Some people ask whats the difference. I found this on a web site some time back and it explains. Bi-PAP stands for Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure. The use of Bi-PAP machines is often called non-invasive face mask ventilation. This is because the trachea is not intubated so there is less trauma to the airway and more importantly there is a lower incidence of nosocomial infections. C-PAP, stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Continuous means that the pressure delivered to the patient is the same for any given breath. C-PAP can actually increase the work of breathing and be lethal to an ALS patient As the use of Bi-PAP machines has increased, their cost has gone down. There are also more types of masks available and this has improved patient comfort and compliance.

Has anyone scored where the doctor said you scored in the sleep apnea range and it turns out that your sleep test says you dont have it ??? I recently scored a 15... I was told a normal person is between 1-5 on this scale he used from questions asked. What do you guys think... does your score most likely reflect that you may or may not have Sleep Apnea??? Input please.....

My sleep Doctor was charging $500.00 to just read a stupid monthly chart that they took off the card that was in my CPAP machine. Every month I had to pull this card and mail it them and then they would mail a chart to the Dr. I dumped that Doctor ASAP. Then my husbands insurance was paying for my CPAP machine. It would have been paid off in one month when suddenly I changed insurance companies. Guess what? They started billing the new insurance company all over again for the machine and I called my BCBS and complained, stating that they got the 9 months of payments and there was only one payment left. My insurance called me back last week telling me they can do that, that's how it's written up so this company already got paid for 9 months and is now charging all over again. Now this company wants the CPAP machine back if I'm not using it anymore. I told the lady that I was under the impress that between me and the insurance company that the machine would be mine after it's paid off and she said every insurance company is different. Some insuranace companies just pay the monthly rental on it and others pay it off. I need to find out which one my insurance company pays for, monthly rental or pays it off in full. Why pay all this money out for them to take the machine back and they'll clean it up and resale it. Donna 338/213 -125

Bi-PAP stands for Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure. The use of Bi-PAP machines is often called non-invasive face mask ventilation. This is because the trachea is not intubated so there is less trauma to the airway and more importantly there is a lower incidence of nosocomial infections. C-PAP, stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. Continuous means that the pressure delivered to the patient is the same for any given breath. C-PAP can actually increase the work of breathing and be lethal to an ALS patient As the use of Bi-PAP machines has increased, their cost has gone down. There are also more types of masks available and this has improved patient comfort and compliance.

I am 6 weeks postop and have lost 60 lbs and the pressure is not too great when I try to use my mask. Ity either doesn't stay secure or it gets crooked if I move too much. I can't stand sleeping on my back all night, I am stiff and sore when I do. I'm not supposed to go back to the pulmonary Dr for 6 months so I am at a loss as to what to do. When I fall asleep on the couch my wife tells me I barely snore and she hasn't heard me stop breathing like before. Hopefully it means I am getting better but sleeping is sure difficult with the mask now. Thanks Jack