New User - Already moving from CPAP to BiPAP

wetware1967 · Post by **wetware1967** » Fri May 12, 2006 1:22 pm

So a month or so ago I had my first Sleep Study. I'd known for MANY years that I likely had OSA but didn't get around to dealing with it until recently because it was becoming an issue with the amount of driving I have to do.....
The result:
Without the CPAP I was having 102 'episodes' an hour (I assume both Apnea and Hypopnea's are included in this total but didn't know to check with the technician) and my blood oxygen dropped to less than 76%(don't quote me, thats the number I remember, and I know it was WAY low, but memory may be fuzzy....)

I was put on a CPAP with C-Flex. Set at 16, C-Flex set to 3. ComfortFull Mask. This dropped the number of 'episodes' to 29 an hour, and got my oxygen levels back up. I've been sleeping pretty well since, a little 'draggy' here and there but pretty happy over all. I occasionally 'Toot' (no not that way, through the mask.) likely due to how tightly /or not I'm wearing the mask. (Then again I awake with no discernable marks from wearing the mask.)

Last night I went in for another study, the Doc wants to nail my numbers better. The result:
New perscrip for a BiPAP. Set to 20 (dear god TWENTY?) and 16. Technician says that a CPAP would be troublesome because even set with a C-Flex of 3 it wont allow me to exhale consistently....
Apparently when I'd go to REM sleep is when the other apneas were happening because of even more loss of muscle tone. With the new pressure settings he cut the number of episodes back to 5 an hour.

I'll be getting a new mask as well we experimented with the Ultra Mirage Full last night. I'm not as happy with it as the Comfort Full, but with the change in pressure I may end up wanting it.

QUESTIONS?
Which machine:
BiPAP Pro 2 - I'm already happy with the Respironics CPAP
Synchrony ST - More toys? Not quite sure why this machine is so $$$$
VPAP III ST Bilevel
GoodKnight 425 - I like the size of this machine.

My Doc will avoid the Auto Titrating machines. He's not a fan of them.
Should I look into the Respironics initially, then maybe plan for the Goodknight as a travel machine sometime in the future? Is the GoodKnight fine as a regular use machine?

Anybody tried the Hans Rudolph 7600 at this high a pressure?

wetware1967 · Post by **wetware1967** » Fri May 12, 2006 1:26 pm

BTW even with 5 episode an hour I apparently found time to get in a good 45 minute REM sleep. Tech says this is the longest he's seen in recent history, and far longer than my age group (I'm 38) is supposed to get.

Sorry just found that interesting. Too bad I can't remember the dream.....

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Fri May 12, 2006 1:50 pm

My recommendation is the Respironics BiPAP-auto. It's the same cost as the BiPAP-pro. From what you say, you're not a candidate for an ST machine, and I'd guess that your doc isn't gonna prescribe one of those without a good reason.

I chose the BiPAP-auto because it doesn't have any real competition in its price class. It's a way good machine with lots of bells and whistles you won't get on other machines in its price class.

As for your doc not wanting to prescribe an "auto", he doesn't get a vote unless you let him. Tell him you want the prescription written for a "generic" Bi-level so that you can explore your options of machines and vendors.

Regards,
Bill