CPAP versus APAP

[OMyMyOHellYes]

This was explained to me by the experts ...

Experts? Ex-perts?!?

So they are no longer pert?

[Sleepster]

But here's the thing, with the auto setting the machine will just tick over while you are breathing normally, and kick in when it detects your breathing has stopped.

The machine will apply pressure at all times. It may raise the pressure when necessary, and if it does it will remain at that higher pressure for some time. If that base pressure is too low you can always raise it. And if for some reason you need to, you can always put the machine in CPAP mode.

The problem being that if you have frequent consecutive bouts of no breathing it may not keep up with the frequency of each bout, hence the need for a constant pressure to keep the airwaves continually open. This was explained to me by the experts ... So depending on the severity of your condition auto for mild or constant if your airways need to be opened throughout the night.

Were these the same experts who are selling the machine? Keep in mind that the cheaper the machine they provide to you the greater the share of the insurance companies money they get to keep as profit. In other words they make more money is they sell you a cheaper machine. I hope you at least got a fully data capable machine.

Obviously my heart condition required my airways be opened throughout the night, so I'll go with what was originally prescribed for me

That's true, but it's what's known as a vacuous truth. Everyone who suffers from sleep apnea needs to keep their airway open all night.

The only case where your argument may apply is a patient with central speep apnea who simply stops breathing even thought he airway is wide open. And in those cases the argument would apply to a ASV machine, not a auto-CPAP machine.

I agree with you concerning the updating of your machine. If your pressure is not uncomfortably high you can accomplish at least as much and maybe more with a fully data-capable CPAP machine.

I'm confused, though, because your profile indicates that you already have a fully data-capable amd modern auto-CPAP machine.