Need advice

Can anyone who's got severe sleep apnea and who's carbon dioxide levels are seriously high recommend any treatment other than cpap. My stepdad can't use it. Thanks x

[Toci]

Hi, I don't know a lot about it but I understand that a BiPAP machine will treat sleep apnoea whilst lowering CO2 levels?

BiPAP use is indicated in a non-acute setting when:

"1) When CPAP doesn't work for sleep apnea.

2) For patients with chronic CO2 retention who also have sleep apnea.

3) For patients with neuromuscular disease who need some assistance with nocturnal ventilation." lakesidepress.com/CPAP/CPAP...

Also see - respiratorytherapycave.blog...

[scorpiolass]

Welcome to the site Jenni; sorry I don't know about this but I am sure someone who does will come along shortly. Take Care, Margaret

[Scottiedottie]

When you see he can't use it can you give a reason? That might help us hive e advice

[Hidden in reply to Scottiedottie]

It's the sheer pressure of the oxygen going in . He couldn't breath out as his breaths are quite fast and it panicked him x

[MisUse]

I've never really understood difference between cpap and bipap, but I have a bipap because of CO2 retention. It took me a really long time to get used to it, and all the drs would say is persevere, but in June I went into Brompton for a few days and told me my lung function had deteriorated and that is why my breathing has got so bad. They have put me on a new machine with a different mask, and have used it almost every night since. Can your stepdad talk to his Drs about a different machine, or trying different masks. I hope he can get a machine he can cope with as CO2 retention can cause other problems, especially strain on heart. the other thought I've just had, is does he sleep sitting up, as I've heard that helps but I don't know about this.

[mrsmummy in reply to MisUse]

CPAP: This is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It's a pressure exhale applied during the respiratory cycle that helps keep air passages open so that the next breath comes in easier. It is often prescribed to increase oxygenation.

BiPAP: This is an acronym for Bi-level (or Biphasic) Positive Airway Pressure. It provides a combination of both IPAP and EPAP. EPAP is what the CPAP provides (exhale positive airway pressure). IPAP is Inspiratory Positive Airway Pressure. It is a pressure during inspiration that assists a patient obtain an adequate tidal volume. Because it provides assistance with inhalation, it therefore decreases the work of breathing required to get air in. Because it assures adequate ventilation, it is often prescribed to blow off carbon dioxide (CO2).

respiratorytherapycave.blog...

So one provides pressure when breathing out and the other provides pressure when breathing out and when breathing in.

[MisUse in reply to mrsmummy]

thanks for this

[ericwood992]

The type of mask one uses when having CPAP makes a huge difference to how easy it is to get used to CPAP. Has your stepdad experimented with masks?

I thought that I couldn't use CPAP for years before I was persuaded to try different masks. Now I have a mask/CPAP combination that I CAN use.

It is worth persevering with CPAP if at all possible.

E x

[Scottiedottie]

Firstly #jenni 42 the CAPE machine doesn't put oxygen into us. It's just air! As already suggested perhaps a different mask. I've been on CAPE OR 6 years and took months to get correct type. Now have a nasal mask.......works brilliantly for me. Not everyone the same though. Over past 6 years equipment got better and better..got a great new machine with lighter tubing and headgear. Can't feel a thing when it's on

[Scottiedottie]

Meant Cpap not xape

[albionclaret]

Hi everyone.

I also suffer severe sleep apnoea with a rating of 40 episodes per hour (30 or more is classed as severe/chronic).I also cannot tolerate CPAP and can totally relate to the panic during the night whilst trying to wear the mask.

Im in the process of seeing a surgeon for MMA Re Allignment surgery which is to break and move forward both upper and lower jaws between 5mm and 10mm which will hopefully create a larger airway and cure the condition.The success rate is 90% at this time and although pretty brutal surgery is a relief to have an option of possible cure instead of the only option of wearing a mask every night for the rest of my life with detrimental effect long term on my heart and brain.

I feel for anybody with the condition because it is hard to explain what sleep deprivation does to you but it is a relief when you feel someone else understands.