Bipap machine

[cazza34]

Hello I am on oxygen 24/7 and am now retaining carbon dioxide. My consultant wants to trial me on a Bipap machine to see how I get in she says I will feel less tired and more refreshed, anyone on here already using one? I have hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis and Hypoxia.

[Spacecat1]

Hi. I have used a NUV machine for over 4 years. It does help I use it all night and again llunch time and tea time and I do feel my breathing is better

[Ian1967]

Hi cazza34, i see you have read my post from 2 years ago, I still use BiPAP at bedtime and for a couple of hours in the afternoon, just while browsing on my computer, I do the couple of hours in the afternoon because I like to do 9 and a half hours a day to get rid of the Co2 from my system.

I no longer use oxygen at bedtime, I came off it about a year ago now, I now only use oxygen for walking and exercise, the BiPAP has been great for me and I hope it all works out for you, once you get a mask that works for you it becomes second nature putting it on and using it at bedtime.

I hope I have been some help.

Ian.

[Patk1]

I'm on bipap niv for many years now.i wear at night & in day whn 02 drops due to exhaustion.it does help.cpl hrs in day revives me.ive been told without it,my life expectancy is very short,but much improved expectancy with it+ it's protecting my heart too.as Ian says,once u find the best mask4u,it'll b easier

[Millyboo710]

I’m on oxygen 24/7 and have used a VPAP overnight for between 7-8 hours for nearly three years. It has improved things enormously. I usually wake refreshed, rarely have a headache on waking and no longer feel tired during the day and no longer fall asleep during the day. Good luck!

[leo60]

Hi Cazza! Yep me too! I'm a retainer and my VPAP has saved my life, quite literally. Find yourself a comfy mask and you will not look back, promise!

All the best xx

[warwickstag]

Very similar to the above, I've been on oxygen since 2008, initially 2 lts/min , and has gradually crept up to current 8 lts/min. Diagnosed as a CO2 retainer in 2014 and supplied with Nippy bipap nasal vent for use over night with oxygen attached. Once I had got used to the slightly claustrophobic feeling, I got on well. The main benefit was waking up feeling refreshed, rather than lethargic and no headache. Because I am now housebound, my oxygen monitoring has been transferred to George Elliott, Nuneaton from Glenfield. They supplied me with a new vpap hi-tech machine, a ResMed Lumis100, which is very good, and has smiley/gloomy face emojis to tell you how last night's sleep went, and can be remotely controlled from the hospital, enabling my resp team to adjust as needed. Apart from a dry mouth on waking, everything else about it is fine. Definitely life enhancing.

[PW_R]

Were people unable to fall asleep before you went on bipap? I keep jerking as I’m about to fall asleep, and feel very tired / nauseous a lot during the day

[Timberman]

I have been on one for a short time. In have been on O2 a year or two and now 24x7. After some initial problems with the CPAP I am now settled in and it is a great help. Let me back up slightly. I was rushed into hospital with severe acidosis. This is a high level of acidity in my blood which is potentially life threatening.

It is caused, in my case at least, by CO2 retention, a problem I have always suffered from. It is exacerbated by mouth breathing which in turn is caused by stress (panic) response to breathlessness.

CO2 is a larger molecule than O2 and is harder expel. Pursed lip breathing helps in normal circumstances but this was far beyond normal. So the first task was to get my acid levels down. But then came the need to hugely reduce my CO2 retention. This was done with the Constant Pressure machine and at first my mental situation worked against it. I will not pretend - I was panicky. And a bad patient. But after a while they got my medication sorted and i settled in well enough to be sent home with the machine.

I have to use it 6-8 hours every night. And I do. In fact I am confident that it serves me well so there is no problem. Even so, if i misjudge the tranquiliser tablets I can have a bad morning so take my advice and listen to the clinicians. You can regain control manually but the tablets make it a lot easier.

A couple of other tips which may or may not help. Shortage of potassium is an issue for many of us. Tablets help but diet is important. Bananas are a great source! Pineapple juice helps too.

[Germantara]

Sorry can't help but you will get some replies that will guide you hope you get sorted

[Foxy79]

hi I'm foxy79

I'm on bibap it stands for Non invese ventilation In short N.I.V I'm on it for 8 hours at night it's like if you have watched batman's return the guy on mask it's like that you will have too wear a mask all night while sleeping and a suction like hoover will pull your corbon monoxide it's easy but will help you from diseyness and headaic you get from oxygen anything extra from oxygen will suck it off that's the best thing of niv I hope you best of luck trust me will help you a lot and extend your life longer as well any issue please contact me take care ✋🏼 from foxy79