Flow Limits How to Upgrade CPAP to Bilevel

[Lucky7]

Wanted to say thanks, Sleeprider. My mom probably needs to move to bi-level and this was very helpful.

[Deborah K.]

SLEEPRIDER, HOW DOES THIS SOUND FOR MY TALK WITH MY DOCTOR? I TRIED TO FOCUS MORE ON HOW I FEEL.

I would like a prescription for a ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto machine.  My current CPAP machine is a ResMed AirSense 10 Autoset.  It's a good machine for what it does, but I need better apnea treatment from a machine offering higher Pressure Support (PS) that can only be provided by a bi-level machine such as the AirCurve 10 Vauto.

Over the years I have found myself feeling air starved with my machine, so I have been bumping my pressure up until I am now using 14-20 pressure, and am bumping up against the 20, which is the highest my machine will go.  A bilevel goes up to 25, but with more PS I would probably not even need pressure as high as I presently need, resulting in more comfort and fewer air leaks.  I now fight daytime sleepiness and again fight insomnia even though I take Trazodone, and I learned recently that using a machine with higher levels of PS can help with all these issues, and blood pressure as well.  I need to have the quality and comfort of my sleep improved.  I believe it will improve my overall health.

I understand that the air I take in with each inhale (tidal volume) is lower than it should be when I sleep and can be relieved with more PS.  I range from 200 to 220, and it should be more like 300.

I have high flow limits (respiratory flow resistance) which my present machine cannot handle, but the additional PS provided by a bi-level machine should solve that.  A bi-level offers mechanical assistance to overcome airway restriction at the moment it is needed to produce normal airflow. So it's all about needing more pressure support.

The bi-level is more expensive but I believe my insurance will cover it if you will prescribe it.

[Sleeprider]

Sounds perfect. I should copy that for others.

[Deborah K.]

  Feel free to copy it.  Thanks again for all your help!!  You are a terrific coach and wonderfully generous with your time and energy!  I'll update once I've talked to my doctor.   

[Deborah K.]

  I WON!  I WON!  I visited my regular doctor today and he is writing me a prescription for a ResMed AirCurve 10 Vauto!  He will fax in the prescription to the DME tomorrow, and things will be on their way.  Yippee!

[paulag1955]

This is very good news. Here's hoping the new machine will have you feeling better soon.

[UnicornRider]

    Post back and let us know how everything is going.


   Sleeprider scores again!

[Jay51]

Congratulations Deborah!  (And Sleeprider!)

[yankees123]

So glad your persistence paid off!!

[Sleeprider]

I'm late to the celebration as usual. Congrats. Can't wait to get the party started. My avatar is already at the bar.