Large tongue base

chris_lucy@live.com · Post by **chris_lucy@live.com** » Sun May 24, 2020 12:04 am

Hello apnea sufferers. I too suffer, the cause is a 'large tongue base' according to my ENT. I need help with my CPAP pressure settings as my sleep clinic is unfortunately ignoring me. What are some common pressures used by people diagnosed with this large tongue base? I have an F&P NON-auto CPAP with a full face mask, I can ware it all night fine but have not raised it above 12 and have had not had good results

Dog Slobber · Post by **Dog Slobber** » Sun May 24, 2020 7:40 am

There really is no "common" pressure setting.

What you'll have to do is take average out your AHI for a week, increase you pressure, then take the average again, compare if your obstructive oriented apneas go down, repeat until they stop.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Sun May 24, 2020 8:07 am

chris_lucy@live.com wrote: ↑
Sun May 24, 2020 12:04 am
What are some common pressures used by people diagnosed with this large tongue base?

There is nothing special about a diagnosis of "a large tongue base". With obstructive sleep apnea, it is very common for the tongue base to be too large for the airway opening. Usually, it's actually that the jaw is not well developed. So, the tongue may appear too large, but the underdeveloped jaw is the problem.

chris_lucy@live.com wrote: ↑
Sun May 24, 2020 12:04 am
I have an F&P NON-auto CPAP

What is the exact model? Can you still return this machine? You would be much better off with a ResMed AutoSet.

chris_lucy@live.com · Post by **chris_lucy@live.com** » Sun May 24, 2020 5:21 pm

My jaw size is fine, nice and wide, it really is just my tongue, I find it comforting to know it is a common issue amongst apnea sufferers. Thanks Dog Slobber, I shall keep on with this battle. Higher pressures are so difficult to tolerate. ChicagoGranny, my CPAP is a F&P icon Plus, very old, I had to buy it second hand. I really hope I can get my hands on an Auto soon.

zonker · Post by **zonker** » Sun May 24, 2020 5:32 pm

chris_lucy@live.com wrote: ↑
Sun May 24, 2020 5:21 pm
My jaw size is fine, nice and wide, it really is just my tongue, I find it comforting to know it is a common issue amongst apnea sufferers. Thanks Dog Slobber, I shall keep on with this battle. Higher pressures are so difficult to tolerate. ChicagoGranny, my CPAP is a F&P icon Plus, very old, I had to buy it second hand. I really hope I can get my hands on an Auto soon.

keep an eye out here. forum member lsat often has machines for sale.

in fact, you can send him a private message and see what he has.

Dog Slobber · Post by **Dog Slobber** » Sun May 24, 2020 5:35 pm

chris_lucy@live.com wrote: ↑
Sun May 24, 2020 5:21 pm
my CPAP is a F&P icon Plus, very old, I had to buy it second hand. I really hope I can get my hands on an Auto soon.

Keep looking on the online buy and sell sites. Favourite machine her is the Resmed AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her. An Auto machine that works with OSCAR is almost a necessity for optimizing your therapy.

chris_lucy@live.com · Post by **chris_lucy@live.com** » Sun May 24, 2020 5:50 pm

These are some snippets of my level 2 sleep study I had recently, the final analysis has not been completed yet. Waiting on results..
Only issue is im in New Zealand and its hard to get anything sent here as our boarders are still semi closed

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Sun May 24, 2020 6:28 pm

You might want to contact Monash Hospital in Melbourne - excellent sleep clinic, doctors, etc... if it would be any easier for you to deal with there.

chris_lucy@live.com · Post by **chris_lucy@live.com** » Mon May 25, 2020 12:27 am

Thanks Julie. My sleep results came back today, turns out i do have sleep apnea, mostly hypopneas? and I had lots of help from the sleep clinic here. Looks like my luck is changing. I have had to get my mum to do most of the talking on my behalf, people never seem to listen to me, so when she calls she gets a much better response. So embarrassing, as if being tired 24/7 isn't embarrassing enough

chris_lucy@live.com · Post by **chris_lucy@live.com** » Mon May 25, 2020 12:29 am

These were my results

chris_lucy@live.com · Post by **chris_lucy@live.com** » Mon May 25, 2020 12:31 am

Its obviously not as bad as some but i am only 29 and very slim so i would hate to see what its like by 40

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Mon May 25, 2020 4:51 am

Hi - from your results it looks possible that your hypopneas and snoring might be addressed by positional changes IF you tend to be on your back overnight vs your side or front. If that's the case (position) we can try to help you get used to side sleeping to see what reports look like then... just let us know (in this thread). Most reports such as the one you showed us do say if the patient slept supine (on your back) or otherwise, but your report only said it was recorded, but did not say which position you slept in.

It is now thought that OAS may be the cause of weight gain rather than the other way around, so your weight should not be a factor - more likely your anatomy (narrow jaw and/or airway), and if your airway is narrow (which Cpap corrects) and you back-sleep, your tongue blocking your airway then would cause the events.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Mon May 25, 2020 6:44 am

chris_lucy@live.com wrote: ↑
Mon May 25, 2020 12:31 am
Its obviously not as bad as some but i am only 29 and very slim so i would hate to see what its like by 40

Yep. OSA is a progressive condition. Glad you have figured this out. You should do well getting a good CPAP therapy, but an Auto machine that works with OSCAR is almost a requirement.

BTW, do you have 32 straight, uncrowded teeth?

chris_lucy@live.com · Post by **chris_lucy@live.com** » Tue May 26, 2020 12:47 am

I was hoping it was simply positional based apneas but most of my apneas happened during side sleeping, although this is how i normally sleep for most of the night so no surprises there, i do also have them on my back, it could be worse if I sleep more on my back but right now it happens regardless of position. Yes i will push to be put on an auto CPAP asap. Thanks for everyones input. I appreciate all and any feedback

chris_lucy@live.com · Post by **chris_lucy@live.com** » Tue May 26, 2020 12:49 am

My sleep issue did happen around the time of having a tooth extracted but my teeth are pretty straight

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