Stop the pain

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
User avatar
camiphoenix
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2015 1:42 pm
Location: Seattle

Stop the pain

Post by camiphoenix » Tue Nov 17, 2015 3:16 pm

I have had my AirSense 10 for about 10 weeks now, and have not even been trying to use it after the first couple nights. The problem is the discomfort. I can handle the pain across the bottom of my nose from the nasal pillow, but what I can't handle is the sinus pain. I can't fall asleep with the pain that comes from that air rushing through my nasal passages.

I tried fooling myself for a couple nights. I would go to sleep without it on and set an alarm for a couple hours later. I would wake up, put my "mask" on and fall back asleep. It would work to let me get a couple hours of sleep before the pain would be too much and would wake me.

I don't know where to go from here. I haven't really tried anything. My brain isn't working right anymore because of the brain damage I am getting from the OSA.

Please, someone make suggestions how I can prevent the sinus pain. I am running out of time.

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: Stop the pain

Post by chunkyfrog » Tue Nov 17, 2015 3:17 pm

Sinus pain is NOT from airflow; see your doctor!

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

User avatar
camiphoenix
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2015 1:42 pm
Location: Seattle

Re: Stop the pain

Post by camiphoenix » Tue Nov 17, 2015 3:23 pm

The pain is specifically being caused by the air flow going through my sinuses on the way in. It is only while the CPAP is on.

User avatar
Wulfman...
Posts: 6688
Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:41 pm
Location: Nearest fishing spot

Re: Stop the pain

Post by Wulfman... » Tue Nov 17, 2015 3:29 pm

camiphoenix wrote:The pain is specifically being caused by the air flow going through my sinuses on the way in. It is only while the CPAP is on.
Are you using heated humidity?
Do you have a heated hose?
If not, are you pulling the hose under the covers next to your body to warm the air?
What mask are you using? Sounds like nasal pillows. Maybe you need to try a full face of nasal mask to spread the air around instead of directly into your nasal passages.

Edit: OK, I see from rereading your first post you mentioned nasal pillows.
How about filling in your profile so we'll know what you're using and all of your settings.


Den

.
(5) REMstar Autos w/C-Flex & (6) REMstar Pro 2 CPAPs w/C-Flex - Pressure Setting = 14 cm.
"Passover" Humidification - ResMed Ultra Mirage FF - Encore Pro w/Card Reader & MyEncore software - Chiroflow pillow
User since 05/14/05

User avatar
camiphoenix
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2015 1:42 pm
Location: Seattle

Re: Stop the pain

Post by camiphoenix » Tue Nov 17, 2015 4:07 pm

Thank you for your interest. I have updated my profile to show my equipment.

User avatar
Julie
Posts: 19898
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:58 pm

Re: Stop the pain

Post by Julie » Tue Nov 17, 2015 4:14 pm

But you have not answered the questions about humidity - they're important.

User avatar
camiphoenix
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2015 1:42 pm
Location: Seattle

Re: Stop the pain

Post by camiphoenix » Tue Nov 17, 2015 4:23 pm

Sorry. You are right. I haven't addressed that specifically.

My unit has built in heated humidity.
I don't know if it is a heated hose. I know it has wires running through it.
I don't know what I have done with the hose while trying to sleep, whether it is close to my body or not.

From my sleep study, I have extreme oxygen desaturation while sleeping, which is deteriorating my brain. I don't have much memory left at this point, and am trying to get this CPAP thing to work before I can no longer be a functional member of society. I have lost most of the memories of my life and my family, and ability to make new memories is severely impaired. I am being erased. I don't know if I will ever get any memory back, but if I can stop the damage then I can keep on living at least.

