Can a CPAP machine treat central apneas?

Sounds like my new sleep dr. and one I had in the past.
I just saw this post; I realize I’m two years late. Hopefully you or someone will see it and find it useful.
I don’t care how bright someone is, or how many diplomas hang on his/her wall, there is no excuse for the way he talked to you.
If he can’t take a few minutes to answer your questions/ concerns maybe he’s better suited to research where he doesn’t have to deal with human beings who have feelings.
I understand about the insurance and sympathize with you. Can you find a sleep doctor or facility who will work with you financially? Will MAYO?
Most of the progress I made with my Cpap was on my own, reading patient forums (cpaptalk.com is a good one, plus this one) and Dr. Google. I just let the technician do what he was ordered to do, then I took it from there.
I know some people will disagree, but it really is how I did it. Not telling anyone not to see a doctor, just relating my own experience FWIW.
BTW, I have read that higher Cpap pressures can encourage centrals in some people.
Best of luck to us all🙏

If you have a nightly AHI (Apnea-Hypopnea Index) of more than 5 events of any kind per hour, you are considered at risk and need refinement of existing treatment or to start treatment.

If you have persistent CSAs (central sleep apnea), which the RESMED clan call 'open airway', then a BiPAP will not serve you well. You need what is called an ASV (adaptive-servo-ventilator). They cost an arm and a couple of your legs, but you can look on the open market, or even get a good used one, for a lot less than the DMEs will sell you one (Durable Medical Equipment suppliers). It is a shame that so many sleep experts and DME sellers will suggest that BiPAP machines will help someone with CSA. They do not. A BiPAP will help to stent the airway when pressures are insufficient to those set as the main settings by adjusting flow to suit the need. That is not how to treat CSAs.

My cpap is set at 4, the lowest it will go. My neurologist has a doctorate in sleep study and the more meds you take that affect your central nervous system, the more likely you are to have central sleep apnea episodes. I originally did the sleep study to see if it could detect where these internal vibrations are coming from. I've even worn a heart monitor for 2 weeks and had 2 episodes but it picked up nothing.

Carol, at my other forum where we deal with all things CPAP, and often undoing damage that 'experts' have done, we routinely counsel people to consider adjusting their minimum pressure up into the 6-7 range. A low limit of 4 leaves you no room for the EPR setting of 1, 2, or 3 for a conventional (non ASV) delivery. I couldn't begin to tell you how many newbies come to our forum, desperate for help because their RT or sleep doctor has begun to shrug their shoulders and say to keep trying. Trying what?!?!? The same wrong therapy?!? The same therapy that I'm still complaining about after all these weeks and months?!? We find that their experts have set a lower limit of 4 for expiration pressure, pressure relief in the 2-3 range, which causes CSAs, and an upper limit that blows their mask off their faces near zero dark thirty in the morning. That's not therapy, that's hell. When still alive. The ResMed machines have the best algorithm in the business, and their machines, the Autoset Air Curve and similar machines, are self-titrating and will soon tell the patient what range he/she needs. But we find that the lowest setting is never below about 5.5-6, and most of us like 6-7.

BTW, in my case, in Canada, it's only one month of the same requirement for 'compliance', as the industry calls it. A minimum of four hours for 21 days of the trail month of 30 days. I do hope you have no trouble doing it for the peace of mind you'll get.

Hmm...I've read that CPap use can actually exacerbate central apnea. Is your sleep doc up on the research?

Carol, at my other forum where we deal with all things CPAP, and often undoing damage that 'experts' have done, we routinely counsel people to consider adjusting their minimum pressure up into the 6-7 range. A low limit of 4 leaves you no room for the EPR setting of 1, 2, or 3 for a conventional (non ASV) delivery. I couldn't begin to tell you how many newbies come to our forum, desperate for help because their RT or sleep doctor has begun to shrug their shoulders and say to keep trying. Trying what?!?!? The same wrong therapy?!? The same therapy that I'm still complaining about after all these weeks and months?!? We find that their experts have set a lower limit of 4 for expiration pressure, pressure relief in the 2-3 range, which causes CSAs, and an upper limit that blows their mask off their faces near zero dark thirty in the morning. That's not therapy, that's hell. When still alive. The ResMed machines have the best algorithm in the business, and their machines, the Autoset Air Curve and similar machines, are self-titrating and will soon tell the patient what range he/she needs. But we find that the lowest setting is never below about 5.5-6, and most of us like 6-7.

BTW, in my case, in Canada, it's only one month of the same requirement for 'compliance', as the industry calls it. A minimum of four hours for 21 days of the trail month of 30 days. I do hope you have no trouble doing it for the peace of mind you'll get.