Very, very High Altitude and the CPAP Machine setting
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From: Andy Hall on 23 Apr 2008 07:17 On 2008-04-23 06:03:03 +0100, "KB" <nospam(a)nospam.com> said: > What is an autoPAP? I have a CPAP, but the one that has altitude adjustment > doesn't work at 14,000 feet. It will shut off. > > KB This is a machine that adjusts its pressure during operation after measuring the breathing patterns (usually pressure and flow and snore) of the user. Essentially, it is able to detect reduction of flow (hypopnoea) and to begin to increase pressure to compensate before obstructive apnoea occurs. The advantage is that this is done regardless of sleeping position, weight change, alcohol consumption and daily variation. The need for lab titration visits is reduced as well and these machines also record their results in terms of the user's AHI, pressure, leak and so on. Clinical studies have shown improved compliance (mask on hours) compared with fixed pressure machines. It's a useful technology for people with uncomplicated OSA - i.e. not having other pulmonary issues or significant central apnoea. > > "Bubba" <bubba(a)example.com> wrote in message > news:MPG.226bbd0640c496c8989696(a)news.east.cox.net... >> In article <4801cb67(a)qaanaaq>, andyh(a)hall.nospam says... >> >> You could get an autoPAP; it will compensate for the effects of altitude >> on sleep apnea. As long as you don't exceed the pressure generating >> capabilities of the machine, it should compensate for any habitable >> altitude.
From: Andy Hall on 23 Apr 2008 07:20 On 2008-04-23 06:02:01 +0100, "KB" <nospam(a)nospam.com> said: > I have the Goodnight one. They told me that the CPAP machine wouldn't work > at all at the 14,000 feet. So, they suggested to take my older CPAP machine > with me. That's why I'm trying to figure out what is equivalent for number 7 > pressure on sea level, so that I could set it manually. > > KB I think they mean that the automatic height compensation wouldn't work. I would call Puritan Bennett's technical department and ask for details. It may be possible to turn the feature off and simply over-ride the pressure. I am sure that they will also have the compensation figures for 3400m
From: KB on 23 Apr 2008 23:46 "Andy Hall" <andyh(a)hall.nospam> wrote in message news:480f1ae0(a)qaanaaq... > On 2008-04-23 06:03:03 +0100, "KB" <nospam(a)nospam.com> said: > >> What is an autoPAP? I have a CPAP, but the one that has altitude >> adjustment >> doesn't work at 14,000 feet. It will shut off. >> >> KB > > This is a machine that adjusts its pressure during operation after > measuring the breathing patterns (usually pressure and flow and snore) of > the user. Essentially, it is able to detect reduction of flow > (hypopnoea) and to begin to increase pressure to compensate before > obstructive apnoea occurs. The advantage is that this is done > regardless of sleeping position, weight change, alcohol consumption and > daily variation. The need for lab titration visits is reduced as well and > these machines also record their results in terms of the user's AHI, > pressure, leak and so on. Clinical studies have shown improved > compliance (mask on hours) compared with fixed pressure machines. It's > a useful technology for people with uncomplicated OSA - i.e. not having > other pulmonary issues or significant central apnoea. > That is really interesting. I bought my CPAP machine from cpap.com a couple of weeks ago. Do you think that they would upgrade the machine for me. I noticed that it was $200 more, but if I got better rest, it would be well worth it, because I would make the money by feeling much better and thus more productive. KB > > > > > >> >> "Bubba" <bubba(a)example.com> wrote in message >> news:MPG.226bbd0640c496c8989696(a)news.east.cox.net... >>> In article <4801cb67(a)qaanaaq>, andyh(a)hall.nospam says... >>> >>> You could get an autoPAP; it will compensate for the effects of altitude >>> on sleep apnea. As long as you don't exceed the pressure generating >>> capabilities of the machine, it should compensate for any habitable >>> altitude. > >
From: KB on 23 Apr 2008 23:48 "Andy Hall" <andyh(a)hall.nospam> wrote in message news:480f1b71(a)qaanaaq... > On 2008-04-23 06:02:01 +0100, "KB" <nospam(a)nospam.com> said: > >> I have the Goodnight one. They told me that the CPAP machine wouldn't >> work >> at all at the 14,000 feet. So, they suggested to take my older CPAP >> machine >> with me. That's why I'm trying to figure out what is equivalent for >> number 7 >> pressure on sea level, so that I could set it manually. >> >> KB > > I think they mean that the automatic height compensation wouldn't work. > > I would call Puritan Bennett's technical department and ask for details. > It may be possible to turn the feature off and simply over-ride the > pressure. I am sure that they will also have the compensation figures > for 3400m I talked to them and they said that the Goodnight one wouldn't work in higher elevations. They said, it would think that it was broken and shut down. They suggested me to take my older CPAP machine that didn't have an elevation adjustment and set the setting different myself. KB. > > > > > >
From: Andy Hall on 24 Apr 2008 02:35
On 2008-04-24 04:46:41 +0100, "KB" <nospam(a)nospam.com> said: > > "Andy Hall" <andyh(a)hall.nospam> wrote in message news:480f1ae0(a)qaanaaq... >> On 2008-04-23 06:03:03 +0100, "KB" <nospam(a)nospam.com> said: >> >>> What is an autoPAP? I have a CPAP, but the one that has altitude >>> adjustment >>> doesn't work at 14,000 feet. It will shut off. >>> >>> KB >> >> This is a machine that adjusts its pressure during operation after >> measuring the breathing patterns (usually pressure and flow and snore) of >> the user. Essentially, it is able to detect reduction of flow >> (hypopnoea) and to begin to increase pressure to compensate before >> obstructive apnoea occurs. The advantage is that this is done >> regardless of sleeping position, weight change, alcohol consumption and >> daily variation. The need for lab titration visits is reduced as well and >> these machines also record their results in terms of the user's AHI, >> pressure, leak and so on. Clinical studies have shown improved >> compliance (mask on hours) compared with fixed pressure machines. It's >> a useful technology for people with uncomplicated OSA - i.e. not having >> other pulmonary issues or significant central apnoea. >> > That is really interesting. I bought my CPAP machine from cpap.com a couple > of weeks ago. Do you think that they would upgrade the machine for me. I > noticed that it was $200 more, but if I got better rest, it would be well > worth it, because I would make the money by feeling much better and thus > more productive. > > KB You might need to have a different prescription for one of these machines since they are not suitable for every patient. Like all these things, individual users may see a benefit in terms of more comfortable use vs. a fixed pressure machine, others may not notice a significant difference. In any case one can set an auto machine to fixed pressure if wanted, so other than a slightly higher price nothing lost. I've found that my two machines have worked pretty well and I haven't needed repeated lab visits. Certainly machine reports show variation in pressure output as described above. |