I have been investigating different machines and ran across BiPAP with Biflex machines which claim to be more natural.  Do these machines work better?

Bruce13 wrote:

I have been investigating different machines and ran across BiPAP with Biflex machines which claim to be more natural.  Do these machines work better?

In short.......no.

BiLevel (BiPAP is a trade name for Respironics) is usually prescribed for those with a pressure requirement in excess of 20 cmsH2O (CPAP maxes at 20).......also those with other respiratory conditions such as Asthma, COPD etc or CHF (Congestive Heart Failure.

BiLevel is a form of non invasive ventillation as distinct from XPAP therapy, I don't know where 'natural' comes from (sales bumf no doubt)................it is also 3 to 4 times dearer than CPAP.

Daniel.


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

(Anon)

Thank you.

Daniel wrote:

Bruce13 wrote:

I have been investigating different machines and ran across BiPAP with Biflex machines which claim to be more natural.  Do these machines work better?

In short.......no.

BiLevel (BiPAP is a trade name for Respironics) is usually prescribed for those with a pressure requirement in excess of 20 cmsH2O (CPAP maxes at 20).......also those with other respiratory conditions such as Asthma, COPD etc or CHF (Congestive Heart Failure.

BiLevel is a form of non invasive ventillation as distinct from XPAP therapy, I don't know where 'natural' comes from (sales bumf no doubt)................it is also 3 to 4 times dearer than CPAP.

Daniel.

I agree with Daniel.  My sleep doctor switched me from CPAP to BiPAP on my machine a couple of weeks ago.  I found the drop in pressure during the inhale was LESS natural than straight CPAP.  It drove me crazy the first few nights.  However, my average nightly treated AHI went from around 8 to around 4, so it must be doing something good for me.  Whether or not BiPAP is good for you needs to be determined from trial and error.  If your considering it just for comfort, I'd say don't bother.


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Sleepy Dragon

Treatment since 11-July-2008
Mode/Pressure = CPAP @ 19 cmH2O
Machine = ResMed VPAP III w/ heated humidifier
Mask = ResMed Mirage Liberty full face (hybrid)

"I would kill for a good night's sleep!"

Thank you for your input.  I've read quite a bit more about BiPAP and from what I can understand the unit auto adjusts inhale and exhale pressures independently usually running the exhale pressure lower than the inhale pressure.  The unit I used while at the sleep center ran both pressures the same and I had a hard time exhaling.  The unit I'm temporarily using now keeps the exhale pressure lower than inhale by a fixed amount.  I find it easier to use than the unit at sleep center.  I have only used it three nights so far and am still having a problem sleeping at all while using it but I plan to stick it out until something is working for me.

Bruce, exactly what are you using?...make, model etc.  

 I have an Auto BiLevel..it is a Resperonics so it has the BiFlex (others call the feature different things).   This machine is 'better' per se then a regular bilevel that has a 'timed' inhalation and exhalation.  It works a little differently..it follows your breathing rhythm verses you having to follow it's 'timed rhythm.  I used the term timed...it is not really timed but an in and out rhythm that has a setting that you can change to try and match your rhythm.   The machine I have picks up on your natural rhythm (or at least tries to).

I do much better on a BiLevel.  There are reasons...as Daniel said, that one is prescribed...you would need to discuss it with your Dr..and basically 'fail' CPAP in order to get one...unless you have the  'qualifying' conditions to get one from the beginning.  Trouble Exhaling against the pressure was one of the reasons I was able to get one.


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BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

Right now I'm using a Respronics series M Auto/A-Flex that I have to return to the Sleep Center tomorrow.  I know that it is not a BiPAP/BiFlex machine.    The sleep specialist I'm seeing is going to prescribe something for me with settings based on the data collected with the machine I'm using now.  I'm trying to gather all of the information I can so I can discuss the type of machine that would work best for me, with the sleep specialist.

Bruce13 I have used CPAP and BiPAP ( I still have my Respironics BiPAP Auto M with Bi-Flex) before I was put on VPAP ASV. If your pressures are high BiPAP is definitely the way to go, makes exhaling a heck of allot easier.  I liked it allot better than the straight CPAP but there are some quirks to it though, keeping your respirations in sync with the machine was  often times a problem for me. It might of been just the way my machine  was set up, at that time I was not much into what the machine was doing or wasn't doing, nor was I interested in keeping track of my progress or my treatment, I just knew it wasn't working for me. Things changed allot after I started getting involved with these forums, and especially after I was put on VPAP ASV. It is outstanding  that you are checking into these things in advance so you can be knowledgeable and actively involved in your treatment. Just make sure you get a fully data capable machine, that important! Good Luck to You


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White Beard with a White Beard
Resmed VPAP Adapt SV Enhanced, HumidAire 2i, ResLink with Model 8000 Flex sensor Pulse Oximeter, and ResScan 3.5 software. Respironic EverFlo OPI Oxygen Concentrator 3 lpm
EEP 9.0, min PS 6.0, max PS 16.0

My second study was Sunday night, and I could not tolerate the CPAP, so I used a BiLevel. I assume that is what they will prescribe (I am hoping, actually, for an auto-titrate because of significant weight loss in the near future). I definitely did better with the BiLevel -- my only complaint was that occasionally, I would take an extra deep breath, and at the end of it it felt like the air flow shut off (like the breath was too long for the machine or something?). Did not happen much, though.

Kimberly