Philips/Respironics BiPap Auto Bi-Flex - Breath-cutoff issue

The short version is that while I was trying to fall asleep with this machine, about once every two minutes or so the machine would stop pumping air into me, mid-breath. I'd "choke" and I'd wake up. My older auto or manual-titration machines never did this. It would happen several times as I was trying to get to sleep (unit set on ramp-up if memory serves). The equipment provider that I was using at the time, when I asked for help with this issue, basically told me to go suck on a digital manometer. I've since changed providers.

I've been told this is a common complaint with this particular model.

My insurance won't get me another machine for a while yet, so a therapist at my new provider adjusted it to minimize this effect, though he could not completely eliminate it. I do usually manage to get to sleep with it, though I'm not sure if it doesn't do this kind of thing to me during the night. When I wake up in the morning, the unit's pumping air into me just like my old bipaps used to do. The breath-cutoff effect is nowhere to be observed.

Anyone else have this happen to them with this particular model?

I had a somewhat similar problem w/my Resmed S8 VPAP Auto. We never were able to sift out a "cure" for the problem in straight VPAP mode. However, w/the S8 VPAP Auto we could run it in Auto mode as a straight VPAP by setting the Pressure Support the exact distance between IPAP and EPAP and the problem didn't exist then.

But the PR Pressure Support works somewhat different than Resmed's Pressure Support so the method of running it as a straight BPAP in auto mode would be somewhat different. However, it is worth discussing w/your DME provider's RRT.

It would be very helpful for you to post all of your machine settings along with mask make & model. Else it's like throwing darts in the dark.

morpheusjr wrote:The short version is that while I was trying to fall asleep with this machine, about once every two minutes or so the machine would stop pumping air into me, mid-breath. I'd "choke" and I'd wake up. My older auto or manual-titration machines never did this. It would happen several times as I was trying to get to sleep (unit set on ramp-up if memory serves). The equipment provider that I was using at the time, when I asked for help with this issue, basically told me to go suck on a digital manometer. I've since changed providers.

I've been told this is a common complaint with this particular model.

My insurance won't get me another machine for a while yet, so a therapist at my new provider adjusted it to minimize this effect, though he could not completely eliminate it. I do usually manage to get to sleep with it, though I'm not sure if it doesn't do this kind of thing to me during the night. When I wake up in the morning, the unit's pumping air into me just like my old bipaps used to do. The breath-cutoff effect is nowhere to be observed.

Anyone else have this happen to them with this particular model?

Hi morpheusjr,

I believe have used this model (pre M series & pre PR Sys 1). Have also used the Bipap Pro II (an earlier model again). Good machine but there are some challenges in the detection of ipap to epap for some users (breathing in then the machine switches to breathe out while you are still wanting to breathe in).

Do you experience nasal constriction at all ? (by this I mean things like , sinus troubles, difficulty breathing even moderate volume of air through your nose while laying down). Also do you also suffer from GERD symptoms such as waking with mucus in your throat. Or from hay-fever etc: that may affect your sinuses ?.

Tks

DSM

morpheusjr wrote:Additional Comments: Machine: Philips/Respironics BiPap Auto Bi-Flex w/ System One heated humidifier (It's not in this site's official list of machines)

I see "PR System One REMstar BiPap Auto with BiFlex" on the list.

archangle wrote:

morpheusjr wrote:Additional Comments: Machine: Philips/Respironics BiPap Auto Bi-Flex w/ System One heated humidifier (It's not in this site's official list of machines)

I see "PR System One REMstar BiPap Auto with BiFlex" on the list.

Good point Archangle. I am not sure my comment applies to the M or System One but it will be interesting to hear if morpheusjr has any restricted breathing issues ? In fact is the issue related to the machine switching from ipap to epap before morpheusjr is ready for that to happen ?

DSM

My machine was cutting me off like that, (possibly not the exact same model - but it does have bi-flex) and the LRT, RRT person told me to move the flex from 1 to 3 which seems to have cured it.