Does anyone use a bipap

anonymous

New member
I was just wondering if anyone else uses the bipap at night to sleep? It has made a great difference in how I feel in the morning! And I use to have really bad headaches everyday and now I dont have them anymore! Its great!!! Now that my Fev1 is around 30 it is nice to be able to sleep without trying so hard to breath!!!

Cariann 20 w/ cf cfrd mrsa
 
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luke

Guest
A bipap is a machine that pushes air into your lungs at different pressures, one when you inhale and one when you exhale(BIPAP is a "brand name" it is also caused bi-level ventilation). It has several uses but the reason mentioned here is normally obstructive sleep apnea. To get insurances to pay for them you must be qualifed either in a sleep lab or by a having chronically high CO2. You get them from home care companies, (where you would get oxygen and beds.)


luke
 

anonymous

New member
I dont use it for sleep apnia!!! My doctor found that I was poisiong myself with carbon dioxide and by using it it is helping me breath better and forceing the carbon dioxide out of my body... I was having really bad headaches and so she tested my loevel for carbon dioxide and it was dangerously high! So now, I have it under control by using the bipap at night... If I dont wear it at night then in the am I really notice the difference and I get a headache... If you have anymore questions you can message me!!!

Cariann
 

julie

New member
Hence the, 'or chronically high co2" that Luke mentioned <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 

JustDucky

New member
I used the BiPAP prior to being put on the vent full time...my muscles were too weak to breathe on their own, especially at night. I did go t hrough a sleep study and found that yes indeed, I did have severe hypoventilation with CO2 levels that were high...so, that explained my lethargy and headaches. I actually started to use the BiPAP prior to the sleep study. When I was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia, the ICU staff noted that my O2 sats fell during sleep despite O2 and ABG's determined that I did indeed have a need for the BiPAP. The sleep study only confirmed it. My settings were initially on the low side, but as I got weaker, they increased as well as the on time with the machine. Let's just say we bonded well...I eventually was on it 24/7 otherwise I couldn't breathe well enough on my own. As Luke mentioned it is used for alot of different people, COPD'ers, those with high CO2's, sleep apnea also of importance those with neuromuscular diseases that weaken the respiratory system. Any questions, just holler....Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 

cfgirl38

New member
When you had your sleep study did you have to spend the night or was in 1/2 the night or what? Is there other symptoms of high CO2? I don't seem to get headaches. I'm currently on O2 at night but havent been sleeping very well lately. So the cf doc wants me to go to a sleep study. I was also told it's kind of hard to get used as it puts pressure against your chest. Is that true? It doesn't seem like it would be too comfortable if thats true. Espeically for a cf'er. Thanks.
 
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luke

Guest
You normally get to the the sleep lab around 9 or 10 but the actual testing dosen't begin for a hour or so. They have to get you hooked up to the monitoring devices and that takes a little bit or you to fall asleep. They normally let you sleep until you wake up or until 5 or 6 in the morning.

To answer the pressure question. Not eveyone tolerates non invasive pressure ventilation but BiPAP is much easier fo people than CPAP and many do tolerate "Bipap" just fine. The brand "Bipap'" has a special feature called Blex that makes it easier to exhale than other Bi-Level machines.


hope this answered your questions


luke
 

anonymous

New member
My uncle has this for Sleep Apnea (doesn't have CF) but when his grand daughters come over, he uses it when he has to change their (poopy) diapers. MEN!!!!!!
 

JustDucky

New member
LOL, I never have heard about the use of the BiPAP mask for that purpose!! Good one...reminds me of Michael Keaton in Mr. Mom~! As for the other poster, I never really felt the pressure in my chest, but I used it primarily because I have neuro disease, CF just kind of was a secondary diagnosis and wasn't as severe as my muscular dystrophy at the time....my muscles basically failed that drove my diaphragm to work so a BiPAP became a necessity. What was tougher to get used to was the mask, I had to try three different brands before I was happy with one that didn't leak so much. They also have other interfaces these days too...such as Nasa Aire to name an example, looks kind of like really big nasal cannulas that fit into the nares, the thing about that doo hickey is that it has to be perfectly fit into your nose. They also have nasal pillows...So, there are alot of different choices out there for you to try, each person is different.

As for my sleep study, it was for a full night like Luke says..I was hooked up to an EEG monitor to measure my brain waves, a pulse oximeter to monitor my oxygen levels, a device that measured snoring, a belt like device that measured the depth of my breathing as well as an EKG to monitor my heart for any arrythmias. They do try to make the room comfortable as possible, it is difficult to sleep with all of those wires at first. IF you toss and turn, it gets interesting...Luckily, I was at a point where I would just sleep where I lay, not move an inch. The staff was wonderful...I was on the O2 as well with my BiPAP, I was just there for titration, which means that they were looking for the most optimum pressures for me....as I stated earlier, my ABG's at the hospital along with the apnea determined my need for the BiPAP. When I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night those poor techs had to disconnect me from a few things and help me in, wires and all..I looked like Frankenstein's creation LOL!

But seriously, if you aren't sleeping well, maybe you need to have your O2 levels checked at night, especially if you don't have any other symptoms like headaches. Are you really tired during the day, or having nightmares and or restlessness? Those are also symptoms of elevated CO2 levels as well your poor sleep problems. I am glad that your doc is being thorough, better to be on the safe side.
The sleep study will also monitor your oxygenation levels throughout the night as you sleep, so if your O2 it the only thing that needs to be tweaked, the doc will know, that could be a reason why you aren't sleeping well either....but, you won't know until that sleep study is done though..I am just theorizing at this point at 3 am in the morning here ET LOL!

I hope I have helped and not confused you, ask away if you have any more questions and by the way, Happy Holidays!!! Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 

anonymous

New member
hi all,
My friend uses a bipap. But from what i thought its only for physio as it tries him out after about 20 mins. i didn't know that you could use it for sleep. I think it works good at getting the stuff up thats a bit deeper down(so he says) i must show him this i think its interesting that people are using it to sleep as he's only ever used it for physio.
 

cfgirl38

New member
Thanks everyone. Youve been a big help with all my questions. Hopefully my O2 just needs adjusted. I really don't want another noisy peice of equipment. But I'll take it if it makes me feel better longer. I do get tired during the day, and have very vivid dreams but no nightmares. My dreams are incredibly silly. Sometimes I really wonder where I come up with the stuff. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> No headaches.
 
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