Exhaling forcefully in sleep

[hbananas]

My husband and I both have OSA and sleep with CPAP machines. He has my former machine, a single level CPAP with expiratory relief settings available. He has the relief set to the maximum, so it goes from a 9 to a 6 when he exhales.

When I am awake and he is asleep, his breathing often sounds something like " i n h a l e , EXHALE!!!!" Since I used to sleep with his machine, I know it senses when you start exhaling, and that's when it kicks in with the flex. I told him it sounds like he's fighting to exhale. Awake, I showed him how to change that setting, and he definitely preferred maximum help.

There isn't any holding of his breath at the end of his slow inhale. He doesn't grunt or moan, so it doesn't sound like catathrenia. Whatever sleep stage he's in, if I speak to him or jostle him, he startles so much he practically levitates. Pre CPAP he sounded a little like that during bad dreams. A subtle, gentle nudge can make him breathe normally for a breath or two.

I am considering trading machines with him for a while. Mine is an auto flex with software, but I run it as a CPAP with exhalation relief, because that's what was prescribed, and I actually prefer it that way. When I changed doctors, prior to having a new sleep study, she had me set it to auto with upper and lower limits set 2 CM above and below my prescribed pressure of 11. It turns out, 11 was the most-used pressure, so we stuck with it. It was later confirmed in the overnight study preceding the daytime multiple nap study that told her I have idiopathic hypersomnia

Before putting him through a new study, does anyone have a similar experience or suggestion? Thanks

[Jay Aitchsee]

He is wearing a nasal mask? Not exhaling through his mouth?
Where does this sound seem to be coming from? Did it just start?
It doesn't sound as if it disturbs his sleep?
It could be just the normal sound of his therapy with this machine. When you were using it, you wouldn't have heard it.
If you wanted to see what was happening and/or get comments on the effectiveness of therapy, you could download the SleepyHead software from here:
https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead
https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead/shorganize
https://sleep.tnet.com/reference/tips/imgur
You haven't said what machine he has, I assume ResMed with EPR. If you post the model, someone can tell you for sure if it is compatible with the software.

[Julie]

His sig line says Intellipap + Swift nasal.

I wonder if he's been seen lately by a neurologist with a sleep sideline... his slow inhales - whatever the exhales end up as - might be due to e.g. bradycardia or something similar and I'd want to get it checked out. He also may have some (other?) neuro. issue if you consider that his exhales or sudden wakings (by you) are extreme.

[Jay Aitchsee]

His sig line says Intellipap + Swift nasal.

Yes, I assumed that was hers. He's using her old one.

He has my former machine, a single level CPAP with expiratory relief settings available.

[Julie]

Good pt - I missed it.

[Chevie]

You miss a lot in your haste to post before Pugsy can.

[Goofproof]

He is wearing a nasal mask? Not exhaling through his mouth?
Where does this sound seem to be coming from? Did it just start?
It doesn't sound as if it disturbs his sleep?
It could be just the normal sound of his therapy with this machine. When you were using it, you wouldn't have heard it.
If you wanted to see what was happening and/or get comments on the effectiveness of therapy, you could download the SleepyHead software from here:
https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead
https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead/shorganize
https://sleep.tnet.com/reference/tips/imgur
You haven't said what machine he has, I assume ResMed with EPR. If you post the model, someone can tell you for sure if it is compatible with the software.

It doesn't disturb his sleep, she does by poking him awake! He may have been having a good dream, surely there are worthwhile problems to solve, just not using the software would be a big one to fix. Jim

[Lucyhere]

You miss a lot in your haste to post before Pugsy can.

+1

[Lucyhere]

You miss a lot in your haste to post before Pugsy can.

+1

*This was recently deleted by "someone" (I wonder who) , so I've posted it again.

[Lucyhere]

You miss a lot in your haste to post before Pugsy can.

+1

*This was recently deleted by "someone" (I wonder who) , so I've posted it again.

**Deleted a second time... reposted a second time. I would bet a lot of money it wasn't Pugsy who deleted it!

[Uncle_Bob]

You miss a lot in your haste to post before Pugsy can.

The forum name needs to be changed to cpappugsy.com

[hbananas]

Hi, and thanks for your comments. Hubby has the Resmed Escape II that formerly was mine. It doesn't have any data capabilities. His mask is a Respironics Comfort Gel (discontinued) and his pressure is 9.

His apnea was diagnosed and his CPAP was prescribed by a pulmonologist. He is inhaling and exhaling through his nose. Maybe that's just what is normal for him. I didn't mean to imply he inhales extra slowly. It sounds normal. I just wanted to emphasize that he exhales faster and with force. He started CPAP in 2010, and he maybe had a follow-up appointment a year or so later but nothing since.

[Lucyhere]

You miss a lot in your haste to post before Pugsy can.

The forum name needs to be changed to cpappugsy.com

+1

[Lucyhere]

You miss a lot in your haste to post before Pugsy can.

+1

*This was recently deleted by "someone" (I wonder who) , so I've posted it again.

**Deleted a second time... reposted a second time. I would bet a lot of money it wasn't Pugsy who deleted it!

***Deleted a third time... reposted a third time. I think this might be a record on the forum.

[Jay Aitchsee]

Hi, and thanks for your comments...

Sorry, I really don't have a clue. I'm not even sure what you mean, exactly. You say he exhales faster. Faster than what? Faster than he inhales or faster than he used to? You also say he exhales "with force". I'm not sure how you determine that. Since he's been on CPAP since 2010, I take it this just started? Could it be the mask?
You mention you have software and a data capable machine, why not trade with him for a night, capture the data to see if it reveals anything and see if his breathing sounds or seems different with a different machine?