Auto or Standard?

[quietgal]

Hi! Newly dx with UARS and was given a CPAP set at 12 (covered by our medical program so at no cost). I wake up with terrible stomach pain caused by forced air. I initially was given an Auto machine to do a home study with and didn't notice the stomach pain (though I did have some minimal bloating). Question: do I wait it out, hope it subsides and stick with the standard air pressure machine since there is no cost for me OR do I go out and purchase my own auto? Are there other benefits to the auto that would make it worth the cost? Thanks for help/suggestions

[trish6hundred]

Hi quietgal,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
The auto is better because it will adjust to the pressure you need and an auto machine can be used as a straight CPAP machine as well.
Hang in there for more suggestions and best of luck to you with your CPAP therapy.

[JimZZZ]

Welcome to the forum. As you read the posts here, you will learn that most of the experienced users monitor their therapy. To facilitate that effort, they need a device that is fully data capable, preferably with the autoset feature. Also needed is a data recording and analysis program for the computer. Most folks use SleepyHead or ResScan. I am a fairly new user so will leave it to others to add details to this suggestion. You have given yourself a huge advantage by finding and using this forum!

You can search for a thread entitled aerophagia to see more information on the bloated feeling you are experiencing. I had the same problem when I started. With a lot of help from the forum, I lowered my pressure slightly and started wearing a chin strap. By keeping my mouth shut and staying off my back, I am now swallowing very little air.

[herbm]

You are likely swallowing air, perhaps due to letting your cheeks fill up (chipmunk cheeks).

If possible try to keep your mouth fully closed and with NO empty space inside the mouth.

With no feeling of a "full mouth" you won't need to swallow, which sets off a complex chain of physiological actions that include moving "things" to your stomach.

It's not the air pressure PER SE probably but the act of swallowing (which you may be doing only in your sleep) which moves the air into the esophagus and thus into the stomach etc.

It's hard to stop the swallowing but relatively possible to avoid the "air in mouth" problem.

[justMongo]

Aerophagia troubles some people and not others. You may well be able to adapt to your set pressure machine; and it won't be an issue.

The advantages of an auto machine are manifold. In your case, it may permit you to average a lower pressure to lessen the aerophagia.
IMO -- aerophagia in itself is not a reason to get an Auto. And depending on where you are, and your doctor, it might be frowned upon. i.e. -- your doctor may not like you having an Auto machine.

Follow the forum for a while and weigh your options... then decide what is best for you.
The forum is educational in scope and mission -- only you can decide what's in your best interest.
We're just experienced amateurs here; who have a common medical issue.

[Shastzi]

I used a straight CPAP for a good while and finally switched over to Auto. I have had
a lot better results, specially in the stomach air dept!
The Auto will keep you at a lower pressure till you need it. I swallow a lot less air that way.

[quietgal]

Thank you all very much for your thoughts

[Gabby]

Welcome to the forum Quietgal.
I hope you received some answers that are able to help you.
Have you made any enquiries about changing your machine for an Auto?
Good luck getting getting your problem sorted one way or another.

[PaytonA]

Welcome to the forum quietgal.

This is a great place for us hoseheads!

Best Regards,

PaytonA

[archangle]

Welcome, quietgal.

We need to know what machine you have.

Look next to the power button for something like Escape, Elite, AutoSet.

Does it have a water tank?

How well you (or your doctor) can manage your treatment depends on which machine you have. If you have an "Escape" model, it doesn't collect any data on your therapy, other than the times it's turned on and the settings. If you have an Elite or better machine, it will actually monitor your breathing and can tell how your therapy is working.

An auto machine is always a better choice. An auto CPAP can solve some of the problems with manual CPAP. There are sometimes problems with Auto CPAP therapy. Many times these can be fixed by proper adjustments. Even if you can't solve your Auto CPAP problems, all Auto CPAP machines can be set to run in manual mode.

i.e. inside every Auto CPAP machine is a free manual CPAP machine. There's no advantage (other than cost) to a manual machine.

Unfortunately, our modern medical mafia practices "assembly line" sleep apnea treatment. Run some expensive $leep te$t$, give the patient the cheapest machine possible, blame the patient for any problems, don't spend a lot of time or effort figuring out how to make it work for the patient.

Many of us have had to fight hard to get proper machines and therapy.