Bipap injury?

I hear people talking about possible injury if you misuse Bipap settings. What type of injuries could occur?

What kinds of injuries have you heard about, and where did you hear about them?

You could break your toe if you drop it on your toe.

To be more serious, BIPAP can cause a collapsed lung in someone with "acute inflammatory pulmonary processes and the inability to clear secretions" It's very rare. The most common injury from CPAP/BIPAP is a pressure sore from the mask being too tight. If you are in a delicate state of lung health or in severe heart failure, talk to your doctor about the risks vs. the benefits. Compare that to the risks of failure to breathe many times an hour.

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 3:20 pm

What kinds of injuries have you heard about, and where did you hear about them?

Sleep technicians, CPAP websites, and some users here all warn against modifying your settings, or against using BIPaP when prescribed a CPAP. But they never specify what injuries could occur.

My breathing is full of central apenas and hypopneas. So I acquired a BIPAP to kind of use as a respirator. I know it doesn’t work like that, since it doesn’t initiate a breath, but it makes it easier. But I don’t want to get myself dependent on it.

Unless your DOCTOR has diagnosed you with a RARE condition that
counterindicates cpap or bilevel therapy, you probably are safe.
(((Unless your doctor is unusually incompetent.)))
Several forum members have used bilevel machines, with no harm.

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 7:44 pm

Several forum members have used bilevel machines, with no harm.

(raises hand)

have been using a bilevel machine for over 1 and 1/2 years with no harm.

I wonder where wetwilly heard that conversation.
I would stay away from those people.

wetwilly wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 6:57 pm

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 3:20 pm

What kinds of injuries have you heard about, and where did you hear about them?

Sleep technicians, CPAP websites, and some users here all warn against modifying your settings, or against using BIPaP when prescribed a CPAP. But they never specify what injuries could occur.

my emphasis
You could ask those users on this forum for more specific information.

wetwilly wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 6:57 pm

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 3:20 pm

What kinds of injuries have you heard about, and where did you hear about them?

Sleep technicians, CPAP websites, and some users here all warn against modifying your settings, or against using BIPaP when prescribed a CPAP. But they never specify what injuries could occur.

That's because there aren't any.

wetwilly wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 6:57 pm

My breathing is full of central apenas and hypopneas. So I acquired a BIPAP to kind of use as a respirator. I know it doesn’t work like that, since it doesn’t initiate a breath, but it makes it easier. But I don’t want to get myself dependent on it.

increasing ventilation with a bilevel machine (I HOPE you didn't get a "bipap" since they've *ALL* been recalled, because only Philips makes anything that's called "bipap") will likely *increase* central apneas.

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 10:47 pm

I wonder where wetwilly heard that conversation.
I would stay away from those people.

From the same liars that say it's "illegal" to change your own settings.

wetwilly wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 6:57 pm

But I don’t want to get myself dependent on it.

Are you dependent on breathing?

wetwilly wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 6:57 pm

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 3:20 pm

What kinds of injuries have you heard about, and where did you hear about them?

Sleep technicians, CPAP websites, and some users here all warn against modifying your settings, or against using BIPaP when prescribed a CPAP. But they never specify what injuries could occur.

My breathing is full of central apenas and hypopneas. So I acquired a BIPAP to kind of use as a respirator. I know it doesn’t work like that, since it doesn’t initiate a breath, but it makes it easier. But I don’t want to get myself dependent on it.

I think those warnings are meant to make sure people don't make their apnea worse by changing their settings without knowing what they're doing. I don't think they are warnings connected with possible injuries.

Very occasionally someone with diagnosed central apnea will be helped by using a bilevel machine. That's why patients are generally required to try a bilevel machine before moving on to a (much more expensive) ASV machine (adaptive servo-ventilation).

You say your Phillips Respironics bilevel machine "makes it easier." Could you explain what it makes easier?

It would be helpful if you'd stay in one thread so people can see the background to your questions. And could you post a recent daily chart so we can see what's currently going on?

Was your bilevel machine reconditioned? I ask because, as palerider has pointed out, the Phillips Respironics bilevel machines have been recalled.

wetwilly wrote: ↑

Tue May 23, 2023 2:58 pm

I hear people talking about possible injury if you misuse Bipap settings. What type of injuries could occur?

There really are no injuries that you can get from a machine that can't even blow up a balloon.

Now, if you were stupid and you set the machine to ridiculous amounts of pressure support, you'd hyperventilate yourself, and have the side effects of that, and it'd be uncomfortable, (I've done it just to experiment).

But, yes, as someone else stated, the only way you can injure yourself with a bilevel machine (not 'bipap') is to drop it on your foot. modern ones probably wouldn't hurt too bad, but some of the old ones... ouch.

The following statements are meant for people who are concerned by the header of this post.
They are not meant for the OP.

Some people don't distinguish between invasive ventilation machines and positive air pressure machines. They confuse them.

• Invasive ventilation machines can cause injury to your lungs if they're set up incorrectly.
• People who are put on invasive ventilation machines may have to weaned off them.

• Continuous positive air pressure machine can harm your health if they are set up or used incorrectly - because they may exacerbate your sleep disordered breathing and because using them with the wrong settings may keep you from getting the therapy you really need.
• If I misdiagnose a muscular weakness in my leg as a "broken leg" and put a cast on my leg because that's what I think I have, I only cause further weakness to that weak muscle. Self misdiagnosis is a kind of malpractice - beware of it.
• Injury and harm are not the same thing.
• People who use positive air pressure machines do not have to be weaned off them.
• People who use positive air pressure machines need them the way people who need hearing aids or glasses need them.
  
  I am short sighted. I take off my glasses and put on my CPAP mask at night. I take off my mask and put on my glasses in the morning.
  I will never be "weaned off" either my glasses

ozij wrote: ↑

Wed May 24, 2023 8:46 pm

The following statements are meant for people who are concerned by the header of this post.
They are not meant for the OP.

Some people don't distinguish between invasive ventilation machines and positive air pressure machines. They confuse them.

• Invasive ventilation machines can cause injury to your lungs if they're set up incorrectly.
• People who are put on invasive ventilation machines may have to weaned off them.

• Continuous positive air pressure machine can harm your health if they are set up or used incorrectly - because they may exacerbate your sleep disordered breathing and because using them with the wrong settings may keep you from getting the therapy you really need.
• If I misdiagnose a muscular weakness in my leg as a "broken leg" and put a cast on my leg because that's what I think I have, I only cause further weakness to that weak muscle. Self misdiagnosis is a kind of malpractice - beware of it.
• Injury and harm are not the same thing.
• People who use positive air pressure machines do not have to be weaned off them.
• People who use positive air pressure machines need them the way people who need hearing aids or glasses need them.
  
  I am short sighted. I take off my glasses and put on my CPAP mask at night. I take off my mask and put on my glasses in the morning.
  I will never be "weaned off" either my glasses

Amen!