CPAP side effect?

Hard to explain...but since starting on CPAP therapy...it seems something is more loose inside. You know how on TV someone is laughing and then accidentally snort like a pig? Not that act, but the mechanics behind the act seem to happen a lot easier now.

Just sitting and relaxing my body, will cause me to 'snore'. But the part I dislike the most is when I am getting close to sleep it happens, vibrates my mask and snaps me awake.

Also, I will start the night well, but about two hours into sleep, I take the mast off because I just can't breath. I have built up too much congestion I guess and it gets too difficult to fight the machine so that I can breath and sleep

1. What are your pressures set to?

2. Do you have the humidifier cranked all the way up - it can definitely cause congestion... some of us don't use it at all because our locale is pretty humid to begin with, or only use it certain times of the year.

Pressure set to 10. It's on auto for the temp/humidity. It's winter in MO, which means low humidity. I am from TX and like my humidity.

Humidity has always helped me breath better. It's one of the reasons I love the Philippines.

But good point. I will crank up the humidity and see if that helps.

[quote="GoodGuyQ"] ...the part I dislike the most is when I am getting close to sleep it happens, vibrates my mask and snaps me awake... about two hours into sleep, I take the mast off because I just can't breath. I have built up too much congestion I guess...
Do you use a ramp feature that starts your pressure off low? Those who snore or have events immediately upon dozing could avoid that by having the pressure at a therapeutic level before falling asleep. That could mean not using ramp at all, or shortening the ramp time and/or increasing the ramp pressure. If using an auto machine, increasing the minimum pressure could help. The waking at 2 hours in may mean your pressure is inadequate for the conditions at that point. If playing around with humidity (both directions) doesn't resolve the congestion, you may need to look at other measures or see if a bit more pressure would blow through until you figure it out. There is a tipping point where more pressure can cause more trouble than it fixes (like leaks, air in the belly, etc), so it's not always the answer. Good luck figuring it out.

I think you misunderstood me - I was saying that too much humidity can cause congestion, but by all means try raising or lowering it and see how it goes.

Julie wrote:I think you misunderstood me - I was saying that too much humidity can cause congestion, but by all means try raising or lowering it and see how it goes.

And so can too low a humidity - it is very individual. There is no one right way.

Try tinkering with the humidity level as was recommended. Are you opening your mouth at night? If you are too congested, you may need to go to a full face mask. You can mouth-breath with a full face mask but not with nasal pillows.

Sheriff