BiPAP Update
December 29, 2006 by John in Uncategorized
Yesterday I dropped off my old BiPAP at Lincare for diagnosis. They’re going to try a new power supply and see if that’s the problem. If that doesn’t work they will send it to Respironics for further investigation. In the meantime, they gave me a new BiPAP for a loaner.
What a sweet little unit (as I write this I don’t remember which model it is but it is a Respironics model). It’s much more compact, about 2/3rds the size of my old model. The humidifier is built in and not attached as an afterthought like my old BiPAP. It isn’t any quieter, though, but pushing 23cm through a 3/4″ hose ain’t ever gonna be that quiet. However, this unit has me questioning the function/configuration of my old unit.
The Bi in BiPAP stands for “Bi-Level,” meaning there is a lighter pressure when you exhale, making exhalation easier for higher pressure prescriptions. Both machines do that — it’s the very essence of a BiPAP (vs. a CPAP which only has one pressure). Both machines have a feature called “BiFlex” in addition to the Bi-Level functionality. I don’t think it was working or even activated on my old machine because it is FREAKY on this new machine. Near as I can tell it just helps the Bi-Level sense and adjust for how much you’re breathing in or out, and compensates accordingly. It took me awhile to fall asleep because the pressure (and therefore noise) is not at all consistent. I found myself concentrating on the noise it was making. However, once I did fall asleep I was out cold and having the usual freaky dreams. It definitely works.
My old machine seemed to have the two different levels (although the guy at Lincare seemed to indicate they were both set to 23cm) and I could hear them working, but they didn’t seem to be that different (probably because they were both set to 23cm. As far as the BiFlex feature the pressure wasn’t as responsive/reactive to my breathing patterns. If I get my old machine back I’m going to review the configuration in detail and see what the heck is going on.
The guy at Lincare said this machine is probably somewhere around $900-1100. I do have $1000 “Health Reimbursement Account” with Lumenos so I just might keep this baby, whether they can fix my old machine (wouldn’t hurt to have a spare). As I said in my previous post, I’ve only had my old BiPAP for 2.5 years. I could be screwed if that means I now have to wait 7.5 years to get a new one. But it shouldn’t be an issue unless I change health insurance. ::cough:: Theoretically, I could blow my HRA on a new one every year.