Bi-Pap or C-Pap??

Hi Everyone, I had my sleep study on the 21st. It was awful trying to sleep with all those darned wires everywhere, LOL. The doc's office called and said I have severe sleep apnea with hypoxia. My apnea/hypoxia was 64.3- whatever that means. They said I am waking up 64 times an hour, so I think the 64.3 means that I had episodes 64.3 times each hour. Since my oxygen levels drop down to the low 80's, the nurse who called said she is not sure if I will need a Bi-pap or a C-pap. What's the difference, and do any of you have to use either. Any info would help a lot. Thanks, and take gentle care.

Hey Shelley: I used a bi Pap. They tried both on me but I didn't exhale as well with the C (continuous) pap, so the Bi-pap let me exhale with a lighter amount of pressure. My 'Pappy' was a blessing. I had a setting of 18/11, i think it was. ~ Tina ps experiment with different facial appliances. I could not do just a gold seal thingy, I had the breeze System and then another one I barely knew I had on. It's probably on my profile /journal. I researched them on cpapman.com. Then my insurance would pay for 2 a year.

I've been using my c-pap machine faithfully since October 2001. I have nasal pillows (literally pillows that fit on my nostrils) instead of a whole mask, although the head gear still goes over my head. Up until I started losing weight with surgery this year, my machine was set at 14 (out of a high of 20). Since I've lost weight, my setting is now 10. It seems like I've been changing the setting every 25lbs or so. I can tell when I need to lower it. One night I'll be fine, the next night, the air will literally blow me away and hurt while I try to use it. I absolutely depend on my machine. I even took it with me when I went to England a couple of years ago. Last December, my machine died and it took 3 weeks to get a replacement. I was miserable. I was dead tired and cranky. I would cry myself to sleep and wake up in the middle of the night and cry some more. I was pretty much useless and only existed to go to work. When you get your machine, it will take some getting used to, but well worth it. Good luck! Mercy 428/408/315/180

Hi, I have to give my $0.02 for this response. I also have sleep apnea, and I have a machine called the Auto-pap. This machine automatically adjust the flow of air as you breathe. My machine is set for 6.0-20.0 and the maximum that I have used is 7.0, but I do have severe sleep apnea. The machine I have has an alarm on it, so if I take it off at night, it beeps to let me know that I do not have it on, and after about 5 minutes without it on it goes off. I also have the nasal pillows, because they are more comfortable and they don't make you look like a scary monster. I have had much success with my machine, and I have not had surgery yet. I found that I do not snor anymore even if I don't wear it for that night. Ask about the auto pap machine, i think it is better. But this is my opinion..... Nissah the F.AT Slayer

The c pap machine was a small miracle for me. I felt so much better when I used it. I only used the machine for the 11 months before I had surgery. It sure made a difference for me. I do not use it anymore. It also helped motivate me to lose weight as it was kind of a pain to use and drag around. It was just one more sign saying I was too heavy.

I also use a bi-pap, set at 14/11. I have a lung disorder, so don't exhale as well as I "should", so the c-pap literally "blew me away". ;) I don't know what I would DO without my machine. (Oh, I also use O2 with my bi-pap). I have NEVER slept like this... I would never NOT use it, since the first night I started on it. My machine also broke in April, and I had the company bring me one out the same day... thankfully!

Thanks so much everybody. I am actually looking forward to getting a machine now that I have read of all the good experiences you guys have had with yours. I just know I need to do something because I feel so sleepy all the time, and I can't sleep during the day because our little guy is only 2. Whenever I'm zoning on the couch looking like I'm about to drop off at any second, he yells" Mama, wake up!!!" He's a nut, LOL. Take gentle care.