User avatar
Julie
Posts: 19898
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:58 pm

Re: Stop the pain

Post by Julie » Tue Nov 17, 2015 4:57 pm

Ok I'll try to keep it simple - are you using humidity at all? Do you use it all the time (at what setting please)? Have you used it with other settings than what was set at the start? Do you always have the heat on? All those matter, because if e.g. you're using it all the time because you think it's 'therapy' as much as the air pressure is, you've been given the wrong info... it's only a convenience thing, to facilitate Cpap IF you like it and/or it helps with Cpap, but many people don't use it at all, or experiment with settings as too much humidity can cause congestion/cold symptoms for some (especially if you live in an already relatively humid climate/season, and some people need or like a higher setting. Sinus pain can be due to humidity settings, but only you can experiment with them to see what works for you (at least over a couple of nights in a row at high vs low or vice versa. If none of those make a difference, then either you've got the mask on too tight (happens all the time) or a latent sinus problem has shown up because you use Cpap... in which case you need to talk to your MD.

Sorry it ended up being a little longer than I planned!

User avatar
Wulfman...
Posts: 6688
Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:41 pm
Location: Nearest fishing spot

Re: Stop the pain

Post by Wulfman... » Tue Nov 17, 2015 5:07 pm

If you need a clinical/setup manual for your machine, you can download one with this link:

https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf


Den

.
(5) REMstar Autos w/C-Flex & (6) REMstar Pro 2 CPAPs w/C-Flex - Pressure Setting = 14 cm.
"Passover" Humidification - ResMed Ultra Mirage FF - Encore Pro w/Card Reader & MyEncore software - Chiroflow pillow
User since 05/14/05

User avatar
OkyDoky
Posts: 2870
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2014 5:18 pm

Re: Stop the pain

Post by OkyDoky » Tue Nov 17, 2015 5:14 pm

Does you hose look like this? https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... ve-10.html
If so it is probably on auto humidity. The manual link Wulfman gave you will show how you can change if you want to and have separate heat and humidity controls.
ResMed Aircurve 10 VAUTO EPAP 11 IPAP 15 / P10 pillows mask / Sleepyhead Software / Back up & travel machine Respironics 760

User avatar
zoocrewphoto
Posts: 3732
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:34 pm
Location: Seatac, WA

Re: Stop the pain

Post by zoocrewphoto » Tue Nov 17, 2015 5:19 pm

You may need a different style of mask. It could be that the nasal pillows are not fit properly and this causing the pain.

Or it could be that you need a completely different style of mask. I can breathe through my nose, but I hate the feeling of it. I don't feel pain, but I don't like it. So, I use a full face mask. While the air could go through my nose, it doesn't unless i intentionally inhale through my nose. You might that a mask like this will work much better for you. Even if you aren't normally a mouth breather, it may be more comfortable for you.

_________________
Mask: Quattro™ FX Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Resmed S9 autoset pressure range 11-17
Who would have thought it would be this challenging to sleep and breathe at the same time?

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: Stop the pain

Post by chunkyfrog » Tue Nov 17, 2015 5:27 pm

If you are ultra sensitive to moving air, perhaps a total face mask might do the trick.

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

User avatar
camiphoenix
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2015 1:42 pm
Location: Seattle

Re: Stop the pain

Post by camiphoenix » Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:00 am

Thank you everyone for the responses.

Julie: I haven't changed the humidity settings on my machine at all. They are on the default settings from when my distributor set it up according to my doctor's recommendations.

Wulfman: Thank you for the link to the manual. I have downloaded it and will be studying it at work today. I appreciate it.

OkyDoky: Yes, that is the hose my machine came with. I will consult the manual and start experimenting with the heat and humidity controls.

Zoocrewphoto & Chunkyfrog: I will try variations with the heat and humidity for a while to see if that helps, and if I am still having difficulty then I will switch up to another style of mask.

I am looking forward to experimenting with all of the information this group has provided me. I would have done so last night, but a storm took out our power. Hopefully power will be restored today. Thank you all.

tiredandscared
Posts: 333
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:47 pm

Re: Stop the pain

Post by tiredandscared » Wed Nov 25, 2015 12:39 am

What do your oxygen desaturation look like? Try mouth breathing, buy a full facial mask.

Funkdoobiest
Posts: 33
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2015 8:36 am
Location: Western NY

Re: Stop the pain

Post by Funkdoobiest » Wed Nov 25, 2015 1:02 am

Full face mask

_________________
MachineMask