Cpap and asthma

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

Cpap and asthma

Post by Cherann » Tue Aug 19, 2014 10:15 am

I am a very very new user of cpap so am completely a novice. I have sleep apnea to my life long asthma which is now chronic resulting in numerous admittance a to hospital. How do other asthmatics find it is on cpap. Really grateful for any comments

Janknitz
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Re: Cpap and asthma

Post by Janknitz » Tue Aug 19, 2014 10:34 am

CPAP is WONDERFUL for asthma. I'm breathing clean, filtered air all night. With an open airway, I'm not de saturating all night, every night. And when my asthma is bothering me, I crank up the humidifier and sleep without coughing. I feel much better on CPAP. I get sick less often because of all of the above.

If, at first, you are having trouble exhaling against pressure, use the exhalation pressure relief features of your machine (ResMed calls it "EPR", Philips Respironics calls it "flex") to reduce the exhalation pressure. I can exhale against full pressure now, which I'm certain is great exercise for my breathing muscles.

So all around, CPAP is a great thing for asthma. Just be sure you don't get stuck with a brick, because data is very helpful for one with asthma. Read my blogposts below.
What you need to know before you meet your DME http://tinyurl.com/2arffqx
Taming the Mirage Quattro http://tinyurl.com/2ft3lh8
Swift FX Fitting Guide http://tinyurl.com/22ur9ts
Don't Pay that Upcharge! http://tinyurl.com/2ck48rm

Cherlins
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Re: Cpap and asthma

Post by Cherlins » Tue Aug 19, 2014 11:42 am

Thank you so much am so pleased it is helping you. Thank you also for your tips

HealthyandHopeful
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Re: Cpap and asthma

Post by HealthyandHopeful » Tue Aug 19, 2014 11:56 am

My EPR is set to 2. Are you saying that we should eventually be able to turn it off completely and this is better for us? I will try that if it's what is recommended.

I also have allergy induced asthma. Allergy shots (started over 10 years ago) and allergy drops, thankfully, have helped me to get off of all of my asthma medicine. It's worth looking into!

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Slartybartfast
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Re: Cpap and asthma

Post by Slartybartfast » Tue Aug 19, 2014 12:18 pm

It cured it. Over an 18 month period I had back to back bouts of bronchitis, about every 6 weeks that would resolve when the doc gave me antibiotics. But within 6 weeks, I'd be back with the same symptoms. Asthma was one of them. Finally, at my request, my GP referred me to a pulmonologist, whose third question was, "Have you ever had a sleep study?"

As soon as I got on CPAP, all my symptoms disappeared, including the asthma. For three years, I didn't even have a cold. The improvement CPAP made was amazing.

Janknitz
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Re: Cpap and asthma

Post by Janknitz » Tue Aug 19, 2014 8:34 pm

EPR is a comfort measure. You don't have to turn it down. I did mostly because the noise is less. It's a big help to some.
What you need to know before you meet your DME http://tinyurl.com/2arffqx
Taming the Mirage Quattro http://tinyurl.com/2ft3lh8
Swift FX Fitting Guide http://tinyurl.com/22ur9ts
Don't Pay that Upcharge! http://tinyurl.com/2ck48rm

HealthyandHopeful
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Re: Cpap and asthma

Post by HealthyandHopeful » Tue Aug 19, 2014 9:20 pm

Wow, Slarty, that is great to hear! I used to get sick a lot and each time it would take me a long time to get better. I've made other changes as well (including eating better and losing weight) and have only been sick twice, I think, in the past year and this last time I got over it in the time the doctor said was normal for what I had. I'm so glad it may even get better! I haven't been using my allergy drops consistently the past two months and I haven't had allergy problems either. It may just be time of the year though. I look forward to more improvements. I've only been on the cpap for 6 weeks now!

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Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments:  Trying out a new full face mask: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/sunset-hcs-full-face-cpap-mask.html?tab=reviews#tab

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jencat824
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Re: Cpap and asthma

Post by jencat824 » Tue Aug 19, 2014 9:29 pm

I'm another asthmatic who was helped immensely by CPAP. I've been on CPAP 14 years & haven't been in the ER or hospitalized a single time after I started CPAP therapy. Prior to that I averaged 2-3 hospitalizations per year for asthma. I'm still amazed that my asthma has become so manageable with CPAP even after all these years. Just one more benefit of CPAP therapy.

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MaryK

Re: Cpap and asthma

Post by MaryK » Fri Oct 24, 2014 12:51 pm

I am also new to the CPAP, however, I find it is flaring up my allergies and asthma. I had to stop using it and (they are trying to get approval from my doctor to lower the pressure). The first week I used the machine I would wake up a few hours later all stuffed up. Then after taking the mask off the drainage would begin which triggered the asthma. It was just horrible. The pressure in my head and ears was just unbelievable. Just my two cents....

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debhosenose
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Re: Cpap and asthma

Post by debhosenose » Fri Oct 24, 2014 1:27 pm

Wow Mary, I don't like to hear that. I started my CPAP last night. I too have asthma, a bad pneumonia incident in Jan-Feb, almost died, now finally they are figuring out that the reason I'm not getting better is because of a sleep apnea. (just did the sleep study Wed night so I don't have the report yet) But they did tell me that my oxygen was below 80 so I was an automatic CPAP machine right away. However, last night was my first night with the machine and my O2 was 70...I do hope this won't continue...Mary, do you use an oximeter to monitor your oxygen?

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Krelvin
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Re: Cpap and asthma

Post by Krelvin » Fri Oct 24, 2014 1:30 pm

I have minor asthma... but almost never while sleeping. The machine is getting filtered air so when I get up in the morning I am the clearest of the day. When I go to bed, and have some breathing issues, it quickly gets settled down and goes away as I sleep.
Current Settings PS 4.0 over 10.6-18.0 (cmH2O) - Resmed S9 VPAP Auto w/h5i Humidifier - Quattro Air FFM
TNET Sleep Resource Pages - CPAP Machine Database
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