I'm scared

[ElleCee]

I saw my sleep doctor on Frifday and he upped my level to 12 (from 10) and asked me to do a sleep study last night. I saw him again this morning and he looked at the sleep test and it was worse than the last one. He has upped my cpap to 14.2
He says I need a bipap, but what I have read on here it really scares me.
I have to go back on Friday week again because I wasn't too keen on the bipap idea.
I dont know enough about it and am too scared to look it all up

Does this mean that my lungs have had it?
Is there any other answer?

[Tigers Fan]

Big hug!

Hi Lorraine

You certainly are having a rough time of it lately! I'm so sorry you are on this journey and I wish you courage.

I can't comment on BiPAP because I know nothing about it, other than that lots of people have a good life because of it.

Good luck!

TF

[ElleCee]

Thanks TF, your support is much appreciated.
I guess I will have to brave the internet to find out more about it all.
Thanks
Lorraine

[tincatinca]

Hi

Funnily enough I have just been provided with a BiPap unit to replace my CPAP one which had developed a fault after 3 years of use.

The only difference I have noticed is that I dont struggle to exhale against the pressure of the pump.

Wheras a CPAP unit provides a fixed pressure, in my case 13 cm h2o, the bipap has two settings, pressure when breathing in, and pressure breathing out. In my case 13 cm h2o and 0 cmh2o respectively. I use the unit in exactly the same way I used my CPAP with the same mask and hose etc.

kim

[jackyk]

hope you get sorted soon. good luck and chin up

[ElleCee]

As far as I know, when using bipap as a bipap there is added pressure breathing in and a kind of sucking out of the air when you exhale. They said that I was not expelling enough air so it needed to be more like a ventilator but only used when sleeping.

I hope that makes sense.

Lorraine

[Richard]

Hi Lorraine,

I have been on a ventilator since November 2005, using it every night for around 7 to 8 hours - sometimes longer. It is set at a pressure of 35cms/H2O, much higher than a conventional CPAP device would achieve, and 18 breaths per minute. In other words, it breathes for me.

Sleep Apnoea, or OSA, is not a lung condition, but you may have a lung condition in addition to the OSA. I have about 15% lung capacity as a result of TB many years ago, so breathing is a real problem and that is what has caused the sleep apnoea.

Breathing is a matter of equalised 'gas-exchange'; air going in and carbon-dioxide coming out. If your lungs are compromised in some way, the OSA will hamper that exchange taking place. The vent. will help the exchange, allowing the CO2 to be expelled.

If you do not properly expell the CO2, it will be absorbed into your blood-stream and cause the vital PH balance of your blood to turn acidic, seriously affecting your other organs. This is where the vent. comes in.

You might like to look at:

http://www.relfe.com/health_natural/pH_human_body_balance_health_level_1.html

The vent is a much larger piece of kit than the CPAP, in addition, I have an oxygen-concentrator that delivers O2 at 1litre/min. through my face-mask.

If you, or anyone here, wants more info. on ventilators, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Hope this helps, Lorraine.

regards

Richard

[alun2504]

I saw my sleep doctor on Frifday and he upped my level to 12 (from 10) and asked me to do a sleep study last night. I saw him again this morning and he looked at the sleep test and it was worse than the last one. He has upped my cpap to 14.2
He says I need a bipap, but what I have read on here it really scares me.
I have to go back on Friday week again because I wasn't too keen on the bipap idea.
I dont know enough about it and am too scared to look it all up

Does this mean that my lungs have had it?
Is there any other answer?

dont worry i m on 14 plus nothing to worry about, alun

[ElleCee]

Hi,
Thanks for the replies, I am now on 15 whatevers, water and cms etc<g>
I have also been approved for weight loss surgery, oh joy, yet one more thing to worry about!
There has been no more mention of a bi-pap although I haven't seen anyone for them to tell me , I guess one only gets appointments if there are problems and I haven't reported any.

I am now at the stage of burying myhead in the sand and hoping it will all go away. There is only just so much fear one person can deal with at a time and I am a right coward

Happy days
Lorraine