Stuffy nose, higher AHI and leak...only 1 hour on cpap!

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mzdawn74
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Stuffy nose, higher AHI and leak...only 1 hour on cpap!

Post by mzdawn74 » Sat Jul 04, 2015 11:23 am

Hello,

So last night was a total failure all the way around. I adjusted the humidity level to 2 because the night before I had a dry stuffy nose, and it was suggested to raise the level. On top of that it felt as if there was an excess amount of air coming out of the pillows when I inhale, so I also adjusted the pillow size. Well after about an hour I was so stuffy I couldn't even breath, felt like I was suffocating, and had to take the mask off. I laid there for a minute, adjusted the humidity again and attempted to go back to sleep to only again feel like I couldn't breath and took the mask off and slept without it for the rest of the night (4 hours). I have been awake since. I was just checking my numbers and my leak rate went to 20l/mn and my AHI increased to 3.7. What am I doing wrong??!!!

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Julie
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Re: Stuffy nose, higher AHI and leak...only 1 hour on cpap!

Post by Julie » Sat Jul 04, 2015 11:32 am

Sounds like just too much humidity going on and it's congesting your respiratory system. Do you have A/C in the bedroom, or an open window? Turn down the humidity and try either taping or a FF mask that'll keep your passages from drying out but not introduce more humidity otherwise from the environment. I don't use a humidifier at all, but in the past couple of wks it has rained (at night as well as in daytime) and I also couldn't breathe, so turned on overhead fans for a while and they helped. I don't have A/C and heat itself wasn't terrible.

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BleepingBeauty
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Re: Stuffy nose, higher AHI and leak...only 1 hour on cpap!

Post by BleepingBeauty » Sat Jul 04, 2015 11:44 am

mzdawn74 wrote:Hello,

So last night was a total failure all the way around. I adjusted the humidity level to 2 because the night before I had a dry stuffy nose, and it was suggested to raise the level. On top of that it felt as if there was an excess amount of air coming out of the pillows when I inhale, so I also adjusted the pillow size. Well after about an hour I was so stuffy I couldn't even breath, felt like I was suffocating, and had to take the mask off. I laid there for a minute, adjusted the humidity again and attempted to go back to sleep to only again feel like I couldn't breath and took the mask off and slept without it for the rest of the night (4 hours). I have been awake since. I was just checking my numbers and my leak rate went to 20l/mn and my AHI increased to 3.7. What am I doing wrong??!!!
Sorry you're apparently having such difficulty, but it's far from unusual in the beginning.

Some people find that higher humidity makes them more congested, and some want to mimic the tropics. All aspects of xPAP therapy involve trial-and-error with every individual (pressure needs, mask type and fit, humidity levels, etc.). Maybe try lowering the humidity level (or not turning the humidifier heat settings on at all, which is referred to as "passover humidity" because the air from the machine is just running over the top of the water in the humidifier, picking up less vapor). Some people choose to not use a humidifier at all. You could also consider taking a decongestant before bed.

Wear the mask and use the machine during the day, if you can (even for short spurts) while relaxing in front of the tv or reading. That will help you get used to the mask so it's not as foreign when you try to sleep with it. (You can also fiddle with the mask/headgear as much as you need to in order to get the fit right before actual bedtime. Just be aware that masks fit differently when you're upright than they do when you're lying down.) Ideally, adjust the mask fit while you're supine (on your back); then move your head around (side to side) to see if leaks appear, and make further adjustments if needed.

HTH
Veni, vidi, Velcro. I came, I saw, I stuck around.

Dx 11/07: AHI 107, central apnea, Cheyne Stokes respiration, moderate-severe O2 desats. (Simple OSA would be too easy. ;))

PR S1 ASV 950, DreamWear mask, F&P 150 humidifier, O2 @ 2L.

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BlackSpinner
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Re: Stuffy nose, higher AHI and leak...only 1 hour on cpap!

Post by BlackSpinner » Sat Jul 04, 2015 12:04 pm

Unless you are asleep AHI doesn't count. Every time we turn over we hold our breathe and it gets counted as an event. Awake breathing is totally different from sleep breathing.

Spend some time today practicing getting comfortable with the machine while watching tv.

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MarylandCPAPer
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Re: Stuffy nose, higher AHI and leak...only 1 hour on cpap!

Post by MarylandCPAPer » Sat Jul 04, 2015 7:17 pm

mzdawn, I sent you a link via private message that might be helpful with your congestion problems.

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Last edited by MarylandCPAPer on Sat Jul 04, 2015 8:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Started CPAP 12/18/09 Pressure 13. Changed to APAP 1/18/10, Pressure 10-16. 4/2014:Switched to AirFit P10 mask. PR System One REMstar Auto Series 550 with A-Flex for 5.5 years. 7/2015 to present: AirSense 10 AutoSet FOR HER. Range: 10-20

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Julie
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Re: Stuffy nose, higher AHI and leak...only 1 hour on cpap!

Post by Julie » Sat Jul 04, 2015 7:26 pm

FYI - Apap machines ALSO do Cpap mode, but the reverse is not true, so having an Apap gives you more options.

And pillows under your neck while on your back can push your head to your chest, cutting off your airway (which is why soft cervical collars are recommended for some people), and back sleeping provokes more apneas, so is usually discouraged.

