starting CPAP aint easy

My cousin just got a resmed airsense 10. She was diagnosed with apnea during cardiac clearance for a surgery last year but it has not been treated until now.

I tried out the machine for a 3 hour nap and woke up so stuffed up I couldn't breath and my nose ran like a faucet for two days after it finally cleared. So no more apap for me. But I'm not important since I have no apnea and was using it just for fun.

She has no such problems but after a couple of days is having chest pain and shortness of breath during the day. Classic heart attack symptoms but she has never hat heart trouble. Online research says breathing against the machine can cause chest pain as a result of muscle strain.

I'm wondering if anyone else had similar experience with chest pain. I'm thinking maybe easing into the machine by using it every other night to start would make it easier. Any thoughts on that?

I'm also wondering if using intermittently rather than every night might stimulate some natural improvement so she can eventually get off the machine. Is that totally wishful thinking or are some people able to use apap as a temporary crutch and improve naturally?

-John

Colonel-Cactus wrote:I'm thinking maybe easing into the machine by using it every other night to start would make it easier. Any thoughts on that?

Personally I think this makes it harder to get used to PAP therapy: You're right back at the start of the process every night that you use the PAP. It takes time to get used to this therapy and taking time off does not help you get used to it.

She has no such problems but after a couple of days is having chest pain and shortness of breath during the day. Classic heart attack symptoms but she has never hat heart trouble. Online research says breathing against the machine can cause chest pain as a result of muscle strain.

and

I'm wondering if anyone else had similar experience with chest pain.

Yes, a lot of people have some muscle soreness for the first few days to the first couple of weeks. I remember I was quite sore during the first week when I was prescribed a CPAP at 9cm, which is not a particularly high pressure.

But my pain did not feel like chest pain or nor did it involve any shortness of breath. If there is anything that even vaguely resembles the symptoms of a heart attack, your cousin should seek emergency care just to be safe----particularly since you said that her OSA was diagnosed during cardiac clearance for a surgery.

I'm also wondering if using intermittently rather than every night might stimulate some natural improvement so she can eventually get off the machine. Is that totally wishful thinking or are some people able to use apap as a temporary crutch and improve naturally?

Nope. It doesn't work that way. Sleep apnea is a chronic condition and PAP does not cure this condition. It manages as long as you use the machine every night, all night long. Basically every time you sleep without the PAP you're letting the apneas and hypopneas occur. In other words, PAP allows a person with OSA sleep in a normal, apnea-free manner as long as you use the machine. You don't use it, and you're pretty much right back where you were before you started PAPing.

Colonel-Cactus wrote:She has no such problems but after a couple of days is having chest pain and shortness of breath during the day. Classic heart attack symptoms but she has never hat heart trouble. Online research says breathing against the machine can cause chest pain as a result of muscle strain.

I'm wondering if anyone else had similar experience with chest pain. I'm thinking maybe easing into the machine by using it every other night to start would make it easier. Any thoughts on that?

I'm also wondering if using intermittently rather than every night might stimulate some natural improvement so she can eventually get off the machine. Is that totally wishful thinking or are some people able to use apap as a temporary crutch and improve naturally?

-John

your cousin should be here, rather than having questions and advice filtered through you, no offense, but we've all played "telephone" before, and know how details get lost and altered in translation.

your cousin should be here, rather than having questions and advice filtered through you, no offense, but we've all played "telephone" before, and know how details get lost and altered in translation.

I agree. I'm sure she'll be posting soon and get way more benefit by being part of the community than having me as a intermediary. I'm just helping her get started.

She's just been through a 2 year battle with cancer and is used to me being the consigleire because she was too sick to do research and make decisions. She's doing great now and we are picking up the medical odds and ends that went ignored because of more serious issues. I'm still functioning as a crutch in that area although I'm needed less and less as she gets stronger and reclaims her independence!

Nasal issues, congestion, stuffiness, etc. may have been caused by a high humidifier setting, and I wonder if your cousin has the same problem. Newbies often think the humidifier is a mandatory part of therapy, but it isn't, and if local climate and conditions in their homes are humid enough, a high setting may not be necessary and in fact some people (self included) don't need the humidifier at all... something to think about, though I am not saying your cousin doesn't need it of course, not knowing anything about her situation.

Colonel-Cactus wrote:

your cousin should be here, rather than having questions and advice filtered through you, no offense, but we've all played "telephone" before, and know how details get lost and altered in translation.

I agree. I'm sure she'll be posting soon and get way more benefit by being part of the community than having me as a intermediary. I'm just helping her get started.

She's just been through a 2 year battle with cancer and is used to me being the consigleire because she was too sick to do research and make decisions. She's doing great now and we are picking up the medical odds and ends that went ignored because of more serious issues. I'm still functioning as a crutch in that area although I'm needed less and less as she gets stronger and reclaims her independence!

Really sweet of you to take care of your cousin during her health struggles. I will echo what RobySue said. It is extremely important to be consistent in her use of the machine. As in using it every time she sleeps. I have been at this for seven months. Life is WAY better. But for various reasons I missed two nights of therapy during that time. It took me two weeks of feeling terrible to get back where I was before I slept with the machine. If she is suffering significant oxygen deprivation during her sleep, that damages her organs. Including her heart. It takes the body time, with good sleep, to repair the damage. Missing therapy kind of puts you back to square one.

Stuffed nose is usually caused by humidity issues - either too much OR to little will have your nasal passages swelling. Once they swell they can trap bacteria in the folds and create a perfect environment for growth, causing sinus infections for some people.
My nasal passages LOVE humidity but get irritated when there is not enough. Other people are the opposite.

The chest discomfort caused by the work to exhale is common and also can feel like shortness of breathe - because it feels like you can't breathe with ease.

Cpap therapy doesn't cure - anymore then a brace on a leg cures. It simply helps you function properly.

...is having chest pain and shortness of breath during the day.

Not while using the machine? Doesn't This is the classic sign of what they call a silent myocardial infarction. Does she break into a sweat as well?

Go to the hospital and get it checked - sometimes you only get one set of warnings.