Choosing New Machine

My hubby has also been diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea. He has not had the second study yet to determine the setting.

Would he be better off getting the Respironics Auto Bipap rather than just the Auto? He would be under Medicare as a first time user.

Yoga, your husband might not need a bipap to benefit pap threapy. An auto with cflex might be a good one to try first. (Most of the time, they place you on a straight cpap to begin with, unless you have an extremely high pressure and /or some breathing issues. To get an autopap, you would probably have to request that your doctor specify "auto" on his prescription or your DME may balk at providing one. Betcha, if you order online at cpapforseniors.com, you could skip alot of the newbie frustration of getting fitted properly! Good Luck!

Yoga,

Definately get started out with the right place. From what I read that is more critical when using Medicare. I agree with inacpapfog, check out cpapforseniors. If anyone can get you the best equipment available, it will be them.

If I could get it funded I would grab the opportunity to get a Respitronics AUTO BiPap.

The flexibility of this machine is a wonder to behold

The only thing it doesn't do (& doesn't need to for 90% + users) is have timed control of breathung as well. If it did it could replace just about all types of xPAP on the market (cpap, auto & bilevel) except for one simple thing - the current price.

Cheers

DSM

dsm wrote:If I could get it funded I would grab the opportunity to get a Respitronics AUTO BiPap.

The flexibility of this machine is a wonder to behold

The only thing it doesn't do (& doesn't need to for 90% + users) is have timed control of breathung as well. If it did it could replace just about all types of xPAP on the market (cpap, auto & bilevel) except for one simple thing - the current price.

I'll take this opportunity to point out that the Auto-BiPAP does not operate as an APAP. It can operate as a simple CPAP, but it cannot function as an Auto-PAP. Now, some people, perhaps most, are OK with Bi-level breathing, but one should be aware that bi-level operation is another complicating factor which can be annoying to use.

Yoga, your hubby would be well advised to try out a BiPAP, to see how he tolerates it, prior to purchasing the Auto-BiPAP.

Regards,
Bill

Yoga wrote:Would he be better off getting the Respironics Auto Bipap rather than just the Auto?

I think that will depend on what his titrated pressure turns out to be and if he is diagnosed with central sleep apnea. If his titrated pressure is high then maybe he would benefit from a bipap machine. If it isn't a high pressure and he is not diagnosed with central sleep apnea and if he has no other extenuating health issues, a bipap is completely unnecessary.

From the CPAPopedia:

Bi-Level devices are commonly used when a patient cannot tolerate the pressure of a CPAP. Used for this purpose, the Bi-level machines are set to run in Spontaneous Mode. Spontaneous referring to the presence of respiratory drive.

A Bi-Level set to run in Timed Mode, are used for patient’s with a host of medical issues, including Central Apnea, ALS, and many forms of COPD. The timed Bi-Level will initiate a breath, when respiratory drive is not present.

and from the Mayo Clinic*:

Bilevel positive airway pressure (bilevel PAP). Unlike CPAP, which supplies steady, constant pressure to the upper airway as you breathe in and out, bilevel PAP builds to a higher pressure when you inhale and decreases to a lower pressure when you exhale. The goal of this treatment is to boost the weak breathing pattern of central sleep apnea. Some bilevel PAP devices can be set to automatically deliver a breath if the device detects you haven't taken a breath after so many seconds.

*MayoClinic.com Sleep Apnea

Thanks for everyone's input.

NightHawkeye wrote: I'll take this opportunity to point out that the Auto-BiPAP does not operate as an APAP. It can operate as a simple CPAP, but it cannot function as an Auto-PAP.

Bill,

If an AUTO BiPap doesn't perform pressure adjustment during the night, what does it do ? Why call it an AUTO BiPap ?

Curious

Cheers DSM

(##2 - check this link = viewtopic.php?t=5437 )

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): bipap, CPAP, auto, APAP

As I understand it, the Respironics BiPAP Auto can auto-titrate the pressure all night. But it is also functioning as a bi-level machine at the same time it is doing the autopap thing.

It can be set to operate just as a bi-level machine - BiPAP.

It can also be set to operate as a straight single pressure CPAP.

What it can't do is be set to operate solely as an autopap.

Still confuses me, too.

Oct 29, 2005 subject: Respironics Bipap Auto First Night Impression

Found out this interesting little tidbit recently. If a person wants to buy a BiPAP Auto the only things a prescription has to have on it are just those two words: BiPAP Auto. The Rx doesn't have to mention any pressure at all; doesn't have to state the IPAP/EPAP settings that normally have to be stated on an Rx when a person is buying just a regular BiPAP machine. The BiPAP Auto is shipped with the factory default settings of 4 - 25 cmH20 pressure, and PS 8.

dsm wrote:Bill,

If an AUTO BiPap doesn't perform pressure adjustment during the night, what does it do ? Why call it an AUTO BiPap ?