Some antihistamine sprays are not recommended because they cause problems, so saline nasal rinses are suggested more often here.

Mary - This forum has very experienced and knowledgable people, and is sponsored by Cpap.com. To bring in, wholesale, the EasyBreathe stuff is not necessarily the best idea as it doesn't completely support what people here have researched and found to work well. It's one thing to suggest someone look at a link, another to put it down as part of the forum's info (especially from a commercial website). It isn't, even tho' it might have some good points. You're rather new here, so maybe wait a short time before laying out certain ideas (tho' I'm sure you otherwise have great ones ).

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mzdawn74
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Re: Stuffy nose, higher AHI and leak...only 1 hour on cpap!

Post by mzdawn74 » Sat Jul 04, 2015 8:06 pm

Julie wrote:FYI - Apap machines ALSO do Cpap mode, but the reverse is not true, so having an Apap gives you more options.

And pillows under your neck while on your back can push your head to your chest, cutting off your airway (which is why soft cervical collars are recommended for some people), and back sleeping provokes more apneas, so is usually discouraged.

Some antihistamine sprays are not recommended because they cause problems, so saline nasal rinses are suggested more often here.

Mary - This forum has very experienced and knowledgable people, and is sponsored by Cpap.com. To bring in, wholesale, the EasyBreathe stuff is not necessarily the best idea as it doesn't completely support what people here have researched and found to work well. It's one thing to suggest someone look at a link, another to put it down as part of the forum's info (especially from a commercial website). It isn't, even tho' it might have some good points. You're rather new here, so maybe wait a short time before laying out certain ideas (tho' I'm sure you otherwise have great ones ).
I'm confused...who is Mary? What is this about? I assume it's a mistake.

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MarylandCPAPer
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Re: Stuffy nose, higher AHI and leak...only 1 hour on cpap!

Post by MarylandCPAPer » Sat Jul 04, 2015 8:23 pm

I'm the offending Mary. I sent you a link via private message msdawn that may be helpful and deleted it from my post in this forum.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Have also used Opus 360, Swift LT for Her, Optilife, and Breeze Nasal Pillows masks.
Started CPAP 12/18/09 Pressure 13. Changed to APAP 1/18/10, Pressure 10-16. 4/2014:Switched to AirFit P10 mask. PR System One REMstar Auto Series 550 with A-Flex for 5.5 years. 7/2015 to present: AirSense 10 AutoSet FOR HER. Range: 10-20

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poppi2
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Re: Stuffy nose, higher AHI and leak...only 1 hour on cpap!

Post by poppi2 » Sat Jul 04, 2015 8:40 pm

MarylandCPAPer wrote:I'm the offending Mary. ....
You need to hang around for another 5.5 years.

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mzdawn74
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Re: Stuffy nose, higher AHI and leak...only 1 hour on cpap!

Post by mzdawn74 » Sat Jul 04, 2015 8:43 pm

MarylandCPAPer wrote:I'm the offending Mary. I sent you a link via private message msdawn that may be helpful and deleted it from my post in this forum.
Oh. Lol. I was like what is she talking about. I got the message. Thank you.

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avi123
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Re: Stuffy nose, higher AHI and leak...only 1 hour on cpap!

Post by avi123 » Sat Jul 04, 2015 9:01 pm

I am posting in your other thread

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mzdawn74
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Re: Stuffy nose, higher AHI and leak...only 1 hour on cpap!

Post by mzdawn74 » Sat Jul 04, 2015 9:45 pm

BleepingBeauty wrote:
mzdawn74 wrote:Hello,

So last night was a total failure all the way around. I adjusted the humidity level to 2 because the night before I had a dry stuffy nose, and it was suggested to raise the level. On top of that it felt as if there was an excess amount of air coming out of the pillows when I inhale, so I also adjusted the pillow size. Well after about an hour I was so stuffy I couldn't even breath, felt like I was suffocating, and had to take the mask off. I laid there for a minute, adjusted the humidity again and attempted to go back to sleep to only again feel like I couldn't breath and took the mask off and slept without it for the rest of the night (4 hours). I have been awake since. I was just checking my numbers and my leak rate went to 20l/mn and my AHI increased to 3.7. What am I doing wrong??!!!
Sorry you're apparently having such difficulty, but it's far from unusual in the beginning.

Some people find that higher humidity makes them more congested, and some want to mimic the tropics. All aspects of xPAP therapy involve trial-and-error with every individual (pressure needs, mask type and fit, humidity levels, etc.). Maybe try lowering the humidity level (or not turning the humidifier heat settings on at all, which is referred to as "passover humidity" because the air from the machine is just running over the top of the water in the humidifier, picking up less vapor). Some people choose to not use a humidifier at all. You could also consider taking a decongestant before bed.

Wear the mask and use the machine during the day, if you can (even for short spurts) while relaxing in front of the tv or reading. That will help you get used to the mask so it's not as foreign when you try to sleep with it. (You can also fiddle with the mask/headgear as much as you need to in order to get the fit right before actual bedtime. Just be aware that masks fit differently when you're upright than they do when you're lying down.) Ideally, adjust the mask fit while you're supine (on your back); then move your head around (side to side) to see if leaks appear, and make further adjustments if needed.

HTH
Thank you for the suggestions. I will continue to fiddle with all of these issues until I reach a level that is workable.