I am trying out a regular CPAP (REMstar PLUS w/ CFLEX), but was wondering about the same machine with auto (given that I haven't had a proper sleep test (just had a test with an oxymeter.....showed 233 events in approx four hours, an a Oxygen saturaton that went as low as 75%...I guess that makes me severe). My salesperson said that the auto is only effective for people with pressures around 17-20, and are about $1100 more. I think he's way out on the pricing based on internet searches on retailers, but anyone know if that is true about it only being helpful at higher pressures? I want to try to get the right machine the first time as after my insurance has paid for one I am sure I'll be on my own for buying another.

same boat.  unlike you tho i'm on my own even for the first purchase, no insurance coverage at all, and i live in HK, so i have to buy the right one in one shot.  otherwise, it will be too much trouble and costly.  so, i also want to know if an autopap should be chosen over a CPAP, becoz i buy the theory of the antopap.  i believe that OSA cm level can vary in the future.  i've been told that i'm not supposed adjust the levels of a CPAC.  so, an auto seems to make more sense.  another reason is that the machine used for my titration in the hospital was an auto, and i remember feeling great that day after the night of titration.  

anyone has any comments, please jump in.  tks!


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mild6

vwboop wrote:

I am trying out a regular CPAP (REMstar PLUS w/ CFLEX), but was wondering about the same machine with auto (given that I haven't had a proper sleep test (just had a test with an oxymeter.....showed 233 events in approx four hours, an a Oxygen saturaton that went as low as 75%...I guess that makes me severe). My salesperson said that the auto is only effective for people with pressures around 17-20, and are about $1100 more. I think he's way out on the pricing based on internet searches on retailers, but anyone know if that is true about it only being helpful at higher pressures? I want to try to get the right machine the first time as after my insurance has paid for one I am sure I'll be on my own for buying another.

Hi,

An oxymeter does not diagnose OSA and thoughts of shelling out money without a proper sleep test frighten me.

You should have a proper sleep test first. What if you don't have OSA, but another condition. What if you have central or mixed apnoea or UARS (Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome).

You are an adult and can decide for yourself, but where health is concerned I think you need to know exactly what is wrong with you through correct diagnosis, followed by correct therapy. Have a sleep study under the care of a qualified sleep doctor.

Don't be afraid to post back.

Daniel.


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The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

>My salesperson said that the auto is only effective for people with pressures around 17-20, and are about $1100 more.

Sorry, but that is a major crock of sh__! Look at any of the web sites that sell CPAPs and you see that an auto is about $200 more than a fixed pressure CPAP.

If you need only a very low pressure, an auto might not be much help. I have a Remstar auto and my pressure varies from normally 8-13. It works well for me and gives me only the pressure I need to deal with an aphea, instead of blowing 13 all night long.

I will say that autos are a "your mileage may vary". Some people do poorly on them and respond better to a fixed pressure. If you did well on an auto in a sleep study, it's likely you'll do well using one normally.

The best thing to do is to have a Dr. work with you and evaluate your sleep pattern after you get your CPAP to be sure it's working well for you.

One nice thing about the APAP is that if you find that auto isn't the best for you after all, you can turn the auto mode off and use it as a straight CPAP machine. In the case of the REMstar Auto w/ CFLEX, you can also turn on or off the CFLEX. I like having all that flexibility. My insurance would only cover a CPAP, so I paid out of pocket the $225 difference and have no regrets. I also spent another $200 out of pocket for the software and reader so I can monitor my progress.

vwboop; you really should get a sleep study done before buying equipment from a salesperson.

BTW, my pressure varies from 5 to 9 and most of the time it's in the 5-7 range. I don't need the highest pressure very often and it's nice to not have to run it at 9 all night. My titration called for 9 so if I was on a CPAP I would be blowing 9 all the time, whether I needed it or not.

You may or may not need the auto.  I thought they were kind of a "no brainer" but my doc suggested I give a straight CPAP a try first since my insurance requires a rental in any case.  I have a low prescribed pressure of 7cm even with my diagnosis of severe apnea, and even though it seems like a lot when I first start it up, by the end of the night I sometimes wonder if the machine is still working since it seems to get so much easier to breathe out as you body adapts.
Even so, they seem so much more advanced and are really not that much more expensive...I'll probably switch to one after the rental period is over, as long as my doc agrees.

[quote="Toren"]  I have a low prescribed pressure of 7cm even with my diagnosis of severe apnea


Hi Toren,

Pressure setting has no link to the severity of your apnoea. The pressure setting relates to the amount of pressure required to clear individual apnoea events. The severity of your apnoea relates to the number of apnoea events per hour.

Hence, you have a relatively low pressure for severe apnoea, while someone with mild or moderate apnoea might require 17/18 cms of pressure.

It's a funny old world.  

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

vwboop wrote:

I am trying out a regular CPAP (REMstar PLUS w/ CFLEX), but was wondering about the same machine with auto (given that I haven't had a proper sleep test (just had a test with an oxymeter.....showed 233 events in approx four hours, an a Oxygen saturaton that went as low as 75%...I guess that makes me severe). My salesperson said that the auto is only effective for people with pressures around 17-20, and are about $1100 more. I think he's way out on the pricing based on internet searches on retailers, but anyone know if that is true about it only being helpful at higher pressures? I want to try to get the right machine the first time as after my insurance has paid for one I am sure I'll be on my own for buying another.

I have been using a resmed auto for about 6 months, like you I was having numerous events per hour and also below 80% oxygen level, the doctor said I only needed a low pressure and recommended a fixed pressure machine, I opted for an auto that I could also download the data on to the computer, since taking this information I have hardly any events, and the pressure has been consistently between 11-13 so where the Doc' thought I would only need a setting of 4 beats me.  If you look at the long term going for an auto unit is best, at least you can set it to a fixed pressure if you want.

Brian