CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
User avatar
photonic
Posts: 261
Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2014 7:42 pm

CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by photonic » Wed Aug 20, 2014 3:59 pm

I am almost three weeks into AVS PAP use and doing fairly well with the PAP part. Over the last two weeks however I have had two episodes of severe enough constipation that I became impacted and had to use an enema to solve the very uncomfortable problem. This is extremely unusual for me and a bit alarming. I have had no other changes in my activity level, diet, meds or any other items and I do use a dose of psyllium fiber daily.

My question is whether people have had issues with constipation once they get on PAP because of the increased evaporation of water from our system with all the blowing air. There is normally a large loss of fluid from normal respiration and it seems to me that maybe xPAP would increase this loss. I am using the Oracle mask and have very dry mouth in the morning but seem to "moisten up" very quickly after removing the mask. However I have never had much of a thirst drive so may be dehydrated.

Any experience with this when starting out on PAP?
ResMed AirCurve 10 ASV
8 years with F&P Oracle mouth mask now changing to
F&P Evora Full with S-M size
Hozer hose management device (a miracle!)
OSCAR software

User avatar
englandsf
Posts: 1016
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2014 6:17 pm
Location: Austin TX

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by englandsf » Wed Aug 20, 2014 4:10 pm

What was your water consumption before treatment an what is it now?

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead SW. NeilMed and Alkalol Nasal rinses. Veramyst. AutoPAP 11-20 cms. Started June '14, untreated AHI 31-38, with PAP around 1.

User avatar
photonic
Posts: 261
Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2014 7:42 pm

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by photonic » Wed Aug 20, 2014 4:16 pm

I have not changed my water consumption since starting PAP and I suspect that I do not drink much to begin with. Perhaps a glass of water with each meal and some extra during the day but certainly not "a lot". No coffee, tea, or alcohol acting as diuretics.....
ResMed AirCurve 10 ASV
8 years with F&P Oracle mouth mask now changing to
F&P Evora Full with S-M size
Hozer hose management device (a miracle!)
OSCAR software

User avatar
englandsf
Posts: 1016
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2014 6:17 pm
Location: Austin TX

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by englandsf » Wed Aug 20, 2014 4:28 pm

My doc recommends 50% of my body weight ( lbs) in ounces every day. Water, does not include coffee or sodas. That's about 8 bottles, and if I don't I get constipated and tired very quickl. I'm in Austin.

Crank up your intake and max your fiber for a week and see...

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead SW. NeilMed and Alkalol Nasal rinses. Veramyst. AutoPAP 11-20 cms. Started June '14, untreated AHI 31-38, with PAP around 1.

User avatar
Sir NoddinOff
Posts: 4190
Joined: Mon May 14, 2012 5:30 pm
Location: California

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by Sir NoddinOff » Wed Aug 20, 2014 4:40 pm

According to my PCP, severely dehydrating all night long can have three possible outcomes. He said he'd rather have me peeing once or twice a night rather than see bladder problems:

One - The urine that remains in your bladder can become concentrated to the degree it can possibly damage the tissues it comes in contact with.
Two - If you dehydrate too much you risk getting kidney stones... not life threatening however this condition can be a pain (literally) to pass the stones thru the urethra. Ultrasonic treatment is an option.
Three - Constipation, which you already mentioned.

I'm sure there are other issues but those are the basics.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ F10 Full Face Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead software v.0.9.8.1 Open GL and Encore Pro v2.2.
I like my ResMed AirFit F10 FFM - reasonably low leaks for my ASV therapy. I'm currently using a PR S1 AutoSV 960P Advanced. I also keep a ResMed S9 Adapt as backup. I use a heated Hibernite hose. Still rockin' with Win 7 by using GWX to stop Win 10.

User avatar
Krelvin
Posts: 1977
Joined: Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:23 pm
Location: Metro Phx Area - Dry Heat!

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by Krelvin » Wed Aug 20, 2014 5:03 pm

Constipation is normally a result of diet. Lack of enough water, and not eating enough fiber. If you have a proper diet I don't see how using an xPAP would contribute to that.

I know of several who have had the wonderful Kidney Stones issue... they all drink plenty of water now to prevent that from ever happening again. Not fun. Makes dealing with constipation impact trivial.
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
Put your equip in your Signature - SleepyHead v1.0.0-beta-1
Kevin... alias Krelvin

User avatar
bwexler
Posts: 1507
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 11:52 pm
Location: San Marcos, Ca. USA

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by bwexler » Wed Aug 20, 2014 5:12 pm

I like you have to work on drinking MORE WATER. But I eat lots of fiber every day, maybe 40 grams. I have never had a problem with constipation.
Find high fiber foods to eat and drink more water and your problem will clear up.

