I regularly use an AutoCPAP machine, but recently I learned some details about BiPAP. As far as I've understood, BiPAPs are, in many cases, good for central apnea sufferers, but OSA sufferers use BiPAPs too. BiPAPs appear to be way more expensive than AutoCPAPs. Does it mean that if I switch to BiPAP, I will sleep and feel much more comfortable?

leloup wrote:

I regularly use an AutoCPAP machine, but recently I learned some details about BiPAP. As far as I've understood, BiPAPs are, in many cases, good for central apnea sufferers, but OSA sufferers use BiPAPs too. BiPAPs appear to be way more expensive than AutoCPAPs. Does it mean that if I switch to BiPAP, I will sleep and feel much more comfortable?

No.

BiLevel PAP is a form of Non Invasive Ventillation, as distinct from PAP therapy. It is normally prescribed for OSA sufferers who also have other respiratory or cardiac conditions such as COPD or CHF, also for those sufferers who require a pressure setting in excess of 20 cmsH2O (as cpap maxes out at 20 cmsH2O).

Daniel.


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

(Anon)

Not necessarily. Especially considering that once you've been titrated at adequate pressure it is the mask comfort and fit that has the MOST influence on how well you sleep.


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Should an AutoCPAP machine maintain pressure in such away that it'd not only increase it when needed, but also decrease it? I haven't noticed my AutoCPAP decrease pressure by itself. Only with my intervention, which requires awakening. That's why I thought a bi-level machine would be more advanced in this way.

I thought the same thing.  I am an allergy sufferer and ususally congested sometimes worse than others.  I was thinking the BiPAP would be my ticket since I have such variable breathing issues through my nose. Some night I breathe through my nose better than others.  Anyway my sleep doctor told me no way on BiPAP, I was CPAP only for sure.  Reading the product information for BiPAP seems to be a better product but anyway I am new at this.