PBGK Bilevel/Bipap problems?

Terry Flower51 · Post by **Terry Flower51** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:40 pm

My RT thinks she might be getting a bilevel/bipap for me if my numbers warrant it. Won't know for a couple of weeks.

She said that they only use Respironics bis because the PBGK's had trouble with their bis.

I like the BPGK because of its size and quietness. I thought I read something about the PBGK's problems on this board when I first started surfing but I just did a search and couldn't find it....Anybody out there can help?

Have you had the PB bi and found a way around the problems? Terry

Maskedmechanic · Post by **Maskedmechanic** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 7:01 pm

PB, Respironics, Devilbiss, and Resmed all make great Bilevel machines. Allegations of significant problems with any of these machines should be a sign that the dealer simply does not have a good relationship (special pricing) from that company. The new PB 425 is a reliable, excellent product.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 5:27 am

Maskedmechanic wrote:. The new PB 425 is a reliable, excellent product.

However, to the best of my knowledge, the new Silvelining 3.6 will not report apnea, hypopnea or snoring data fo the new 425.
It will only report compliance and respiratory rate.

Ask for a demonstration on a real machine if anyone suggests otherwise.

O.

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 6:30 am

I truly love my PB425. It is so much easier to breathe with than other machines I have tried (Sullivan VPAP & an old Respironics BiPAP S/T. But I do wish we could get more data off the machine.

Anyone know if anyone is working on this?

The sales rep seems to have pulled a fast one on my DME when they demonstrated all the data you could pull off of the 425 - without telling them that they were actually demonstrating the 425e (AutoPAP).

We need help to get that data retrieved!

- JB (But curiously, it does give your breathing rate!)

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, bipap, DME

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 7:49 am

The PB auto is 420E - if it was the sales rep who said the auto was 425E - he was pulling a very fast one. Or a double one? Sowing confusion purposely...

Anyway - xPAPs are meant first and foremost for comfortable breathing and sleeping. Sounds like the PB 425 is doing the job for -JB - where other machines didn't. And that's the most important thing.

I've been thinking.
I wonder if apnea info isn't contained in the breathing rate - not necessarily a number of apneas, but in how consistent, undisrupted you breathing is. Would an RT know that?
Does the 425 initiate breathing? Would in do that in the case of obstructive apneas? How?
O.

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Maskedmechanic · Post by **Maskedmechanic** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 3:36 pm

Bilevel machines are designed to follow the inspiratory/expiratory cycle whenever possible. If a person stops breathing these machines will begin to cycle between high and low pressure after a time. For some who have mild central sleep apnea, this is sufficient to stop the sleep disordered breathing event. Other need a breath per minute feature (ST).

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 4:44 pm

Bilevel machines are designed to follow the inspiratory/expiratory cycle whenever possible. If a person stops breathing these machines will begin to cycle between high and low pressure after a time.

Now I'm confused. Is that true of every bi-level machine if a person stops breathing, or did you mean to specify bi-level ST machines?

I thought it took not simply a bi-level, but a bi-level with ST (spontaneous/timed) capability to ever be able to cycle on its own in an attempt to nudge the patient into resuming breathing on their own (spontaneously.) But I know very little about bi-level machines.

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 6:04 pm

I agree with RG. I thought the Bi-level was just two settings IPAP & EPAP. You must initiate the breath. However, mine is so sensitive that when I stop exhaling, it gives me a breath. It may be that it senses a change in pressure, but I can't detect a change. It's almost like it is reading my mind and knows when to supply the air. But my IPAP sensitivity is set to "1". I think that is something like .o1 secondselapsed time ebtween when you try to draw a breath and the machine supplies it?

Talked with my RT today. The salesmen honestly thought that the 425 would do everything the 425e would (she said that there is a 425e that has all the bells & whistles on it). That is what they were taught. Maybe there is a way?

- JB

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 12:38 am

Hi -JB
A search in our hosts site for "420E" find lots of info. A search for 425E results in a polite "did you mean...."
Googling 425E and PAP also bring up nothing relevant.

Are you sure there is a machine like that?
O.

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:40 am

I'm stopping in to pick up that mask this AM and I'll ask. I think maybe Patty and the sales rep are getting tangled up in the nomenclature.

Either that or there is a new machine.

Maybe by the time they get this all sorted out PB will have begun to market the new 425 ST and we'll have to sart all over again with the software.

- JB

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 8:38 am

Stopped in for my old/new mask yesterday and asked them about the "425e". The guy in charge said that the salesman says there is such a machine. I told him there was nothing on line about it and he said it might be something new? But he didn't sound very sure about it.

BTW, the "spare" mask was a gift to the DME from the sales rep, and they passed it along to me - along with the brand new headgear! So now when I go to the hospital I can take headgear that isn't full of cat hair and cat fuzzballs!!! Yay!!

- JB

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 12:55 pm

I'm sure the good salesman will have no problem replacing you old kind of machine with the brand new kind on which he demontsrated all those marvelous reading.... After all, that's the one he was meaning for you to buy in the first place, wasn't it?

The fact the some one made a mistake along the line, and sent you older equipmet that doesn't behave as promised if of course an innocent mistake.
.... and can be quickly remedied....

O.

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Sat Jul 02, 2005 1:11 pm

Hear! Hear!

I agree.

I'll just send this off to P-B! <ROFL>

Problem is, it probably wouldn't be a BiPAP machine

- JB