If you need it, I can loan you my wife to remind you every 3 minutes to drink more water.

_________________
Mask: SleepWeaver 3D Soft Cloth Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: AurCurve 10 ASV Also using Sleaplyhead 1.1, ResScan 6 and CMS50i

User avatar
photonic
Posts: 261
Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2014 7:42 pm

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by photonic » Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:19 pm

bwexler wrote:I like you have to work on drinking MORE WATER. But I eat lots of fiber every day, maybe 40 grams. I have never had a problem with constipation.
Find high fiber foods to eat and drink more water and your problem will clear up.

If you need it, I can loan you my wife to remind you every 3 minutes to drink more water.
OMG this is tooooo funny. She has already started and keeps asking me why I don't want her reminding me constantly.

Interesting that 1 tablespoon of psyllium husk is only 4.5 grams of fiber - not very much. Hmmmm, more water, more fiber and stay with the dehydrating PAP.
ResMed AirCurve 10 ASV
8 years with F&P Oracle mouth mask now changing to
F&P Evora Full with S-M size
Hozer hose management device (a miracle!)
OSCAR software

mikerrt
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2014 5:56 am
Location: NC

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by mikerrt » Thu Aug 21, 2014 5:58 am

Highly unlikely that your PAP is effecting the fluid balance in your gut.

Guest

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by Guest » Thu Aug 21, 2014 7:22 am

After yrs of having a very loose stool that no docs could figure out the cause. Then starting cpap my stools firmed right up to normal. I thought it had to do with my organs now getting adequate O2 while I slept and brought things back to normal for me.

Are you taking a med or something to firm things up?

mikerrt
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2014 5:56 am
Location: NC

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by mikerrt » Thu Aug 21, 2014 8:19 am

I would tend to believe it is more related to the reversal of the inflammatory cascade caused by intermittent hypoxia rather than tissue hypoxia.

User avatar
JQLewis
Posts: 180
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2014 10:05 am
Location: New York City

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by JQLewis » Thu Aug 21, 2014 8:38 am

Are you taking any blood pressure meds? Those do terrible things to my digestion. Another factor which seems to affect me is sleeping position. I've slept upright (in a sofa or chair), which can help with both OSA and aerophagia, but I've found it tends to affect both my ability to urinate properly and causes constipation.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ N10 Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead, Sleep Studies done 3/14, AHI 85.6
Sleep Study-Titration Study
Help find the undiagnosed. Send me a PM if you'd like to help (http://osaaction.org)

damfuno

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by damfuno » Sun Aug 31, 2014 5:53 pm

Funny ........I just decided to look at CPAP and constipation ..........reason.........I have been on CPAP for quite a few years and 2 years ago I developed severe constipation..........had to take miralax every 45 minutes to start the flow......also used prunes.......etc.......helped somewhat...........I had a recent CPAP study and found that I no longer had sleep apnea.........before using the CPAP I would go every day at the same time...........since stopping the CPAP I don't use miralax or prunes and go once again like clockwork........

User avatar
photonic
Posts: 261
Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2014 7:42 pm

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by photonic » Sun Aug 31, 2014 7:29 pm

damfuno wrote:Funny ........I just decided to look at CPAP and constipation ..........reason.........I have been on CPAP for quite a few years and 2 years ago I developed severe constipation..........had to take miralax every 45 minutes to start the flow......also used prunes.......etc.......helped somewhat...........I had a recent CPAP study and found that I no longer had sleep apnea.........before using the CPAP I would go every day at the same time...........since stopping the CPAP I don't use miralax or prunes and go once again like clockwork........
This is fascinating. I am not taking any meds. I too found my very regular clock work BMs changed the first week I started xPAP and now have to use psyllium power and force fluids every day or I get absolutely impacted. My sleep MD said he has nor heard of it, but here we have a similar report. Mechanism of possible causation: Who knows!

I will get a checkup colonoscopy to be sure I am not developing a blockage. God forbid.
ResMed AirCurve 10 ASV
8 years with F&P Oracle mouth mask now changing to
F&P Evora Full with S-M size
Hozer hose management device (a miracle!)
OSCAR software

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: CPAP use and constipation ? related to dehydration

Post by chunkyfrog » Sun Aug 31, 2014 10:30 pm

Extreme constipation could be a symptom of colon cancer. It was for my baby brother.
He delayed going to the doctor, and we lost him less than 2 years after diagnosis.
He was only 52. We will miss him. This is how a person dies from embarrassment.
Not a pretty way to go, either.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her