Love this forum; it really helps to learn that I'm not alone in this ordeal.
I started on CPAP (RemStar Plus with CFLEX) with a pressure of 14. by the second day, the bloating was so awful that I complained to the Dr. and the pressure was reduced to 12. Still tons of pain (lasting throughout the day) from the bloating, mostly in my upper chest. I have to say that I did feel relatively well rested during the day (this was a welcome thing) but could not hack the pain and anxiety (thinking that this machine was going to explode my lungs). So, more calls to the Dr.; he suggested that I try AutoPap.
For the last 6 nights, I've been using a RemStar Auto (pressure range of 5 to 15) and have found that the bloating is significantly reduced. I don't feel as rested during the day after sleeping with the RemStar Auto but I'm not falling asleep at my desk.
So, the questions:
Do these autopap machines really work all that well? If so, why don't the doctors simply prescribe these machines for everyone right at the start?
Respironics says that the Respironics Comfort-Lite mask will not work with their autopap machine, anyone know why?
Thanks to all of you who post on this forum; you all have really helped me more than I can tell you.
Switch from CPAP to AutoPap
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wading thru the muck!
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- Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 11:42 am
Yes they work well and IMO the Docs don't prescribe them because they don't know any better. My Doc said that auto-paps are a very "NEW" thing as though it was something experimental. If so I'm a "guinea pig"Do these autopap machines really work all that well? If so, why don't the doctors simply prescribe these machines for everyone right at the start?
Respironics says that the Respironics Comfort-Lite mask will not work with their autopap machine, anyone know why?
Maybe it leaks to much for the auto-pap to work. Ya think?
Sincerely,
wading thru the muck of the sleep study/DME/Insurance money pit!
wading thru the muck of the sleep study/DME/Insurance money pit!
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
First, let me say I'm not techie at all! So this next is what I've gleaned from posts from people who do know what they are talking about and have said this on other message boards. I'm putting their info in my own words, though, so I may get it wrong...
Each maker's autopap has its own proprietary set of algorithms - the calculations that are coded into the machine, allowing it to "read" your breathing pattern and decide what pressure to use throughout your changing conditions during sleep. Each manufacturers' algorithms are designed with the expectation you'll use certain masks, or at least certain types of masks. They may (or may not) work as well with other manufacturers' masks.
If you use a very different type of mask with a machine that is not expecting that mask, the different airflow can confuse the autopap into thinking some events are happening when they are not - or are not happening when they are.
The airflow the machine reads as you inhale and exhale is going to change slightly depending on the way airflow moves around inside the mask itself, and in and out of the mask. But more importantly if a particular mask uses a narrow diameter extra length of hose to connect the mask to the main air hose, there can be drastic differences in the way the air flow behaves going through that narrow diameter hose. Nasal pillows interfaces use a narrow diameter connector hose, as do some nasal (covers the nose) masks like the Activa.
For example, the Respironics Comfort Lite uses a narrow diameter hose. Apparently Respironics does not consider their own mask suitable for their own autopap machine. (Go figure! lol) The narrow diameter hose is probably why. Nasal pillows interfaces are popular with many people, so I suppose Respironics wanted to get a nasal pillows mask on out there, at least for use with their straight cpaps, even if they knew it might not work ideally with their own autopaps.
On the other hand, Puritan Bennett's Breeze with nasal pillows was designed specifically to work well with the PB machines (or vice versa.) The narrow diameter hose was apparently figured into the calculations.
All that said, in actual practice I've read people reporting that they used the Comfort Lite (or the Breeze or any nasal pillows) fine with their Respironics Remstar autopaps. And other masks than the Breeze can work fine for most people with the PB machines. ResMed (I think...I don't have a ResMed autopap) has you choose a mask setting on their autopaps, to let the machine know what type of mask it is, as it deciphers the airflow. I guess if you are using a different maker's mask with a ResMed autopap, you'd choose the closest same type of mask. (Kind of like choosing "Sound Blaster compatible" on computer games. heh)
There are always going to be a percentage of people who have breathing patterns that don't gee and haw well with some brands of autopaps, regardless of what mask is used. One maker's autopap algorithms might work well for a person and another autopap not well at all for that person. If the person with a marginal drop-through-the-crack breathing pattern on a certain autopap uses a mask that the machine doesn't handle well in the first place, treatment may suffer. Those stretching-the-envelope situations might be why some manufacturers don't recommend some interfaces - even one of their own masks with one of their own machines.
