Question:
asked this on the ky board but nobody answered,

can anyone tell me what a BIpap is, i really want to know.and why a person may feel fatigued afer using it whatever it is.I'm sorry this may sound crazy but i really don't know , i just read it.    — peace (posted on February 9, 2006)

February 9, 2006
sorry, someone did answer, but if you want to go ahead neen all the info i can get,
   — peace

February 9, 2006
bipap is a machine that forces air into your lungs when you forget to breathe with sleep apnea
   — elenav

February 9, 2006
The Respironics BIPAP is a low pressure, electrically driven, flow triggered, lightweight non-continuous ventilator that provides pressure support ventilation via a nasal mask. The BIPAP name is derived from Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure. The BIPAP system is intended to augment patient ventilation by supplying pressurized air through a mask. Assistance is provided by the administration of two levels of positive pressure. During exhalation, pressure is variably positive or near ambient. The inspiratory level is variably positive, and is always higher than the expiratory pressure. Although the unit is intended to be used with an FI02 of 21%, supplemental oxygen can be bled directly into the patient mask. Generally, oxygen flow rates of 1-2 lpm are sufficient to maintain an adequate oxygen saturation.
   — tjjjx6

February 9, 2006
I didn't have bipap but I did have a cpap for awhile trialing it. Sleep Apnea is a disorder in which an individual stops breathing during their sleep. They may not even realize that their doing it. Their body feels tired all the time but it is something that many adjust to, to an extent. The machine pumps air through a mask or nasal canula to keep their airway open so it may interupt their sleep because of the pressure to keep the airway open. They then feel tired until their body can adjust to the air pressure. I never could and went the route of surgery (so glad I did) I got the best and most restful sleep afterwards. I hope this helps.
   — dlryanoates

February 12, 2006
The machine is as others here described, but it should make you feel less tired, not more tired. It helps people with sleep apnea to sleep better. When you have sleep apnea, you stop breathing while sleeping. You then wake up and start breathing agin, but this pattern continues all night. You usually do not even realize you are constantly waking up. Because you constantly wake up, you are not getting any REM, or deep sleep. Consequently, you are tired. I am on CPAP, which is just a continous pressure.
   — Novashannon