Question

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Lana
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Question

Post by Lana » Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:42 pm

My husband told me my cpap, or rather air flow sound, gets sometimes loud during the night and then for a while becomes very quiet which allows him to return back to sleep. DME told me cpap is set on 11 with ramp time at the beggining so I'm not aware of any other settings. Does anyone has explanation about this?
Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe!

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rested gal
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Location: Tennessee

air flow sound

Post by rested gal » Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:31 am

Since you said your husband mentioned "air flow sound", possibly the noise is coming from the exhaust air from your mask hitting a pillow, blanket, or the mattress; rather than from the machine itself. If you are turned on your side away from him, there could be some question about exactly where the air flow sound is coming from - machine or mask. If he's absolutely certain the difference in sound is coming from the machine, you might want to ask a manufacturer's representative about it. But it's very likely that an occasional difference in "air flow sound" is simply coming from the exhaust air hitting the bedding.

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Snuffle-nose
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Post by Snuffle-nose » Mon Oct 18, 2004 5:36 am

Hi

I find that my machine becomes louder when my nasal mask exhusted airvent hole gets obstructed. This happens if I try to bury my head in my doona. I do that in winter as I tend get cold on head /face so I pull my head under the covers.

If you keep the air exhust outet clear then you machine shouldn't be as loud as what you've been experincing. try keep you air ventator [located at diffrent locations on other brand masks] clear at all times if you can.
Been on CPAP for a while.....I had moderate apenoa

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Kristy5550
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Location: Cheyenne, Wy.

My husband tells me "You're leaking" .............

Post by Kristy5550 » Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:18 am

he hears "a hurricane" if the seal is broken. If I open my mouth or turn so the seal is not complete he hears the air. I wonder if that is what your husband might be hearing.
Good luck!
Sweet dreams,
Kris :-)

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rested gal
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Location: Tennessee

pulling cover over head

Post by rested gal » Mon Oct 18, 2004 1:24 pm

Hi snuffle-nose (cute name..heheh)

Like you, I sometimes pull the cover over my head. First time I did that while using my autopap, I jerked the cover off thinking, "Oh, my gosh - what if I breathe too much exhaled carbon dioxide with my head covered up?" A moment's reflection though, and I realized, "Doh....I'm breathing air coming from OUTSIDE the cover...from the machine." As long as the cover wasn't completely blocking the exhaust vent on the mask, I'd be fine all burrowed down under.

As you said, the only drawback is if the cover gets too close to the exhaust hole and makes noise. I sleep on my side with my arm over an extra pillow, so usually I can get it all arranged to keep the exhaust port quiet.

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Lana
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Location: San Francisco, CA

Mistery solved...

Post by Lana » Wed Oct 20, 2004 12:44 am

... or rather discovered! I (we) learn as we go. I cought myself hearing loud hissing for a split second during the night and realized my mouth was open so...loud hissing comes from air and pressure plus my mouth as an outlet.
Earlier somebody on this forum sugested using chin strep, so I belive that is in order.
Thank you all for your replies
Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe!

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rested gal
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good detective work, Lana! heheh

Post by rested gal » Wed Oct 20, 2004 12:48 pm

Good detective work on your part, Lana!

Before spending money on a chin strap, I'd put my creative cap on and think about some things you might have right there at home. Ace bandage, stretchy headband or sweatband, soft straps (lingerie, perhaps) that you aren't using. Experiment a bit and you might find something that will work very comfortably and effectively. Bear in mind too that just keeping the chin up and mouth closed may not be all that you'll need to prevent air from leaking out from between closed lips. Puffs of air can escape from closed lips too. You might need to place an Ace or something similar across your lips to help keep them "sealed". Some people have even resorted to using tape to keep their lips shut. Been there, done that - effective, but not much fun to remove in the morning!

If you've been reading anything about training the tongue to maintain a natural airtight seal within the mouth, do start trying to find a good position for your tongue - either way forward with mouth closed, or dropped way back to block the entrance to the throat, in which case the mouth can be open somewhat and the seal will still be maintained.

In addition to using something to keep your lips closed, a big step toward preventing mouth air leaks is to develop a habit of using a sealing tongue position as much as possible. I was a big time mouth-breather at night. Over time and with practice, I found that maintaining a good tongue seal can become such a habit that the seal "stays put" most of the time, even during the total muscle relaxation of REM sleep.