Dudleys Diary

the other day. Dudley has a Respironics Bi Pap Auto SV BiPap machine and a Respironics Millennium Oxygen Concentrator that he uses to help him breath while he is sleeping. The machines cost about $7,500.00 for both of them and I guess it is worth it because without them Dudley would probably not be here. Dudley got a new Nasal Aire II mask and a new hose and filters and a new humidifier chamber. Dudley got everything replaced and is good to go for another six months. Dudley has been sleeping/breathing with the help of non invasive ventilation for close to ten years now. It has taken a long time to get used to the equipment and figure out what works and what doesn't. The BiPap machine has a computer in it and some complicated algorithm that helps Dudley to breath easier. It has a Smart Card that Dudley removes and takes with him when he goes to see his neurologist and he inserts it into a reader that gives him a computer printout so he can monitor how well Dudley is or is not sleeping at night. Pretty amazing when you think about it. Dudley is going to use these machine as long as he can because when these machines no longer get the job done, Dudley will probably be looking at getting a tracheotomy and being put on a ventilator. Dudley is sure not looking forward to that.