New CPAP User with some questions

Hello everyone,

I just received my equipment 2 days ago and have some initial questions and I guess expectations that need to be set. I got a ResMed Autosense 10 Autoset machine and a ResMed Quattro Air full face mask. I requested the full face to try, because I sleep with my mouth open and thought this would be the best solution.

I am also using the humidifier which I was really looking forward to, but don't feel like it is really working, but I'll get into that. First off, is it normal with a full face mask to feel somewhat like a puffer fish when the pressure is high? I feel my lips are splayed out and my cheeks inflate with the air. While it does not hinder breathing and the system does respond when exhaling with lower pressure, it just feels like my lips and mouth has had a major workout when I wake in the morning (and when it wakes me during the night, although the second night was better than the first). Are these just normal things you have to adjust to with a full face mask?

I have a question about humidification. The first night, I started out on a 3, then sometime during the night, bumped it up to a 5, but when I wake up, my mouth and gums are so dry. I was expecting to feel more moist air coming from the mask. I know the humidifier is working, because there was less water in the tub the next morning. Last night I went all out and put it on the highest setting of 8 expecting to feel water on my face. It still seemed like the same amount of moisture (or lack thereof) and had the dry mouth again this morning. When i checked the tub, it was a good bit warmer with even less water, so I know it did increase the setting. What gives here? Am I expecting too much here? I do not have the heated tubing, just the normal plastic tubing.

Thanks for any help! Have a great day!

Unfortunately sometimes maximum humidity delivery isn't enough to counter the drying effects of mouth breathing.
Some people just have mouths that dry out easier than others. Maybe it's their meds...maybe just their body...maybe it's other health conditions in play. We see that complaint all the time here on the forum. The humidifier was really designed to help the nasal mucosa and not the much larger oral cavity.

I don't know how much difference in humidity delivered would be available if you used the heated hose with your machine.
It would be worth checking out though.

ag4sm@scovilletech.com wrote:my mouth and gums are so dry

Some of us use this - http://www.drugstore.com/orajel-dry-mou ... tid=183812

"puffy lips and cheeks" are normal. Try to get used to it. I probably sleep most of the night with my cheeks "puffed-up". It helps with the mask sealing. If the mask is giving like a "puffer fish" effect.... this is good. This means that the mask is not too tight. It's suppose to inflate a bit. Looks like you are off to a good start.

Sheriff

ag4sm@scovilletech.com wrote:Hello everyone,



I am also using the humidifier which I was really looking forward to, but don't feel like it is really working, but I'll get into that. First off, is it normal with a full face mask to feel somewhat like a puffer fish when the pressure is high? I feel my lips are splayed out and my cheeks inflate with the air. While it does not hinder breathing and the system does respond when exhaling with lower pressure, it just feels like my lips and mouth has had a major workout when I wake in the morning (and when it wakes me during the night, although the second night was better than the first). Are these just normal things you have to adjust to with a full face mask?

Puffed cheeks were quite normal with me when I first started therapy, especially if my lips parted slightly during use.

I have a question about humidification. The first night, I started out on a 3, then sometime during the night, bumped it up to a 5, but when I wake up, my mouth and gums are so dry. I was expecting to feel more moist air coming from the mask. I know the humidifier is working, because there was less water in the tub the next morning. Last night I went all out and put it on the highest setting of 8 expecting to feel water on my face. It still seemed like the same amount of moisture (or lack thereof) and had the dry mouth again this morning. When i checked the tub, it was a good bit warmer with even less water, so I know it did increase the setting. What gives here? Am I expecting too much here? I do not have the heated tubing, just the normal plastic tubing.

Thanks for any help! Have a great day!

Some of us just tend to have dry mouth while using our machine. It gets worse if you are using high pressures. I bought a heated hose, and installed it on my machine. This seemed to help quite a bit, but did not totally relieve dry mouth. I keep the humidity cranked up as high as the machine will allow with the heated hose, and leave the hose set on the lowest setting, 1, that does not turn it completely off. This allows more humidity to get to the mask, rather than condensing in the tube. Over a period of time, it seems my mouth has adjusted, but some nights I still wake up with stuck together mouth parts. Use Biotin, oralgel, mouth guards, mouth taping, whatever it takes to help you get use to the therapy. It will get better over time. Good Luck!

My puffed cheeks decreased as I got used to Cpap and breathing with my tongue at the roof of my mouth just behind my upper teeth. For the dry mouth I also use the Oragel for dry mouth.

Did someone mention puffer fish? My avatar says it all

Sheriff Buford wrote:"puffy lips and cheeks" are normal. Try to get used to it. I probably sleep most of the night with my cheeks "puffed-up". It helps with the mask sealing. If the mask is giving like a "puffer fish" effect.... this is good. This means that the mask is not too tight. It's suppose to inflate a bit. Looks like you are off to a good start.

Sheriff

Thanks everyone for the great advice. Seems like I am on the right track. Last night was more comfortable, so I think I'm getting there.

Thanks all!