Understanding AutoCPAP

[amykathleen2005]

Hi,

I have registered as a member to help out my mom who was just diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. She had the initial sleep study that she was diagnosed on and then the sleep doctor prescriped her an AutoCPAP.

So we are totally new to the world of sleep apnea.

Anyways my question is for the AutoCPAP machine I thought that it sensed her ability to breathe and responded to her, giving what she needed to help out.

But it seems more like it is always on, like when she is just putting it on and getting settled, laying but not sleeping it is already blowing air. Is it supposed to do that? Does it just always blow some air no matter if she needs it or not at that point?

[chill]

Greetings and Welcome to the Apnea Board!

Yes, the machine is always blowing air. That is the Continuous part of Continuous Air Pressure (CPAP). The intention of the machine to prevent events from happening, not to stop them as they happen. With an Auto machine, if it sees that events are still happening, it will increase the air pressure in an attempt to prevent future events from happening.

It can take some time to get used to it, it is not a normal sensation. But assure your mother that we do get used to it. Many people here have commented on waking up and having to lift up their mask to see if the machine was really on (it was).

[justMongo]

Yes, it always blows air. It maintains and airflow to the mask that creates a positive pressure to keep the airway open. An auto machine adjusts pressure within a preset window in response to events to try to maintain an open airway. The "auto" means it adjusts pressure. Straight CPAP runs at constant pressure.

You'll note vents on the mask from which air constantly flows out when the machine is on. That's to purge the mask of exhaled air and the carbon dioxide from breathing.

[OpalRose]

Hi and Welcome to Apnea Board!
Yes, as stated in the above posts, the machine is always on. The sleep doctor or technician probably set your machine up with a pressure range. Do you know what the pressure is set to?

An Auto Cpap (Apap) will stay at the lowest pressure set, then if it determines that your airway is closing, it will start to raise the pressure slowly to try and ward off an apnea event. It may stay at one pressure for awhile, or move up and down depending on your needs, but it is always on.

Sometimes the machines are left at their default setting of 4cm minimum pressure to 20cm Max pressure, which usually isn't ideal. You will need to look in the providers menu to check the settings. Here is a link to get the Clinicians manual for your mom's machine and help you to understand it a little better.

http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-pr...tup-manual

You may want to consider the free SleepyHead software available here and download to your computer. Your Apap should have an SD card in it, and after you get a few days of data, you can download to the Sleepyhead program and start to learn more about the therapy your mother is receiving.
http://OSCAR Official Download Page ----> CLICK HERE ./

It may seem overwhelming at first, but it will all fall into place.

[amykathleen2005]

Hi and Welcome to Apnea Board!

It may seem overwhelming at first, but it will all fall into place.

Thanks for the response. I see you are from Northeast Ohio, we are from Cleveland. Small world!

[trish6hundred]

Hi amykathleen2005,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Good luck to your mom with her CPAP therapy, hang in there for more responses to your post.

[OpalRose]

Hi and Welcome to Apnea Board!

It may seem overwhelming at first, but it will all fall into place.

Thanks for the response. I see you are from Northeast Ohio, we are from Cleveland. Small world!

My son in law is from Cleveland, but now lives here in Boardman. It is a small world!