[QUOTE=alice md;957578]Limpy,

You mention using a CPAP and having to take Xanax to tolerate it.

Are you still having breathing difficulties?

Are you still taking Xanax?

Do you still have a CPAP or did they change it to a BiPap?

I am asking this because it makes no sense to give a patients with neuromuscular disease a respirator device which requires breathing against resistance, with very minimal pressure support. It's not surprising that you found it hard to tolerate, it's not surprising that your condition further deteriorated with the combination of a CPAP and muscle relaxant.


I am no longer having breathing difficulties. What I meant by tolerating cpap, was being able to stand having a contraption strapped to your face while you are trying to fall asleep. The small dose of Xanax only relaxes me enough so that I can go off to sleep without being so aware of my discomfort from cpap.
They did put bipap on me at the local hospital and it was horrible in my experience. I could not keep up with the pace and it would be forcing me to inhale when I was trying to exhale. I felt as if my lungs would explode.
I am still using cpap at home, but did have to reduce the pressure slightly, because I was having a little difficulty exhaling against the incoming pressure while in the hospital. All is good with that now. Xanax does not seem to depress my breathing, only makes me sleepy enough to ignore any discomfort I may have.