Should I go for Auto C-Flex/Auto Flex

Hi! I am a 37 year old male from India. I have been detected with Sleep Apnea (suggested pressure 11 cm of water pressure) a few days back. I am taking trial on various Respironics, Resmed & Devilbiss models.
1) Please suggest whether Respironics M series auto model (with c-flex/auto flex) which is available in India is good?
2) Is there any possible disadvantage of using auto cpap over ordinary cpap, other than cost factor?
3) Is there any possible disadvantage of using c-felx or auto-flex machines?
Please guide me.
Regards, Bhaskar.

By getting a unit with both C=Flex and A Flex, you have more options. Some of us like different things, Both features can be turned off if not wanted, The more options we have the finer we can get our treatment set the way we want. Jim

The mask is a important part of treatment, keeping leaks under control is the main problem. Remember a nasal mask won't work if the pressure escapes your mouth when you sleep. a Full Face mask by-passes that problem, and is useful when you are congested. Welcome!

Bhaskar Raychaudhuri wrote:Hi! I am a 37 year old male from India. I have been detected with Sleep Apnea (suggested pressure 11 cm of water pressure) a few days back. I am taking trial on various Respironics, Resmed & Devilbiss models.
1) Please suggest whether Respironics M series auto model (with c-flex/auto flex) which is available in India is good?

Yes, that's a very good machine. That machine with A-Flex is one of my favorites. It's the machine I've been using recently most of the time.

Bhaskar Raychaudhuri wrote:2) Is there any possible disadvantage of using auto cpap over ordinary cpap, other than cost factor?

Some people prefer, or do better on, the straight pressure of a "cpap", instead of the varying pressure of an autopap (autotitrating cpap machine.)

Bhaskar Raychaudhuri wrote:3) Is there any possible disadvantage of using c-felx or auto-flex machines?

Yes, there can be contraindications ("don't use it") to using autotitration instead of straight cpap. I think it would be contraindicated (don't use autopap) if a person has (CHF) congestive heart failure with Cheyne-Stokes breathing pattern, or some neuromuscular thoracic problems or pulmonary issues. An autopap would also not be a good machine for someone who has "Complex Sleep Disordered Breathing."

But if a person has plain vanilla "OSA" (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) and has been titrated and shown to do all right on straight CPAP, an autopap should be fine, too. As I mentioned, the autopap can always be used like a straight CPAP machine if one steady pressure turns out to be better.

The nice thing about getting an autopap is that it is like two machines in one. You can set it to work as a straight cpap, if that's better for you. Or you can set it to work in autotitrating mode, varying the pressure as needed.

If I were prescribed a pressure of 11, and I were going to use an autopap in autotitrating mode, I'd set the range of pressure like this:

minimum pressure 10
maximum pressure 20

I like A-flex, so I'd set A-flex at " 3 " for the most exhalation pressure relief A-flex can give.
I'd be sure to keep the setting called "Split Time" turned OFF.

I'm not a doctor. That's just how I'd use the Auto with A-flex.

I'd want the Encore Viewer software to monitor my own treatment.

Good luck, Bhaskar -- and welcome to the message board!

Thanks a lot to both of you.

Is it advisable to take the CPAP from one manufacturer and the mask from another, if I find it more comfortable?

regards,

Bhaskar

Masks are a crap shoot, what work for one may not work well for another. However one brand of masks will work well with a different machine. All I worry about is the mask leak rate, I like to keep it on the low side 35 to 38 LPM, some masks out there are too high for my tastes. Also if you chose a nasal mask remember you will have to controk mouthleaking. Jim

Bhaskar Raychaudhuri wrote:Is it advisable to take the CPAP from one manufacturer and the mask from another, if I find it more comfortable?

Yes, that's ok.

Bhaskar, which one did you finally buy?
I am in the same Dilema

Ashish

rested gal wrote:

Bhaskar Raychaudhuri wrote:Hi! I am a 37 year old male from India. I have been detected with Sleep Apnea (suggested pressure 11 cm of water pressure) a few days back. I am taking trial on various Respironics, Resmed & Devilbiss models.
1) Please suggest whether Respironics M series auto model (with c-flex/auto flex) which is available in India is good?

Yes, that's a very good machine. That machine with A-Flex is one of my favorites. It's the machine I've been using recently most of the time.

RestedGal, Can you explain why the M Series Auto/Aflex is one of your favorites of the several you've used. I'm always wondering if we're missing something better in a machine other than that one.