Now that I think about it you probably will need to include a "Modifer" before your variable.

Otherwise your LCD display may think the number is some sort of control character or it may be a non displayable character.


from the PBP manual...


An assortment of string-formatting modifiers is available for use within the item list
of this command. These modifiers can be used to format string output that includes
numeric values converted from variables:
Output Modifiers for Formatting Strings
Modifier Operation
{I}{S}DEC{1..10} Send decimal digits
{I}{S}BIN{1..32} Send binary digits
{I}{S}HEX{1..8} Send hexadecimal digits
REP char\count Send character c repeated n
times
STR ArrayVar{\count} Send string of n characters
See section 2.11 for details on string-formatting modifiers.