How does auto CPAP work

I have an auto CPAP Remstar machine, but I do not have the auto turned on. When I first got it, I was of the impression that it would change the pressure as needed. I began to become convinced that all it really does is increase it automatically at intervals, incrementally irregardless of the need. Therefore, I quit using it in auto mode. Am I of the wrong impression about this or is my original expectation correct?

The way I understand it, your first understanding is correct. If the machine detects too many events in too little time, it kicks up a notch.

Greg, what presure setting range were you using when you had it in auto mode?

And what was the pressure prescribed for you, for straight cpap?

The machine will kick it up incrementally until your apneas lessen. However, if you have a lot of time without apneas, it will also lower the pressure incrementally. My machine goes both up and down nightly in response to my apneas and hypopneas.

gregnga wrote:. . . convinced that all it really does is increase [pressure] automatically at intervals, incrementally irregardless of the need. . . . Am I of the wrong impression about this . . . ?

If you are describing what I think you may be describing, it's not a bug--it's a feature. The Respironics auto algorithm is designed to search for the best pressure by using occasional test pressures, as explained in this link:

http://sleepapnea.respironics.com/techn ... rithm.aspx