Sleeping with a bi-pap machine
I sleep with a bi-pap every night and I don't care for it. Does ant one else sleep with one and if so how do you feel when you off of it in the morning. In the mornings I strogle to breath until I can get to my neb machine. Plus I have a very hard time with the mask. I have tried several and they all suck. Can anyone help.
Thank you
Hope you have a Blessed day
Hi CM6c51ff (Lloyd), and thanks for your post and question - it is a good one! I am hopeful others in the community will see your inquiry and respond by sharing their own anecdotal experiences with you. I also have something to contribute.
I can tell you that the use of a BiPAP machine can make a big difference in managing this disease successfully. Having said that, the successful use of the equipment is dependent on two simple parameters.
The first is the correct interface - whether it's a mask or some type of nasal prongs/mask/cushion, the fitment is of paramount importance. Sometimes is can take up to one hour to select the proper and best interface for a patient and make certain it is adjusted (to fit) correctly. I know you said you have tried several masks to no avail. Perhaps, not enough time was spent making certain you had the most suitable device. The second is the proper pressure and flow settings (depending on the BiPAP machine used), which is set for each individual patient. For this, the therapist/clinician has to work extremely closely with the patient.
We also have a good number of articles published, right here on COPD.net, which focus on BiPAP and it's use with patients. For your convenience, here is a link to several of those articles: https://copd.net/search?s=bipap%20mask. I do hope you find the information is helpful to read.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)I thank you for your come back. I will try they's sites and see what happens. Thank you again. Have a great day
Good morning Leon, Thanks for your come back. I have been on this machine for 5 years now and is still the same as it was on day1. My biggest problem is coming off of it in the morning. It takes about 10 min before I can breath. Hi again, Lloyd - thanks for continuing this conversation here. I am sorry, I did not realize you were using BiPAP therapy for five years! That is a vast amount of personal experience you have using this type of therapy.
From your latest comment, it sounds like you do actually get through the night sleeping with BiPAP. It is rather the challenges you are facing first thing in the morning when you awaken and stop the therapy. At that point, you've shared, that taking the medication nebulizer treatment helps you to breathe better after you stop the BiPAP therapy. It may be that a 10-minute period of time to catch your breath, using the medication nebulizer, is what is working for you. I do know others in the community (as well as many patients I've seen over the years), do take a while to get themselves started in the morning.
It sounds like if you have been doing this (successfully) for five years - this may be how your level of disease works with this type of therapy. I do understand (completely), that this may be frustrating for you. I am still hopeful others may chime in here and share their own experiences with you.
From my perspective, if the BiPAP machine is working correctly (and you are comfortable with the settings), and you can use the mask you have now, this may be what therapy does for your condition. If any of these are not to your liking, would you consider being refitted for the mask and/or having the BiPAP settings adjusted? This may help, too!
Have you had an opportunity to discuss this with your physician and/or the therapist who comes to the house to check you and the therapy?
Have a great Sunday!
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
Hi again, Lloyd! In addition to the great information provided by Leon, you might want to stop by our sister site, www.sleep-disorders.net. Many of the people there use BiPAP to control their oxygen levels during the night, so it might be helpful to see what advice or tips they would give you, being in the same situation. Keep doing the best you can. -Melissa, copd.net team