Hi DSM,

The AutoBiPAP functions very well as an automatic BiPAP with the pressure changing every exhalation and inhalation. What it can't do is maintain the same pressure from exhalation to inhalation while gradually moving this single pressure around like an APAP does. In AutoBiPAP mode it can vary the difference between exhalation and inhalation but never less than 3 cm difference.

I hope that's clearer.

Regards,
Bill

Bill,

Yes that is much clearer

To most of us though it is an AUTO - saying it isn't is confusing what AUTO really means. AUTO means free ranging pressure adjustment. There was never a specification that stated AUTO can only mean identical IPAP/EPAP pressures while it ranges.

I agree with you though that to be completely accurate we could call one an AUTO CPAP device & the other an AUTO BiLevel device

Cheers

D

rested gal wrote:As I understand it, the Respironics BiPAP Auto can auto-titrate the pressure all night. But it is also functioning as a bi-level machine at the same time it is doing the autopap thing.

It can be set to operate just as a bi-level machine - BiPAP.

It can also be set to operate as a straight single pressure CPAP.

What it can't do is be set to operate solely as an autopap.

Still confuses me, too.

Oct 29, 2005 subject: Respironics Bipap Auto First Night Impression

Found out this interesting little tidbit recently. If a person wants to buy a BiPAP Auto the only things a prescription has to have on it are just those two words: BiPAP Auto. The Rx doesn't have to mention any pressure at all; doesn't have to state the IPAP/EPAP settings that normally have to be stated on an Rx when a person is buying just a regular BiPAP machine. The BiPAP Auto is shipped with the factory default settings of 4 - 25 cmH20 pressure, and PS 8.

I am a new guy here. I currently have on order the BiPaP Auto with Humidifier, card reader, software and Ultra Mirage ff mask from cpap.com. I am self insured at a high deductable therefore, these costs for the test and equipment come out of my pocket. The sleep test cost were $1400 then I was to go back and have follow-up for the pressue settings (titrate) this was an additional $2000. I talk with my family Doctor and told him I believe this to be a rip off and he agreed. I had read on the cpap.com sight that you could do as you say on the RX. Have stated "BiPaP Auto" machine and that there would be no pressures required to purchase. I told my family Doctor this. He currenly treats several sleep apnea patiences by them bring thier machines in and he adjusts the pressures according to thier input. He was unaware of the smart card and Auto machine. I gave me an RX like I asked. He wants me to print reports to show him. He says he may want to get this machine for his office after he see what I think. This machine may cost more however, when you consider that you can by-pass the additional $2000 cost for the pressure sitting night its a much easier choice. This is ramblings from a new guy so take it for what its worth. Anyone think I screwed this up? Thanks

New Guy wrote:Anyone think I screwed this up? Thanks

Wow. . ., thought I was reading about myself there for a moment. My situation was very similar to yours New Guy and I opted for the Auto-BiPAP as well. Things for me haven't been quite as simple as I thought they would be, but that's mostly because I seem to have complicating factors around my apnea that I have to slowly sort out. Since my sleep lab couldn't even get the diagnosis right to begin with, I doubt that they'd have been much help resolving the other issues, even if they'd gotten the diagnosis right and even if I'd had a titrating night.

I don't think you'll regret doing your own titration. According to our recent poll, sleep lab titrations seem to get it wrong a lot more often than they get it right.

Keep us informed on how you're doing.

Regards,
Bill

Bill, NewGuy,

If both of you start downloading your data, I would love to see (& get copies of) the data.

I am especially interested in how you find the AUTO mode and what IPAP does in relation to EPAP as you use the machines.

I am particularly interested in the movement of the EPAP (and of course the IPAP) pressure based on any apneas & hypopnea showing in the data.

Good luck with these machines I believ you have the best.

Cheers

DSM

dsm wrote:If both of you start downloading your data, I would love to see (& get copies of) the data.

I am especially interested in how you find the AUTO mode and what IPAP does in relation to EPAP as you use the machines.

I am particularly interested in the movement of the EPAP (and of course the IPAP) pressure based on any apneas & hypopnea showing in the data.

Good luck with these machines I believ you have the best.

Cheers

DSM

Ask and you shall receive! .

Here are some charts I posted a few weeks ago. Of course, the results weren't real effective for me at that time, but you can get a pretty good idea of how the automatic part is functioning.
viewtopic.php?p=59472&highlight=#59472

Regards,
Bill