Prev: How to Adjust Pressure- Fisher & Paykel
Next: Adjusting pressure level on Respironics REMstar Plus LX
From: GeoT on 6 Apr 2006 21:41
I'm a newbie with CPAP (about a month) and have been very frustrated
with bloating. The Doctor has turned the machine down from 11 to 9 to
7 saying that part of the problem is that the air is going down my
esophogus to my stomach because the internal air pressure in my body
cavity is not strong enough to pull it down my trachea. I Turned it
down to 6. Also, I am an open mouth sleeper and so I am drawing extra
air. I have also tried the chinstrap but my mouth still won't close
all of the way. Taping my mouth shut seems to be the only thing that
works but I'm still waking up alot. The Doctor says that I can train
myself to sleep with my mouth closed -- how do you do that? Aam I
destined to wear tape forever? Should the machine be turned up or down
when using tape? I also get alot of moisture in the mask when I use
the heater/humidifier which is waking me up -- it seems better just
turned off. What is conventional wisdom with this device -- keep
tinkering with it? I get the feeling from the Doctors office that most
everyone else has smooth sailing from day 1 and that my issues are not
common.
thanks
GeoT

From: Quick on 6 Apr 2006 22:47
GeoT wrote:
> I'm a newbie with CPAP (about a month) and have been very
> frustrated with bloating. The Doctor has turned the
> machine down from 11 to 9 to 7 saying that part of the
> problem is that the air is going down my esophogus to my
> stomach because the internal air pressure in my body
> cavity is not strong enough to pull it down my trachea.
> I Turned it down to 6. Also, I am an open mouth sleeper
> and so I am drawing extra air. I have also tried the
> chinstrap but my mouth still won't close all of the way.
> Taping my mouth shut seems to be the only thing that
> works but I'm still waking up alot. The Doctor says that
> I can train myself to sleep with my mouth closed -- how
> do you do that? Aam I destined to wear tape forever?
> Should the machine be turned up or down when using tape?
> I also get alot of moisture in the mask when I use the
> heater/humidifier which is waking me up -- it seems
> better just turned off. What is conventional wisdom with
> this device -- keep tinkering with it? I get the
> feeling from the Doctors office that most everyone else
> has smooth sailing from day 1 and that my issues are not
> common.

Well, I would say that your issues are not common but they
are not uncommon. Many here have or have had all of your
issues.

I'm guessing that your doctor turned your pressure down
to help you adapt with the intention of turning it back up
when you become comfortable with it? I don't know that.
But it's probably not a good idea for you to go ahead and
turn it down further on your own.

I was a mouth breather before cpap. I think most everyone
is. It is a natural reaction to a low O2 saturation/high C02.
As soon as I used CPAP I quit breathing through my mouth.
When first starting I would sort of open my throught to
experiment and let the air rush out my mouth. Sort of one
of those hard to resist things to try... I could conciously
stop it and apparently it stayed that way while asleep.
Some people can't stop from mouth breathing without
aids. Chin strap, tape, etc. and later don't need them.
Others stick with them. Still others go to a full face mask.
This covers both your nose and your mouth. A very few
use the Oracle which is an oral interface where you only
breath through your mouth. You should discuss trying
any/all of the above with your doctor.

You don't want to breath through your mouth with a nasal
interface. The function of your machine is to create positive
pressure within your body relative to the air pressure outside
of your body. This is what holds your air way open. If you
"short circuit" it by breathing through your mouth then the
air (pressure) simply goes in your nose and out your mouth
negating your treatment. Is it possible that throat in this
position (air in nose and straight out mouth) is conducive
to swallowing air? don't know that either. normc probably
does. Norm is a full face mask user and may expound on
that.

