bipap settings

what does it mean to my bipap settings? My original settings were from 6 to 20 and now the doctor is going to make the setting 10 to 20. They said it "would be for my comfort that I didn't need the wide setting" but explained no more. I am confused.

He might have felt it was more difficult to inhale at 6 than 10, plus if you have an apnea at a higher pressure, your machine may need to take too long to address it if it has to come from 6.

What model machine are you using?

6 to 20 sounds like an auto adjusting range for APAP...not a bipap setting.
That means it starts out at 6 and can go up to 20 as it needs to.
Changing it to 10 to 20 means it starts out at 10 and can go up to 20. Increasing the minimum is often done with the minimum isn't able to get the job done....not for comfort though. Starting out at 10 instead of 6 is going to be a substantial comfort change initially.

BiPaps have 2 pressures...one for inhale and one for exhale and they can't do 6 exhale with 20 inhale...that's too big of a gap.

So you need to figure out exactly what machine you are using and exactly what the settings are.
BiPaps typically have a difference between inhale and exhale of 4 or 5 cm pressure..now that difference can affect comfort.

BTW...BiPap is the trademark name for a Respironics bilevel pressure machine...VPAP is the trademark name for ResMed's bilevel pressure machine.

6 to 20 or 10 to 20 sounds like a single pressure machine that can auto adjust...APAP mode

Sorry, still getting used to the verbage. I have a repironics series 60 apap with a amara mask. I am a complete newbie , only a month so far, and trying to figure it all out. I have moderate apnea on my sides and severe on my back, up to 80 times in an hour. I actually like the sensation of more air versus less. I makes me feel less claustrophobic in the mask. Since I am terribly claustrophobic and mildly asthmatic moving air is always better. I love my mask. So far so good which was why I was surprised with the changes personally. Just trying to understand what it means

You likely have the PR System One 60 Series Auto CPAP model 560. Model number is on a sticker on the bottom of the blower unit.

The setting changes increased the starting minimum pressure from 6 to 10 and if you like it then that's fine. Some people would have a problem making that big of a jump but sounds like it actually suits your needs in your situation better.
There is software available for the model 560 so you can evaluate your therapy...see my signature line for more information on software.

So with the minimum at 10 cm that's what the machine uses until it senses some sort of obstructive in nature apnea event and then it increases the pressure in gradual stages until it no longer senses the need for the increased pressure and then it backs off the pressure in stages back down to the 10 cm if it doesn't sense anything going on.
It can go up to 20 cm..that's as high as the machine can go but it may never go anywhere near that 20 cm mark. It all depends on what the machine senses it needs to do. It might never go above 12...or it might go to 18 for 20 minutes or longer.

So you don't have a bipap...you likely have a cpap/apap machine (your machine also has cpap mode available) and you are using it in APAP ..auto adjusting single pressure...mode.

With time and experience you will get the terminology down to where it isn't so confusing. There is a huge learning curve involved with all this cpap stuff.

pugsy, thanks for the info. I will be having a check up in June and then I assume I will begin my own readings. For now the doctor in monitoring in by modem and keeping me updated. That's how they decided to make the changes. I appreciate all the help you have given me so far!

I went in to apria last Saturday to pick up my bipap machine. They didn't have any in stock... so don't ask why they made an appointment for me to pick up a machine.... that they didn't have... Anyway, the DME lady included a modem in my order so "Apria can monitor my therapy and automatically make adjustments for me". I told her she can't without doctor orders... she said "Yea".... then I laughed and laughed.... Imagine Apria making changes....

Sheriff

That honestly scares me after all the horror stories I have read on here! They dont even seem to know their own equipment! My doctor is monitoring mine but sendin out the repiratory guy to reset it for me. I am so glad I dont have apria!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!