Has anyone used the bi pap

[Lran70]

Has anyone of you lovely people have used or using a bi pap machine at night .? Do you think it benefits you and how I just need some input. I just started mine today i really dont like the machine but its better than the ones in the hospital. Air pressure is tolerant. My pulmo said it will help me not be so fatigue and tired in the mornings that it releases the carbo moni from the. lungs that my 24/7 oxygen puts in. Whats crazy is the machine connects to my oxygen machine.

[Ian1967]

Hi Lran70, I was put on oxygen 24/7 in April 2017 as a result of suffering from Type II Respiratory Failure, whilst in hospital a consultant informed me I would probably need to use BiPAP for the rest of my life because I have scoliosis and my lungs don’t exchange gases properly and I retain Co2, I used BiPAP most of nights I was in hospital and I was in for 10 days, but when I was discharged my Respiratory Consultant just discharged me on 24/7 oxygen and said I wasn’t being given BiPAP, but my Oxygen Nurse said I couldn’t go above 2 Litres on oxygen when I was walking around and 1 Litre at rest, I was also told if I needed to be put on oxygen in an emergency I couldn’t go over the 2 Litres even then because the Co2 retention was very dangerous.

In the October the same year I was in bed and woke up whilst on oxygen and didn’t feel good, I checked my oxygen levels using a Pulse Oximeter and my level was only 75, the next morning I phoned my Respiratory Nurse and because my oxygen levels had gone back to normal mid 90s she then arranged for me to have a sleep study and I had one within two weeks, the study I had proved I needed a BiPAP machine, but I was told I probably wouldn’t get one until February 2018 because I had to go into hospital to have the machine set up for me.

On New Year’s Eve 2017 I took severely ill again and was rushed into hospital on New Year’s Day and have used BiPAP ever since at bedtime, I now only use oxygen ambulatory for walking and exercise, which I couldn’t even begin to do when I was oxygen 24/7, BiPAP has given me my life back, it’s not pleasant at first, but keep going and you won’t look back as long as you get a mask that you are comfortable with and adjust it for comfort and to stop leaks, using your machine becomes second nature when you go to bed.

I also used to have my BiPAP machine connected to my bedroom oxygen concentrator, but for the past year I no longer need oxygen at bedtime, I just use my BiPAP machine at bedtime, I also use for a couple of hours in the afternoon to make sure I’m using it for Nine and a Half Hours a day to get the Co2 out of my system and it really helps.

I hope I have been some help.

Ian.

[Patk1]

I'm on bipap niv.it keeps me alive so I use it.there r other masks if yrs is very uncomfortable x

[Millyboo710]

I’m on oxygen 24/7 and use a VPAP (variable pressure) ventilator at night which is connected to my concentrator. It’s normal and not crazy. I’ve found it beneficial as I no longer fall asleep for 2-3 hours in the afternoon and am not tired all the time.

You don’t seem to understand gas exchange in the lungs. Your lungs take in oxygen and put out carbon dioxide - not carbon monoxide. It’s the retention of carbon dioxide which is bad for you.

[Ian1967 in reply to Millyboo710]

Hi Millyboo710, yes my machine is a ResMed Lumis S-TA 150, which is a VPAP which is basically the same as BiPAP, but only Philips Respironics are allowed to use the term BiPAP, it’s the name they Patented for their Bilevel NIV machines, it’s a bit like you might say I’m buying a Dyson Hoover, but Hoover is the name of a Vacuum Cleaner manufacturer the same as Dyson Vacuum Cleaners, the name Hoover just stuck for Vacuum Cleaners.

Gas exchange problems in my lungs is what I have because I was born with Scoliosis, unfortunately I was also born with Hydrocephalus (Water on the Brain) and that required me having various operations when I was a baby through to ten years old to fit a shunt to drain fluid from my brain, so my Scoliosis was never treated unfortunately, this now means my lungs don’t function properly and I retain Co2.

[Biker88]

the BiPAP machine expands the lungs and airways, when you breathe out the airways are still expanded which enables you breath out more carbon dioxide. If this doesn’t happen the carbon dioxide collects in the small airways reducing the ability to breath in oxygen. Stick with it in the long run it will help

[leo60 in reply to Biker88]

Succinctly explained! xx

[gingermusic]

I have been on this, connected to my oxygen for over a couple of years now and find it ok as long as the mask does not leak. Took quite a while for them to sort out the best mask for me and I have to rely on my other half to put it on for me of a night. Hope you get on ok

[leo60]

Hello! I spent 2, nearly 3 months in hospital recovering from hypercapnia (CO2 poisoning) which was brought on by me being a retainer and they repeatedly upping my O2 prescription! I was eventually weaned off such a high O2 intake and put on a V-PAP which has made a huge difference to my life. I was on 24/7 O2, but now on ambulatory only, I sleep like a log, sometimes for 11 hours straight! The original mask I was given was really uncomfortable, but I now have a comfy one ( it's worth persevering with that ). As I live alone, I wondered how I would cope with it all, but it really does become second nature (promise!) and you will soon wonder why you were worried

Any questions, we are all here to help xx

[tomc]

I am on A-PAP which is controlled pressure automatically as i need more or less pressure it self regulates.

The mask is brilliant. cushioned and easy on the face.

Waking up in the morning is always a pleasure.