but breathing out was ok (if it was an Auto & the low setting is 8 then yes that would be very easy)

- And you want to know if you need Bi-Flex (Bi-Flex is a pressure relief setting on a Bipap machine)

I think you may have some of the terms & models mix up a little.

If your titration was 16, then a BiLevel is certainly going to help. Do you need a Bipap Auto ? - I am not sure it will make too big a difference if titration was 16. It may confuse your therapy more than help whereas BiPap mode is certainly going to help.

If you can afford a Bipap Auto then because it can run in both Bipap and Auto mode, it may be good for you.

Good luck

DSM

cindyh wrote:

dsm wrote:[quote="cindyh"

Cindy,

Can you clarify the points a little. Just need to be clear on what is what

- You say that at CPAP titration of 16 CMS you had difficulty breathing out

- Doc then requested a BiPap titration & the recom was 20 Ipap & 8 Epap (this doesn't seem right ? - that looks more like the settings used on an Auto)

- Then you got a Remstar Auto (not a Bipap) but breathing out was ok (if it was an Auto & the low setting is 8 then yes that would be very easy)

- And you want to know if you need Bi-Flex (Bi-Flex is a pressure relief setting on a Bipap machine)

I think you may have some of the terms & models mix up a little.

If your titration was 16, then a BiLevel is certainly going to help. Do you need a Bipap Auto ? - I am not sure it will make too big a difference if titration was 16. It may confuse your therapy more than help whereas BiPap mode is certainly going to help.

If you can afford a Bipap Auto then because it can run in both Bipap and Auto mode, it may be good for you.

Good luck

DSM

i am still waiting on my card reader to come in, i cant believe it is taking that long, but it will tell what is happening with the auto machine, and i think *Hope* that will tell us a lot. I dont understand the difference in the titrations either, i didnt think the ipap number would change... I have cflex set on 2, when i went through the menu on the machine, aflex was in there also.. I will let you know when i get the card reader.. thanks

Snoredog wrote:..................

A while back if you were able to stumble across and access Respironics dealer website (now don't quote me exactly) but it said something along the lines in offering their dealers a 30-day exchange program on the AFlex machine.

It basically said if your customer cannot tolerate the comfort offered by the new AFlex machine they (Respironics) would supply a new Bipap machine of dealer's choice to the customer at no additional cost to the dealer.

I seen that offer as pretty strong confidence level in that machine's ability (in them) in making an offer like that, we all know there is more than a $600 cost difference between those machines.

So basically, if you need Bipap and they supplied you with an AFlex machine and you couldn't tolerate it as the patient, they would exchange it for a Bipap Auto at no additional cost.

..........

I will comment on this one point in a separate thread so as not to throw this thread off.

dsm wrote: It is one of the industry's ironies that so many people are talked into buying Autos and take them home set to 4-20 low high. This is plain stupidity.

I still don't understand it. With the auto, it seems that the machine will only go as high as it needs to go. So for the high number, what does it matter how high it is set? Bottom number I can see that being kept to a good number. My doctor had me lower my high number from 20 to 14. I don't think he/they could explain to me why it mattered. Can anyone?