CPAP/Bipap and Retaining Carbon Dioxide
Original Post: I had a sleep test and they say I have mild to moderate apnea and recommended I use a CPAP. But most polio survivors in the Coffee House have Bi-Pap? Do all polio survivors retain carbon dioxide?
Dr. Bruno’s Response: Carbon Dioxide retention can be a big problem along with too little oxygen!
So, we always recommend that polio survivors should always talk to their pulmonologist about using Bi-Pap (if not a volume ventilator), instead of using CPAP.
Not all polio survivors retain CO2 while they are sleeping, but CO2 must be measured during pulmonary function studies and sleep studies in polio survivors.
I always recommend contacting John R. Bach, MD for these issues. His articles and videos are easily available: Living with Post-Polio Syndrome. Look in the Index under “John Bach”.