How long did it take you to adjust to new machine?

Hey All...new member looking for help from people who've changed machines-

I've been using a Respironics BiPAP Pro 2 successfully for 6 years...settings ipap12/epap8. After the machine began making strange noises, it was replaced with a Respironics DS750S....settings ipap5-15/epap5-9....using the same mask. As I understand, the new machine has auto pressure adjusting. It seems like the machine is working fine, but it takes more effort on inhalation than the old machine. Anyone else have trouble adjusting to the auto pressure feature? Thank you!

Welcome to our little community, quiklids.

Please fill in the equipment info on your profile so we can help you better.

Going from 12 starting pressure to 5 starting pressure is likely to cause you discomfort. Even though it's an Auto machine, you have to have some breathing "events" before it autos up the pressure. So, every night when you turn it on, or if you take a bathroom break and turn it off and on, it has to "relearn" your correct pressure by letting you have some minor events.

There's also a psychological problem. You've gotten used to 12/8 with the old machine. Now, when you turn the bilevel PAP machine on, you get 5/5 and your brain says, "This feels different, I'm getting less air." Strangely enough, you feel like you can't breathe at 5/5, even though you're breathing 0/0 all day long when you don't have the mask on.

Ask your doctor if it's OK to raise your lower ipap to something closer to 12. Maybe even go back to 12 and experiment with lowering it a bit at a time to see what's comfortable. Leaving the higher numbers on the auto range is fine. i.e. ipap12-15/epap8-9 would feel like your old ipap12/epap8 when it starts. Even ipap10-15/epap7-9 would be less of a shock to your system.

I think people have too much faith in auto pressure, especially with setting the minimum pressure too low. Yes, it may eventually catch up to the correct pressure, but you have to suffer a little first. I think a lot of people also don't realize that the machine forgets the correct pressure it figured out during a sleep session every time you turn it off and starts from the low pressure again. If the starting pressure is too low, you can spend the first part of each CPAP session with suboptimal treatment.

I like auto pressure, but set my minimum pressure to a level I get good numbers at.

Thanks for the insight, Archangle...I've been waking early w/the new machine, and wondering if it's all in my head, or a simple adjustment that needs to be made. Will talk to my doc Monday-

By the way, if you want to see how auto works, start using the CPAP, look at the pressure on the display and try holding your breath for short periods of time to see how slowly the machine adjusts pressure up if the pressure is too low. You'll probably come to the conclusion that it takes a lot of missed breathing to get up to a higher pressure.

How long did it take you to adjust to new machine?

Which one? No, I'm not being flippant. My answer to your question is pretty revealing.

It took NO time to adjust to my first CPAP. I loved it. I slept better than I had in 20 years. I figure (based on comments that my sister made while I was a teen), I had OSA since my early teens. It did not get severe until I was in my early 30s. And I do mean SEVERE. I was VERY dangerous behind the wheel.

When I went to my first BiPAP, it also took no time to adjust. I loved the increased breath support with the Bi-Level machine.

When I went to my first auto adjusting BiPAP, I had more problems. The changes in pressure took time. Also, it started with a pressure that seemed WAY too low. I think archangel hit the nail on the head there. An IPAP of 5 is probably too low for you and should probably be adjusted upwards.

When I went to my first ASV machine, it took a much longer time to adjust. The constant pressure changes does a number on you, until you learn what the new "normal" is like. But you do adjust.

The second ASV machine I bought still causes me problems, because it is SO different than my first ASV machine. It does not seem to adjust my pressure as rapidly as my current machine. Now, I *EXPECT* the rapid changes of my first ASV machine and awaken when this second (spare) ASV machine does not react as rapidly. Go figure!!

So, you should adjust if you can move the lower IPAP pressure up from the current setting of 5 to 9 or so. Hope that helps.

I tried updating my profile, but my machine isn't listed....

Thanks John...w/my first BiPap, I slept better than I had in years as well. My new auto machine I've only had a few days. Did a quick search and found how to adjust it....I'll let ya know how it goes!