In general humidity is good. The more the better for your
nose. If you are mouth breathing then it will only help a
bit. You probably have a very dry (and sore?) throat/mouth
when you get up. You want the humidifier to be turned
up to the point before you get condensation. It sounds
like that's what's happening to you. The colder you keep
your bedroom the more likely you will get condensation.
Routing your hose can help. If you run the hose down
your chest then try keeping it under the covers as much
as possible. If you suspend it overhead then try keeping
the run down to the mask as short as possible and keep
the machine/humidifier below that. That way most of the
condensation, if you do get it, will run back into the
humidifier tank. You can insulate your hose with a store
bought sleeve or make yourself one with flannel or socks.

keep plugging, it's worth it,
-Quick







From: normc on 6 Apr 2006 23:01
GeoT wrote:
> I'm a newbie with CPAP (about a month) and have been very frustrated
> with bloating. The Doctor has turned the machine down from 11 to 9 to
> 7 saying that part of the problem is that the air is going down my
> esophogus to my stomach because the internal air pressure in my body
> cavity is not strong enough to pull it down my trachea. I Turned it
> down to 6. Also, I am an open mouth sleeper and so I am drawing extra
> air. I have also tried the chinstrap but my mouth still won't close
> all of the way. Taping my mouth shut seems to be the only thing that
> works but I'm still waking up alot. The Doctor says that I can train
> myself to sleep with my mouth closed -- how do you do that? Aam I
> destined to wear tape forever? Should the machine be turned up or down
> when using tape? I also get alot of moisture in the mask when I use
> the heater/humidifier which is waking me up -- it seems better just
> turned off. What is conventional wisdom with this device -- keep
> tinkering with it? I get the feeling from the Doctors office that most
> everyone else has smooth sailing from day 1 and that my issues are not
> common.
> thanks
> GeoT
>

I suggest you GOOGLE the archives of this NG. I know that 3 or 4 years
ago there was a lot of traffic about this kind of problem. It doesn't
seem to come up real often. And when it does, it also includes people
claiming to 'pass' gas from using xpap.

I know I posted about the latter, having asked my neurologist sleep doc,
about the possibility of the latter. He said no way could air that is
directed thru your nose (and mouth with FFM) to your lungs, get through
to your bottom-side.

So..... if you choose to GOOGLE, try "normc gas" or "normc bloat" sans
the quote marks.
From: Sharp on 6 Apr 2006 23:17
On Fri, 07 Apr 2006 03:01:54 GMT, normc <norm-c(a)socal.rr.com> wrote:

>> GeoT
>>
>
>I suggest you GOOGLE the archives of this NG. I know that 3 or 4 years
>ago there was a lot of traffic about this kind of problem. It doesn't
>seem to come up real often. And when it does, it also includes people
>claiming to 'pass' gas from using xpap.
>
>I know I posted about the latter, having asked my neurologist sleep doc,
>about the possibility of the latter. He said no way could air that is
>directed thru your nose (and mouth with FFM) to your lungs, get through
>to your bottom-side.
>
>So..... if you choose to GOOGLE, try "normc gas" or "normc bloat" sans
>the quote marks.

There's only one way the air from the CPAP can cause bloating and that
is if you're swallowing the air. Try to notice if you are doing
something like that. If you are letting the air inflate your mouth,
then swallowing, that'll do it.
From: normc on 6 Apr 2006 23:41
Sharp wrote:
> On Fri, 07 Apr 2006 03:01:54 GMT, normc <norm-c(a)socal.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
>>>GeoT
>>>
>>
>>I suggest you GOOGLE the archives of this NG. I know that 3 or 4 years
>>ago there was a lot of traffic about this kind of problem. It doesn't
>>seem to come up real often. And when it does, it also includes people
>>claiming to 'pass' gas from using xpap.
>>
>>I know I posted about the latter, having asked my neurologist sleep doc,
>>about the possibility of the latter. He said no way could air that is
>>directed thru your nose (and mouth with FFM) to your lungs, get through
>>to your bottom-side.
>>
>>So..... if you choose to GOOGLE, try "normc gas" or "normc bloat" sans
>>the quote marks.
>
>
> There's only one way the air from the CPAP can cause bloating and that
> is if you're swallowing the air. Try to notice if you are doing
> something like that. If you are letting the air inflate your mouth,
> then swallowing, that'll do it.

You're right. I didn't think about it, but this could occur if the
flapper (don't know what it is called) that is supposed to close over
the airway, when you eat and drink, and open when you breath, isn't
working right.

But, if that is the case, it would seem that something else is wrong
with that person, other than OSA. I would guess that my doctor meant
that if one doesn't have any other problems, such as a not functioning
well flapper, then air can't make it through.

Anyone recall previous posts/threads about a non-functioning flapper?
 |  Next  |  Last
Pages: 1 2
Prev: How to Adjust Pressure- Fisher & Paykel
Next: Adjusting pressure level on Respironics REMstar Plus LX