My hunch is that most masks of any type seem to do a good enough job with any autopap for most people...most, not all. I personally go for the most comfortable mask and hope it works well with my machine. Bottom line is how I feel the next morning. I don't pay much attention to the "tick marks" the software displays the next morning. Extra marks, especially for flow limitations, might just be a reflection of a bit of machine confusion at interpreting the air flow, especially with a machine that is not really designed for interpreting airflow through a narrow diameter hose mask.
If I feel good in the morning, that's what really matters. To me that means the mask and machine are doing a decent job together. I get the same "feel rested in the morning" results with the PB Breeze/ PB 420E auto or PB Breeze with the Respironics Remstar auto. I also get good subjective results with the Activa mask and either brand of machine. As with everything to do in this therapy, your mileage may vary.
Each maker's autopap has its own proprietary set of algorithms - the calculations that are coded into the machine, allowing it to "read" your breathing pattern and decide what pressure to use throughout your changing conditions during sleep. Each manufacturers' algorithms are designed with the expectation you'll use certain masks, or at least certain types of masks. They may (or may not) work as well with other manufacturers' masks.
If you use a very different type of mask with a machine that is not expecting that mask, the different airflow can confuse the autopap into thinking some events are happening when they are not - or are not happening when they are.
The airflow the machine reads as you inhale and exhale is going to change slightly depending on the way airflow moves around inside the mask itself, and in and out of the mask. But more importantly if a particular mask uses a narrow diameter extra length of hose to connect the mask to the main air hose, there can be drastic differences in the way the air flow behaves going through that narrow diameter hose. Nasal pillows interfaces use a narrow diameter connector hose, as do some nasal (covers the nose) masks like the Activa.
For example, the Respironics Comfort Lite uses a narrow diameter hose. Apparently Respironics does not consider their own mask suitable for their own autopap machine. (Go figure! lol) The narrow diameter hose is probably why. Nasal pillows interfaces are popular with many people, so I suppose Respironics wanted to get a nasal pillows mask on out there, at least for use with their straight cpaps, even if they knew it might not work ideally with their own autopaps.
On the other hand, Puritan Bennett's Breeze with nasal pillows was designed specifically to work well with the PB machines (or vice versa.) The narrow diameter hose was apparently figured into the calculations.
All that said, in actual practice I've read people reporting that they used the Comfort Lite (or the Breeze or any nasal pillows) fine with their Respironics Remstar autopaps. And other masks than the Breeze can work fine for most people with the PB machines. ResMed (I think...I don't have a ResMed autopap) has you choose a mask setting on their autopaps, to let the machine know what type of mask it is, as it deciphers the airflow. I guess if you are using a different maker's mask with a ResMed autopap, you'd choose the closest same type of mask. (Kind of like choosing "Sound Blaster compatible" on computer games. heh)
There are always going to be a percentage of people who have breathing patterns that don't gee and haw well with some brands of autopaps, regardless of what mask is used. One maker's autopap algorithms might work well for a person and another autopap not well at all for that person. If the person with a marginal drop-through-the-crack breathing pattern on a certain autopap uses a mask that the machine doesn't handle well in the first place, treatment may suffer. Those stretching-the-envelope situations might be why some manufacturers don't recommend some interfaces - even one of their own masks with one of their own machines.
My hunch is that most masks of any type seem to do a good enough job with any autopap for most people...most, not all. I personally go for the most comfortable mask and hope it works well with my machine. Bottom line is how I feel the next morning. I don't pay much attention to the "tick marks" the software displays the next morning. Extra marks, especially for flow limitations, might just be a reflection of a bit of machine confusion at interpreting the air flow, especially with a machine that is not really designed for interpreting airflow through a narrow diameter hose mask.
If I feel good in the morning, that's what really matters. To me that means the mask and machine are doing a decent job together. I get the same "feel rested in the morning" results with the PB Breeze/ PB 420E auto or PB Breeze with the Respironics Remstar auto. I also get good subjective results with the Activa mask and either brand of machine. As with everything to do in this therapy, your mileage may vary.
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