C-Flex vs. AutoPap

I've been using CPAP for a year now but still am having problems. The thing is, I never seem to be able to sleep deeply and I wake up several times a night. It's not a comfortable sleep. I bought an Autopap w/ software to monitor my breathing. I am not having any apneas (or very few) and all else seems to be normal. I am starting to wonder if maybe I don't do well with exhaling. Would C-Flex help that? What is the difference between C-Flex and AutoPap.

I'd like to understand this better, too. My setting is only 6, but when I'm falling asleep I often feel like I can't exhale. Then I get a little claustrophobic. With such a low setting I figure I don't need an autopap, but maybe a bipap?

Can I get a bipap with my cpap Rx?

Questions, questions, questions! But fortunately I've found a place where I can get answers.

Well, from what I have read here, the C-flex feature can be set to lower the EPAP setting a little bit, but not as much as on a BiPAP. But a BiPAP will not automatically change its settings depending upon how you are breathing during the night like an AutoPAP will. Guess it depends on which you need most, exhalation relief or a machine to track and adapt to your breathing (or not breathing).

As to getting a BiPAP with a CPAP Rx, that depends on how it's worded. Many people still consider a BiPAP to be a "CPAP with bi-level settings."
Or an AutoPAP a "CPAP with automatic settings". You might be able to tweak it that way, but it would probably be easier on you and your Ins.Co. if you could get a new Rx.

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So is an AutoPap and C-Flex basically the same thing?

As I understand it (and I am certainly no expert!) C-flex is an optional feature of the (Resmed?) AutoPAP Pro machine.

Here is a link to a page that compares features of some of the AutoPAPs out there...

https://www.cpap.com/cpap-compare-chart ... sting-CPAP

Well, someplace I saw a breakdown of the Resmed machines showing which were Autos, which had C-flex, etc. But I cannoot find it right now. Anyone else know where that page is?

Hi DCTom,

C-Flex is a feature offered by Respironics on some of their machines. It could be offered on a straight CPAP machine, it could be offered on an Auto machine. It provides you with the ability to set a lowered pressure for each exhalation. I'm not sure what your pressure is set to now, but the higher it is, generally the more you would welcome the benefit of C-Flex. If you're feeling like you have to work to exhale against the force of the air, then C-Flex might be just what you need. If you require just a little relief, set your C-Flex to 1. If you want the greatest exhalation relief it allows, set your C-Flex to 3.

If you haven't really noticed difficulty exhaling, maybe you're waking up for a different reason. Noise from mask leaks? (Those can be abrupt and loud!) Do you move a lot when you sleep? Are you happy with your mask? There are so many factors, its sometimes hard to pinpoint a cause without a bit of experimentation!

(By the way, love the Activa you sent! Thanks so much!)

Well I've twidled around for a year now with my CPAP. I've adeed a heated humidifier, APAP, tried all sorts of masks, etc. I've come a long ways and in many ways it's now comfortable to sleep with. My mask does not leak. But my sleep still feels very different and not relaxing. I'm not rested, to be sure. My sleep doc isn't very helpful. Sometimes when I wake up at night I notice that I don't feel like I'm exhaling. Even though my pressure is only 6. I feel like I got too much air in me and I can't relax as a result. That's the only way to describe it. So I'm wondering if C-Flex might help.

DCTom wrote:...Even though my pressure is only 6. I feel like I got too much air in me and I can't relax as a result. That's the only way to describe it. So I'm wondering if C-Flex might help....

DCTom, a pressure of 6 is not very much to breathe against. We are all different, but I would thing the benefit you would get from cflex would be marginal at best. Also I think cflex may have other negative impacts on your results which I am going to post about on a new topic.


Ron

For those whom have trouble exhaling with their cpap try this. AEROBIC EXERCISE. You can turn your pressure to 20 and not notice it !! Well maybe a bit at first. But the point is you aren't doing so well anyway because you have no lung capacity, no stamina, your're out of shape because of the apnea. Hell, you won't take but a few breaths and they will be shallow if you just exercise a bit . Remember you are sleeping.

Now I'm not talking about folks with OTHER problems.

Second, Just because its an AUTO doesn't make its right . Setting pressures to 4-20 won't work for everyone. Take me. I felt like crap till I found my proper range. I was titrated at 11. Well the auto set at 5-14 made me feel better but not great. It usually stayed around 6-7. It wasn't till a few months later after increasing the lower pressure by .5 each month that I finally figured my lower pressure at 9.5. My energy levels decrease rapidly below this. Yes , I have the software. But its not about the software . Its how you feel when your awake that counts.

I have been fighting this for 3 years. Not really. I felt better just not great. After all I had an auto. Just the last 6 months that I feel rested every morning.I said "Is that all there is" and started tinkering with the pressures again. Now I work 2 full time jobs and 1 part time . Never felt better.

Just keep at it trying to go about it with some type of plan as I did. Not jumping all over with your pressure. Give each change time to work and keep a sleep log or Awake log. Then you have something to look at to see your progress. You will know when its right. You'll feel grrreaat !

:twis ted: