Quattro oder

I suffered a stroke 4 years ago and assumed partial mouth paralysis and snoring was to be expected. But my wife's concern caused me to seek a remedy. I started using the ResMed CPAP unit last week. While my morning headaches are gone, my nose is filled with the scent of baby powder, and my voice is hoarse - which is an occurance. Speech therapy also began a week before the CPAP use, but the hoarseness has interfered. One excercise, sounding "ah's", began with me holding them up to 30 seconds. Since the CPAP hoarseness, I can only hold for 5-6 seconds then my voice turns "gravelly". The company rep has no ideas. My question to her was, "Should I postpone the therapy until the hoarseness clears up". I increased the machine setting from 3 to 4 last night and awoke to cool air instead of warm, but no other change. The smell remains.

Hi - the first thing I'd check is whether or not the dust filter is in place on the machine - if any powder got in somehow without a filter it would account for your hoarseness (and isn't a great idea to inhale in any case). But I'd also play with the humidifier setting to see what really works for you - some people, especially if living near water (myself) or in a humid environment generally don't need any humidity, but others e.g. in Arizona may need it all year at whatever setting works for them. It is also possible that just using Cpap can affect your voice/vocal cords to an extent (think it came up here some time ago), but if you're otherwise getting good results from Cpap, I would weigh the benefits against the voice problem. I don't know that waiting some time would make a lot of difference however, as you use the machine every night. As far as the smell goes, if it wasn't because some talc was around the back of your machine (air inlet) and the filter out of place, then I'd definitely ask your DME (dealer) whether you really got a new machine or a refurb. And if your insurance paid for a new one, I'd make a big fuss about that and insist on new.

If your machine is not equipped with a humidifier, do that!

Filters and a clean space for the machine are important. Machines should not taste like baby powder, so either you got a used machine, or it is sitting in a contaminated drawer, or your taste was altered by your stroke. Can you clarify?

How did you come to use CPAP? Are you self diagnosed, or did you have a study?

penman45 wrote: Since the CPAP hoarseness, I can only hold for 5-6 seconds then my voice turns "gravelly".

Symptoms of using a nasal interface and mouthbreathing.

Julie, Sleeprider, You should have thought of this and ... now please discuss it with the OP.

The baby powder smell may in fact be a result of the stroke.
Aromatherapy may help. Pur-sleep, or snuggle scents might be worth a shot.
If the smell is in the mask even with the machine turned off, perhaps a good cleaning or even a new cushion might help.
If you use dryer sheets, try a different fragrance. The baby powder is horrible!
Some scents irritate my throat, so when I find out, I ditch the offender.

the silicones in the machines sometimes have a faint perfumy, or perhaps baby powdery odor, it should fade over time.

ChicagoGranny wrote:

penman45 wrote: Since the CPAP hoarseness, I can only hold for 5-6 seconds then my voice turns "gravelly".

Symptoms of using a nasal interface and mouthbreathing.

Julie, Sleeprider, You should have thought of this and ... now please discuss it with the OP.

Since the O.P. titled the thread "Quattro", I assume FFM. Of course since he is not registered, nor lists equipment, YMMV.

It's OK to help guests, but, yes, we may need more info.
The cat knocked my magic 8-ball on the floor and it broke!

chunkyfrog wrote:It's OK to help guests, but, yes, we may need more info.
The cat knocked my magic 8-ball on the floor and it broke!

I usually use an online one, such as http://www.indra.com/8ball/front.html my physical one's in the other room

penman45 wrote: One excercise, sounding "ah's", began with me holding them up to 30 seconds. Since the CPAP hoarseness, I can only hold for 5-6 seconds then my voice turns "gravelly".

Even with a Quattro FFM, if you do a lot of mouthbreathing your throat can dry out. CPAP humidifiers do not do a good job for dry throats. There are some gels that people use for dry mouth that also trickle down into the throat and help. Maybe somebody can post their favorite brands.

penman45 wrote:I suffered a stroke 4 years ago and assumed partial mouth paralysis and snoring was to be expected. But my wife's concern caused me to seek a remedy. I started using the ResMed CPAP unit last week. While my morning headaches are gone, my nose is filled with the scent of baby powder, and my voice is hoarse - which is an occurance. Speech therapy also began a week before the CPAP use, but the hoarseness has interfered. One excercise, sounding "ah's", began with me holding them up to 30 seconds. Since the CPAP hoarseness, I can only hold for 5-6 seconds then my voice turns "gravelly". The company rep has no ideas. My question to her was, "Should I postpone the therapy until the hoarseness clears up". I increased the machine setting from 3 to 4 last night and awoke to cool air instead of warm, but no other change. The smell remains.

The "smell" (sweet, baby powder, etc.) has been posted many, many times over they years by users describing their experience in the morning.

As far as I know, nobody has been able to explain the smell sensation. As far as your voice, I would suspect "mouth-breathing" as the cause. In other words, your nasal passages are probably plugged up.......and a high humidity setting could cause that, too. If you don't do nasal cleansing before bedtime, I'd suggest you do that so you can breathe through your nose.


Den

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I don't know if you washed your mask before use or have since but when I used baby shampoo as suggested by the DME I have the faint baby smell.

My thanks to all who responded. My wife discussed my complaints and shared your comments with the medical assistant (MA) at my Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)doctor's office. The MA called a respiratory therapist who had questions of her own: Did a RA deliver the CPAP unit? Did the company rep suggest I might need a chin strap? And the answer to both questions is "no". So rather than deal with questions, she scheduled an appointment with the doctor (1-30-15) and suggested equipment should be ordered through their preferred company - one that has respiratory therapist deliver and fit the units. It's complicated because I am on Medicare. My adventure began when the ENT discovered that on my stroke (left) side, my vocal chord had atrophied slightly, and reported to my primary care (PC) doctor that I needed a sleep apnea test and speech therapy. My PC ordered the both, received the test result and ordered the equipment. So I guess the ENT will discuss my situation with the PC.

As for your comments. My wife washed the mask before first use, and rinsed it with distilled water, which generally absorbs minerals left by city water. The ENT'S MA also suggested I was probably mouth breathing, (even though upon awakening, my mouth is dry but closed.) The MA did not recommend using a gel, but she did say I should rinse my nasal cavity before going to bed The company rep opened the filter package and placed the filter in the unit. (I have 2 more) My senses have been affected by the stroke. The only good things I have tasted in four years is German chocolate and red velvet cakes and my wife's homemade pancakes with butter and maple syrup and eggs-over-easy.

However, with the problems shared, I am wholeheartedly grateful that with the CPAP unit I sleep the night through, waken without the dull headache that had greeted my every morning, and I have more energy than at any time in four years.

Good luck with the appointment Penman45. I hope you will take time to register and keep us informed of what comes of your appointment, and what machine you're issued. I'm sure you will have more questions as you make these changes. We can help you to recover data that may be stored on your machine (depending on the model), that will help you see what is going on in your sleep and the effectiveness of your treatment. Most of the questions in this thread were to try to determine what equipment you use so we can help.

PENMAN45 wrote: The only good things I have tasted in four years is German chocolate and red velvet cakes and my wife's homemade pancakes with butter and maple syrup and eggs-over-easy.

I would just stick with that plus a bit of Scotch.