Switch to AutoBiPAP

[JonathanZK]

Hey Everybody!

So I finally got rid of my Philips Dreamstation (got tired of waiting for the recall replacement) and have a new Resmed Aircurve 11. I've long read that Auto is the way to go (and my pulmonologist enthusiastically agreed with that). However, after my first night, I'm not so sure.

My AHI was 2.5 -- not terrible, but not great -- but what really got me was my Apple sleep analysis. Normally it shows a few minutes here and there through the night of awake time, but on the new machine. FWIW, the whole time I was unconscious except for the longer period when I got up to use the toilet and couldn't fall back asleep easily).

Last Night with new Aircurve:
See attached LastNight.PNG

Previous Night with old Dreamstation (which is pretty typical):
See attached PreviousToLastNight.PNG

I haven't had a chance to get OSCAR data yet. But I'm wondering what you all think. Is this a typical pattern with an auto device oscillating between high and low pressures.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Jonathan

[robysue1]

What were you settings on the PR Dreamstation?

What are the settings on the AirCurve 11?

As someone who used a PR Dreamstation AutoBiPAP for years (before the recall) and who previously had had a bad experience with the old Resmed S9 AutoSet, I was more than a little bit leery of switching to the AirCurve 10 VPAP. But I did when I started noticing black stuff in my PR DreamStation's humidifier tank while waiting for my own replacement PR DreamStation AutoBiPAP. It took a few days of making some minor adjustments to the AirCurve's settings before I started sleeping quite well with the AirCurve.

Sometimes it just takes a few days for the body to adjust to the algorithm that the AirCurve uses in VAuto mode as opposed to the algorithm the PR DreamStation uses in AutoBiPAP mode. But a critical part of that is making sure you have a good idea of what settings to use and an understanding of how PS works on both machines.

And if you were using fixed pressure mode on the PR Dreamstation, then you might want to "mimic" a fixed pressure mode on the AirCurve. That's easy enough to do, but again, it would help if we knew what your settings are for both machines.

[Miss Emerita]

It would be helpful if you could post a chart using the Oscar software or the SleepHQ platform.

[JonathanZK]

What were you settings on the PR Dreamstation?

What are the settings on the AirCurve 11?

As someone who used a PR Dreamstation AutoBiPAP for years (before the recall) and who previously had had a bad experience with the old Resmed S9 AutoSet, I was more than a little bit leery of switching to the AirCurve 10 VPAP. But I did when I started noticing black stuff in my PR DreamStation's humidifier tank while waiting for my own replacement PR DreamStation AutoBiPAP. It took a few days of making some minor adjustments to the AirCurve's settings before I started sleeping quite well with the AirCurve.

Sometimes it just takes a few days for the body to adjust to the algorithm that the AirCurve uses in VAuto mode as opposed to the algorithm the PR DreamStation uses in AutoBiPAP mode. But a critical part of that is making sure you have a good idea of what settings to use and an understanding of how PS works on both machines.

And if you were using fixed pressure mode on the PR Dreamstation, then you might want to "mimic" a fixed pressure mode on the AirCurve. That's easy enough to do, but again, it would help if we knew what your settings are for both machines.

I was on 18/13 fixed BiPAP with the Dreamstation. On the AirCurve, it's set to the same, except the 18 is now the maximum inspiration and the 13 is minimum expiration. Doc thinks it's preferable because you don't always need higher pressure and it's desirable to avoid getting used to high pressures when you don't need to (something about smooth muscle inflammation increasing cardiac risks).

It would be helpful if you could post a chart using the Oscar software or the SleepHQ platform.

I'll try to get that tonight/tomorrow. I have to download the new software since I worked out my settings long ago with SleepyHead.

[Pugsy]

On the AirCurve, it's set to the same, except the 18 is now the maximum inspiration and the 13 is minimum expiration.

So what is the Pressure Support? If it's not set to 5 then the settings are NOT the same.
And if it is set to 5 then your doc is a bit confused with his thoughts because your pressures won't/can't vary.