Need some advice

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
Master Shake
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2004 4:31 pm

Need some advice

Post by Master Shake » Wed Oct 20, 2004 4:48 pm

Hello,

I have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea and was told I need a CPAP system. The technician at the sleep study said that I should consult with an ENT first, as I also have severe nasal congestion (both day and night). The ENT determined that I have a severe septum deviation and need surgery to correct it. He is also recommending that I get Somnoplasty done at the same time, as this might actually fix my sleep apnea problem. He said that the apnea might be caused by inadequate air flow due to the congestion and enlarged turbinates (normal medications do not help). Does anyone know if there is any truth to this or if it is just a sales pitch?

As a side note, the reason why I am hesitant to going the CPAP route is during the CPAP fitting night my overall sleep study, I had a very negative reaction to the CPAP mask. It made me feel like I was hyper-ventolating for the first 2 hours (it took more than 4 hours to get to sleep). After that, my congestion kicked in and I kept waking up because my mouth would open due to not being able to breathe through my nose. I know they have full nose & mouth masks available, but I also have Insomnia, RLS and am a very light sleeper. I also tend to sleep on my side and have heard that this makes it even more difficult to find a mask that is both comfortable and will stay on properly -- I basically do not belive I will be able to adjust to a CPAP system.

Any advice would be welcome.

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lindakay
Posts: 13
Joined: Fri Sep 10, 2004 5:43 pm

Need Some Advice

Post by lindakay » Wed Oct 20, 2004 5:39 pm

Master Shake: I am now using the Respironics nasal pillows, and if it weren't for them, I don't think I would be able to adjust to the CPAP either. They just fit into your nose and you don't have that claustrophobia or sore nose bridge from a mask. I think this is worth a try! I sleep on my side and have no trouble at all doing this.

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rested gal
Posts: 12883
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
Location: Tennessee

nasal congestion

Post by rested gal » Wed Oct 20, 2004 8:59 pm

Hi Master Shake,

I don't know how "techs" expect people with extreme nasal congestion to be able to breathe with a nasal mask on during the titration phase of a sleep study. Boggles the mind. No wonder you were having such a struggle with the mask, Master Shake. As if that weren't enough problem, add in that the initial pressure being used for the titration phase was probably a very low 4 or 5 (where people often feel starved for air even with no nasal problems!) and the tech perhaps keeping it down there waiting for you to go to sleep before upping it any - what a vicious cycle.

I'm no doctor or tech of any kind, but if I were you I'd get a full face mask (like the ResMed Ultra Mirage FF or the Fisher & Paykel HC431) so I could mouth breathe. You'd be surprised at how you will, indeed, be able to sleep on your side with a full face mask on. Despite the name "full face", an FF mask doesn't cover your entire face - just your nose and mouth. Sometimes it takes a bit of maneuvering to get your head situated nicely on the edge of your pillow, letting the mask kind of hang off over the edge. But yes, side sleeping is quite possible while using a FF mask, if that's what it turns out you need for easy mouth breathing instead of struggling to get air through a blocked nose. Heated humidification is a must with mouth breathing.

2tired
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2004 9:07 pm
Location: Arkansas

Post by 2tired » Wed Oct 20, 2004 9:23 pm

Hi,
You and I and who knows how many others have the same symptoms. Altho I was advised that the nose surgery was no guarantee of a fix. All your problems with light sleeping, rls, insomnia could be helped significantly with the right cpap treatment and rls medication. I did try the nose pillows, but it didn't last for me. Sore nostrils. Others love them. You need to write all your problems and complaints down and have a long talk with your sleep specialist. If you are lucky, as I am, you will get those problems significantly reduced. The sleep study can be and I think usually is a mess. But that is how they learn about your problems. sleeping on my side caused me the most grief also, but I have been using a mask that helps with active movers. Check around about that nose surgery - not an easy thing either.

Suserbec
Posts: 45
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2004 5:49 am
Location: Indiana

Post by Suserbec » Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:39 am

Hi,
I'm all for doing everything as noninvasive as possible at first. Surgery last! That's just my opinion. All of us who have OSA have experienced many a different diagnosis and have found after going on CPAP how many of our problems it solved. Give it an ernest try first and that might mean trying several different types of masks.

You know, some of us should become technicians after all the first-hand experience we have now! We would make good ones, huh?!!

Best of luck and use this forum.

We CARE!!
CPAP has saved my life!!

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JudyAnn
Posts: 195
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 8:32 am

Post by JudyAnn » Thu Oct 21, 2004 12:33 pm

Hi Master Shake,

Neither did I think I would ever sleep with all these "new bed buddies" especially on my face. I did conquer it but it took me 6 weeks to do it. I did start out on a CPAP with a Mirage Activa mask (very comfortable) and the constant pressure made me nuts, like I could not breath. My RT tried me out on an AutoPap (pressure increases only when you need it) and it worked like a charm.

I now (after 3 months) use the ResMed Autopap and have a ResMed Mirage Activa mask and the ResMed Swift Pillow system. I change off between the two but want to add to my mask collection which a lot of people on this list do.

DO NOT GIVE UP ON THIS. It will work if you give it all your patience, time and determination. Try to increase a little each night. If you would have told me the same thing when I first started, I would not have believed you. I feel so much better now. HANG IN THERE.

Judy