Oughta go auto?

[Frank Booth]

Dear all, I wanted some advice.

I have recently started using my F&P 220 again after many years. I have ordered a new mask to replace my ancient one. Now having read a bit about auto machines I was wondering how users found having an auto machine compared to a fixed pressure machine. I don't know if the NHS would give me one but to be honest if the comfort and health benefits make it worthwhile I would look at paying.

Any opinions?

[Tigers Fan]

Auto rules OK! - for many of us

Hi Frank

Unless you live in Leicester and a few other places, you are very unlikely to be given an auto by the NHS.

Many people rate autos very highly because they are easily fine tuned to suit your personal requirements. They make stat chasing easy if you invest in the reader and software.

CPAPs are just fine if you can get along with them. You know all about these.

I started with my own APAP and with it and this forum learned precisely what I need from my machine and now I use an NHS CPAP which suits me to the ground. I know I would have railed against it had I had to start with it, though.

Guessing from the fact that you gave up with CPAP years ago, you might just find the whistles and bells of an APAPsuit you better.

TF

[acebass]

hey, you'll be lucky to get your machine changed unless it is fatally broken or you've had it more than 7 years!!!

[Frank Booth]

got my machine changed to an S8 Escape and Quattro mask. They laughed when they saw my old machine and the state of my mask. I think I was the cpap version of the guy with the old 80s mobile phone.

They had to take a guess at the pressure as it was so long since my sleep test but i will see how I get on.

[TiredBoy]

Having started CPAP on June 1st, I eventually get a mask that suits me, an Opus nasal pillows mask. I was using this with an F & P 220 first set to 10 and then 11. However, as I dealt with the leaks, wind became more and more of a problem. There was a suggestion to drop the pressure to 9, but after stating that I was going to speak to the consultant about alternative treatments to CPAP, the Lung function dept took this complaint seriously.

So after 4 1/2 months of CPAP, I am now on a months APAP trial and from my position there is no competition. It's a Resmed S8 Auto that this Trust uses as an assessment machine only and is not normally issued by the NHS. I was on it for my first week while they tried to assess what pressure I needed. Whilst I was dealing with all those initial leaks and wrong masks etc.

Now on APAP, I have had 19 full nights sleep with only 3 trips the loo in the whole time. I often managed 2 to 3 every night! I was led to believe that they might issue me with an APAP depending on this trial. I REALLY hope they do!

If I had to but my own machine, there would be no question! APAP is the one for me!

TB

[Frank Booth]

Saw the doctor at the Sleep Clinic and he managed to find a letter with some info that went to my GP even if my notes have gone. Seems my Apnea is very severe on my back (69?) but no where near as bad on my side. He said it was possible an Auto would help me as it was related to position so I sometimes need more blow. As my sleep test was in 2003 so no one knows my real needs now they are going to lend me an Auto to try and see how it works and what it tells them.

Seems i need to start trying to sleep on my side more. (Tennis ball in back my jim-jams maybe?) The Sleepweaver mask seems to help though is it does work well if you up against a pillow.

[acebass]

sleepweaver

Saw the doctor at the Sleep Clinic and he managed to find a letter with some info that went to my GP even if my notes have gone. Seems my Apnea is very severe on my back (69?) but no where near as bad on my side. He said it was possible an Auto would help me as it was related to position so I sometimes need more blow. As my sleep test was in 2003 so no one knows my real needs now they are going to lend me an Auto to try and see how it works and what it tells them.

Seems i need to start trying to sleep on my side more. (Tennis ball in back my jim-jams maybe?) The Sleepweaver mask seems to help though is it does work well if you up against a pillow.

The more I hear about the sleepweaver, the more I think I ought to give one a try....

[James @ Intus]

Seems my Apnea is very severe on my back (69?) but no where near as bad on my side.

69 on your back... No comment...

He said it was possible an Auto would help me as it was related to position so I sometimes need more blow.

One of the key reasons Auto machines are so great. You get what you need, when you need it. A fixed pressure machine would have to be set assuming you're on your back. So you get way too much when on your side.

Seems i need to start trying to sleep on my side more. (Tennis ball in back my jim-jams maybe?)

There are many products, some more gimmicky than others, that help with this. Some look like torture devices that strap you down. It's worth a Google-session, even just for laughs.

The Sleepweaver mask seems to help though is it does work well if you up against a pillow.

A cloth mask like that, or nasal pillow masks are good for side sleepers in general.

[Frank Booth]

Just to update, I did a trial using an S8 Auto and I really found it hard to get on with. I kept waking up with a gale blowing in my face and had to restart the machine to get the pressure low enough to get off to sleep again. I think if I used an auto again I would need to try and use it on a narrow range of pressure.

Anyway at least from the auto I got the data I needed to set the the correct pressure on my S8 and that seems to be working ok for me. It was interesting that the technician I spoke to did not rate auto machines at all favouring a well calibrated fixed pressure machine. Also they do not enable the EPR feature though not sure why.

[symmit]

Hi Frank

Waking to a gale sounds like you were having problems keeping the mask sealed? That's probably the main issue with autos when set wide open, the pressure can rise quickly from min to max, so whatever mask and seal works for you at 4-6 may not be good at 15-20.

My tech also doesn't like the auto set wide open, and the consensus here is similar, you set them so they prevent most of the events by having a minimum pressure, they then react to any that do occur by increasing as needed. If I run mine fixed I'd need to set it to about 13, but with auto it's set at 9 and increases as needs be in the night, and I still hit an AHI of under 1 most nights.

EPR / Flex modes are another comfort compromise, having tried mine (and I didn't like it) we've been unable to find a setting that is as effective as auto without being uncomfortably high. The flex settings on my machine are almost complex and comprehensive enough to turn it into a BIPAP so I may revisit them one day but for now I'm satisfied and doing well on auto. It was much easier to fall asleep in flex mode though.