I had to switch from cpap to bipap cuz my cpap needs replacing I'm overdue for a new one per medicare I had it over 5yrs. But I have to get sleep study done then deal with supplier who's making sure medicare pays. So the last time I did this it took at least 2 months to get the machine. In the meantime I borrowed a bi pap from family that didn't use anymore. So now I'm experimenting with the settings I know how to change the pressure etc. I quickly found the in inhalation pressure was way to low. I went from 11-15. Ep I had on 5 cuz I was having panic attacks and suffocating feelings again cuz the settings were too low. I knew already about snoring mouth breathing with my mask an cpap that I needed a new sleep study before this happened. Now I'm stuck in what settings I need go up or down. By the way I can't sleep without that machine I'll constantly keep waking up cuz I know how it feels when I stop breathing now I just go right into panic mode an keep jumping awake. Please help I was up for two days straight no sleep behind this issue.
Why do you need to go to a BIPAP from CPAP? This step would usually be part of your new prescription as well as the settings based on your new sleep study. You are actually pretty lucky that you wake up when you stop breathing, I guess. I know it must be uncomfortable but never woke up through AHI. I did get up multiple times during the night for bathroom breaks which I think now were actually the result of waking a bit and then just a habit as i NEVER get up during the night now for bathroom trips and sleep soundly as a result of BIPAP therapy. The prescription my sleep doc gave me was for 20/25 and suspect that I don't really need the lower exhale pressure as I tolerate the high pressure easily. Anyway, best to wait for the sleep study to set the BIPAP machine you are trying but if you must change it, set the inhale pressure to what your current prescription calls for and the exhale for a small bit less... like I said, my difference was 5.
After 10 yrs I am being switched to a BiPap...sleep study showed some patches of CA...Central Apnea. This is with the doc who took over the practice when the expert Doc retired. I had never, ever had CA mentioned to me before...is this something new? She thinks BiPap stop most of those. I am 72 yrs old and female and have been getting up at 3:30 AM for the bathroom..quite typical for us seniors. But she has suggested that waking and getting up could be due to CA...every night at the same time? Don't think so. She and her P.A. have both stated that if they can get this apnea resolved and I get a 'good nights' sleep', my Idiopathic Hypersomnia will likely go away. So what is the criteria for a 'good nights' sleep'?
Hello. Unless your new sleep study provides information that proves you will need to switch from CPAP to BiPAP, it may be fine for you to stay on CPAP. Changing to BiPAP without a sleep study to obtain appropriate settings may cause more harm than good, as these pressures are finely tuned to your breathing. The EPAP setting is adjusted to help prevent obstruction, and the IPAP setting is usually adjusted to help with more mild events (mild hypopnea, RERA, snoring, etc.). Is there something wrong with your current CPAP machine that prevents you from continuing to use it until you have your sleep study? I encourage you to check with your physician before making any changes to your treatment. Best wishes, and please keep us posted!
Thank u both for responding I explained that my cpap isn't working the cord is worn the connection between the machine and the battery brick. I am already for medicare to pay for a new machine. Even with my cpap I was snoring and mouth breathing and I have the perfect mask. So I'm still waiting to get the order for the sleep study it's not even scheduled yet. I know last time i had to get a new nachine it took 2 months So in the mean time i wont be able to sleep ??I had to borrow a machine since my dad had the bipap I thought I can use this to try it myself out before the sleep study since the cpap wasn't helping as much. A loaner cpap is 75.00 a month which is the same amount I what I'll have to pay towards a new machine I know it will be an upgraded machine cuz mine is at least 7yrs old an it maybe a bi pap I need anyway. I just had to quit my part time job I still get disability medicare but my health is really declining so my financial situation is not good. Oh I also increased the cpap pressure before it broke it helped a little but I didn't get to try it long cuz that's when it broke. Well I'm still barely sleeping despite all my different sleeping pills. Ps.I have had insomnia since I was 8yrs old I'm in my 50's now. Help I'm open to any suggestions.
Hi Dan m I reread ur suggestions about the ipap an epap. From my research so far online says ipap is inhilation so when it gives the positive pressure when u breathe in the epap has exhale pressure an time to make sure ur letting enough co2 out so that's the difference between cpap which gives constant air blowin an bi pap u inhale an exhale the air. This is my understanding anyway. That exhale pressure setting is what I need to adjust it also sets how much time u need between exhale an inhale on 5 it felt to slow in between other settings were too fast. Please let me know if I'm on the right track all of this im talking about the bi pap I'm confusing myself.
Hi KindMaroonMosquito5934. EPAP is the lower pressure setting the machine drops to during exhalation and IPAP is the higher pressure experienced during inhalation. One of the goals with BiPAP is to have the EPAP pressure set at a high enough level to prevent the airway from collapsing at the end of exhalation. If EPAP and IPAP pressure are set to the same number on a BiPAP machine, then you basically have CPAP. Without a sleep study, there is really no way to know what the appropriate settings are for a patient using BiPAP. Hope this helps!
Thanx for that info I think I finally get it. I had a light bulb idea after not sleeping for almost 48 hours. I realized I only spoke to a customer service representative on the phone. So I decided to go directly to the office that's about 10 min from my house. I was there before they even opened. I explained my situation an the info they gave me over the phone so he said that was simply incorrect and he just swapped out my cord battery brick gave me a new one no charge or nothin so basically I went thru not sleeping for almost a week for nothin. He also are said their under new management so the rep might not understand what was askin. So I appreciate everything u did for me and now I know the bi pap is not for me lol. It's Wednesday I'm gonna sleep till Friday lol. I will keep checkin on this forum to see if I am able to help out an encourage new patients to keep tryin to use the machine my whole life changed when I finally got it all together I had many sleepless nites trying different masks etc but like I said before now I can not sleep without it. Even for taking naps. And again thank u so much. PS I'm still scheduling another sleep study cuz it's way over a year since I had one.
I am convinced more than ever that taking control of your own therapy is the best course of action. You came here with a problem and although suggestions didn't directly lead to the resolution, you were spurred on to get resolution on your own. These med supply places realize there are quite a few options and I suspect the ones with a business sense will try and work to keep their clients happy and healthy as a good business practice. Glad you got your equipment issue sorted and PLEASE keep dropping by and trying to encourage, help and learn.
