"It sounds like you're getting rainout issues (condensation) so here's an article to help with this.
www.hope2sleep.co.uk/water-in-the-mask-hose-known-as-rainout"
Sleep Apnoea Forum Bringing Help + Support to the Patient
First week with CPAP and it's not going well
Hi all,
First of all, I would like to say what a great forum! I feel I might just be using this more often.
A little background if I may?
I was diagnosed late last year with OSA, with an AHI of 29 - so on the edge of severe OSA. If I'm honest, I wasn't surprised, as my wife has been recording me for sometime at night. It was more relief for her, who has suffered from my wall moving snoring! I always thought it was because I was unable to breathe through my nose and I am a mouth breather.
Well, last Friday I had an appt to see the sleep nurse at Basildon university hospital - she was helpful in showing me my full results from the sleep test a month or so prior. She also explained that I would be using a ResMed air sense 10 machine and went through it all with me, including the mask (which is a Quattro air mask).
I walked out of there fully confident that I would get some much needed rest and the snoring would stop. I was excited tbh. The snoring stopped and my wife seemed a lot happier, but for me, it has been a nightmare - I have had hardly any sleep since last Friday night and have got to the point where last night the mask had to come off after just 3 hours.
The problems are -
- The mask always seems to leak, unless I tighten it right up and this causes a lot of discomfort.
- I feel that I can't breathe and this really unsettles me and makes me feel anxious
- Because I mouth breathe, even though I have a humidifier my mouth is so parched in the morning.
- And the seemingly obligatory aerophagia symptoms, ie flatulence, and trapped wind
I am hoping this is all typical early problems and over time I will get used to it - But right now I am lost.
Views: 327
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Sleep2snore on
-
The mask is not a good fit, it should not be tight, thigh will make the seal leak even more as it pushes out against your skin to make the seal. Ask if they have other masks or another size.
Breathing? Not enough or you can't breath out? If it is not enough the machine is set far to low, if it is that you can't breath out, there is a EPR on the machine that will allow you to breath out a lot easier as it drops the pressure when you breathe out.
The machine you have is very good if set up properly. Use it on Auto for best results. If it is set from 4 to 20 it has not been optimised for good results. You can find out whet pressure the machine is normally running at on the display by going into the menu for setting the machine up. Ideally the low should be set up to within a two three lower than what the machine goes up to. This will give a quicker response to any events you are having. Be warned though, clinics do not like you changing settings yourself, but if they don't do it who is going to.
If your machine gets up to 14 say, I would set the low to 10 or 11 and leave it full open or set it at 16 high, but it does no harm to have it set at 20.
But they are there at the Sleep Clinic to help you, so phone them up and ask to speak to the Sleep Nurse.
Dry mouth is just you are breathing through it and the dry air from the machine will make it even drier. Turn the humidifier up. I have my one at 6.
Trapped wind and flatulence is part of the course for a lot of people. Some get a lot less after a bit of use, others let the wind go free.
-
Permalink Reply by Grumpy on
-
Xylimelts help a great deal with dry mouth, available from hope2sleep far cheaper than anywhere else. Buy in bulk if you can afford it to save on p&p.
-
Permalink Reply by Terry James on
-
Thanks all for your responses! I am pleased to tell you that a lot of the symptoms are diminishing slowly - I am getting more sleep and the aerophagia has eased off quite a bit too. I am getting about 6-7 hours now with the ResMeD. Dry mouth is still problematic & I will look into those Xylimelts, Ian - thanks for the tip! I found that the mask still leaks a bit, but I think this is due to skin oil, so making sure the mask is cleaned daily is helping.
-
-
You can also try turning up the humidifier a bit, but be careful not to turn it to far as you can get condensation in the hose and mask. This is referred to as Rain-out. You can get covers for the hose, but if you are still bother it might be worth investing in a heated hose that gives a more humid warn air to breath. Not used one myself, but those that have swear by them.
It also helps with dry mouth.
About
Sleep Apnoea Forum
New to the Sleep Apnoea Forum?
1. Stop by our Sleep Apnoea Welcome Center to introduce yourself to the SleepGuide community.
2. Start a New Topic of Conversation.
3. Post your photos - of yourself, your old CPAP machine, your new CPAP machine, your pet, something about you!
Interested in advertising, have a problem or need to contact us? Click the Report an Issue page.
Latest Activity
noisy humidifier normal?
Hello,I have an air sense 10 auto.When I have the humidifier and the heated tube plugged in it makes a sort of drumming noise. Like that at the gallows in films.Is this normal? It wakes me up and I have to give up and switch off for the night.See More
Dentists in Hull that know about Mewing ?
I was wondering if there are any dentists in Hull who know about John & Mike Mew, and changing jaw shape over time?I could add that I saw an ENT consultant recently and she said jaw shape, malocclusion, is genetic, which has become a debatable…See More
"I did replace the tank in my SleepCube, and had to regularly take the silicone sealing gasket out and give it a goof clean, but not infrequently found it standing in a pool of water in the morning. The machine sat on a tray because of…"
Nasal valve collapse
Does anyone have any experience of nasal valve collapse?Wondering if I have this but I don't know what the norm is.Been trying widgets that hold the nose open and it's like night and day.See More
"Wow it's the other way round for me.I found with the Sleepcube I'd often have a good bit of water still there in the morning. Today I woke up with a dry tank on the Resmed again and it's not on full heat or flow. I got it on 6…"
F20 AirFit small marking bridge of nose
Please help or give advice all wise people on here.I have had the Resmed F20 AirFit small mask for over a month. Seals yet…See More
"A very helpful reply Jonathan. I found the pressure setting for the full face mask to be too high when I changed to a nasal mask, but perhaps I should have persisted?
I'll try again and I'll also discuss with the clinic whether an APAP…"
"Ramble alert! My history is that I spent part of each week at a different location, so bought a second machine identical to my fixed pressure NHS machine and set it up to match using the clinician menu. This was a very long time…"
"Thanks Jonathan - I had seen the YouTube video. My question is really about the experience of people who have control of their pressure settings, for example those people who have bought their machines directly and not obtained them through an NHS…"
"This is NOT a recommendation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNUWhd2UgQM"
Air Sense 10 - changing pressure settings
I have been successfully using my air sense 10 since OSA diagnosis, and my AHI is now under 2. I had an appointment with my clinic this week and have been told there is no need for further appointments and just to contact them if I need supplies or…See More
"If you have a helpful GP, I would ask them to re-refer you to the sleep clinic."
A few questions..
A quick bit of backgroundDiagnosed with OSA about 7/8 years ago by my local sleep clinic and given a F &P Icon CPAP. After a couple of follow-up appts to sort out any issues, I was sent on my merry way. I have had no further face to face…See More
"I previously had a DeVilbiss Sleepcube and the dehumidifier did sometimes run dry. On the other hand I now have an AirSense 10 and it never runs dry, and I've had the humidity turned up high."
Airsense 10 -humidifier runs dry
Hi. I'm finding the Airsense 10 the hospital gave me, the humidifier chamber runs dry. It's not even on max settings, which I'm guessing would empty it a lot quicker. Seems like a big design oversight to me. Does anyone else have this trouble? The…See More
Decline in hearing
HiI have regular, well yearly check ups at work. One being a hearing test. Since having my cpap machine my hearing has declined rapidly in 1 ear.....could this be as a result of pressure? I believe I'm on 15cm p max h2o. I just use a nasal…See More
© 2024 Created by The SleepGuide Crew.
Powered by
