[Equipment] CPAP vs BPAP

[ITShortBus]

Folks; I have been on a BPAP machine for three years and the motor is going out. My current HMO will only cover 50o/o of the monthly rental (my cost $30). I refuse to get caught up in the rental game like I did when I was a newbie and got suckerd for $35 month for 10 months five years ago. I could have bought a machine. So I found a near new ResMed S9 and it is a CPAP (Will not change to Auto or BPAP). If I set it to my current pressure will it work for me or is there really that much difference between the machines. I just got the manual to configure it so I have not used it yet. I could make a few bucks selling this machine and keep looking for a BPAP if need be. Appreciate all your help. Thanks Jerry

[greatunclebill]

Folks; I have been on a BPAP machine for three years and the motor is going out. My current HMO will only cover 50o/o of the monthly rental (my cost $30). I refuse to get caught up in the rental game like I did when I was a newbie and got suckerd for $35 month for 10 months five years ago. I could have bought a machine. So I found a near new ResMed S9 and it is a CPAP (Will not change to Auto or BPAP). If I set it to my current pressure will it work for me or is there really that much difference between the machines. I just got the manual to configure it so I have not used it yet. I could make a few bucks selling this machine and keep looking for a BPAP if need be. Appreciate all your help. Thanks Jerry

welcome to the forum.

3 words for you: SEE YOUR DOCTOR.

[SuperSleeper]

Folks; I have been on a BPAP machine for three years and the motor is going out. My current HMO will only cover 50o/o of the monthly rental (my cost $30). I refuse to get caught up in the rental game like I did when I was a newbie and got suckerd for $35 month for 10 months five years ago. I could have bought a machine. So I found a near new ResMed S9 and it is a CPAP (Will not change to Auto or BPAP). If I set it to my current pressure will it work for me or is there really that much difference between the machines. I just got the manual to configure it so I have not used it yet. I could make a few bucks selling this machine and keep looking for a BPAP if need be. Appreciate all your help. Thanks Jerry

I would agree with Bill that it's a good thing to talk to your doctor about this. At first glance, my thinking is this:

You list your current BPAP pressures as: 16/13 cm/h2o

That's only a 3 cmH20 difference between inhalation and exhalation pressures. If your pressure needs have not changed, I would think that if you have a ResMed CPAP with EPR, you could set the pressure at 16, and turn the EPR on to 3, thus reducing the exhalation pressure down to 13. This would essentially be the same settings as your BPAP machine (16 inhalation, 13 exhalation pressure).

This is assuming that the pressures you're listing in your profile is the old BPAP settings (16/13 cm/h2o).

[JumpStart]

Folks; I have been on a BPAP machine for three years and the motor is going out. My current HMO will only cover 50o/o of the monthly rental (my cost $30). I refuse to get caught up in the rental game like I did when I was a newbie and got suckerd for $35 month for 10 months five years ago. I could have bought a machine. So I found a near new ResMed S9 and it is a CPAP (Will not change to Auto or BPAP). If I set it to my current pressure will it work for me or is there really that much difference between the machines. I just got the manual to configure it so I have not used it yet. I could make a few bucks selling this machine and keep looking for a BPAP if need be. Appreciate all your help. Thanks Jerry

SuperSleeper is certainly correct as to your ability to use the machine if the settings shown in your profile are correct. However, you would then have maxed out the S9 as far as equivalent BPAP settings, since a difference of 3 cm for inhalation/exhalation is the most that machine will ever do. If subsequent tests or prescriptions recommend a greater difference, you would again be in the market for a BPAP. It would be very good policy, as has been previously suggested, to see your sleep doc, or whoever did your initial prescription. It also may be that he/she would agree that the potential new machine would be sufficient.

[Sleepster]

You list your current BPAP pressures as: 16/13 cm/h2o

That's only a 3 cmH20 difference between inhalation and exhalation pressures. If your pressure needs have not changed, I would think that if you have a ResMed CPAP with EPR, you could set the pressure at 16, and turn the EPR on to 3, thus reducing the exhalation pressure down to 13. This would essentially be the same settings as your BPAP machine (16 inhalation, 13 exhalation pressure).

Two things. A CPAP set at 16 with an exhalation relief of 3 is NOT the same as a BPAP set at 16 and 13. Although it is close. In the case of the CPAP the pressure will be 16 all the time, except when you exhale it'll drop to 13. The BPAP will be 13 all the time, except when you inhale it'll rise to 16. These two things are not the same because we pause between inhaling and exhaling, and again between exhaling and inhaling.

The other thing is that the BPAP may have exhalation relief, so it'll drop the pressure below 13 (as low as 10) when you exhale.

I don't know if any of this is relevant. It depends on the reason the BPAP was prescribed in the first place.

[PaulaO2]

It depends on the reason the BPAP was prescribed in the first place.

This.

Excellent point.

[greatunclebill]

It depends on the reason the BPAP was prescribed in the first place.

This.

Excellent point.

is why my answer was see your doctor. we don't know the medical history and we're saying it's ok or it might be ok to switch the type of machine.