Dyspnea and CPAP use?

[Julie]

Leave your max setting high (the default is 20), but your low of 4 is almost impossible to breathe at and you should raise it to 6 or 7.

The ADHD meds could be keeping you awake as well even if you are half asleep and not conscious of it - most of them are stimulants but if you talk to your pharmacist (first) and then take info to your GP, you may be able to change them for something less problematic.

Oh, and get rid of the calendar and let the info below it show up.

[Janknitz]

Who is assessing your dyspnea? Is it your primary care doctor, or have you been referred to a pulmonologist or cardiologist? Have you done overnight pulse oximetry since you've had that symptom?

[Susancpv1]

I haven’t had it looked at, really. I told my sleep doctor and he basically shrugged and said he had no idea. He also said the numbers look great on my sleep (I don’t think he looked too deeply) so he said no need to adjust pressure. I’ve only had the dyspnea when using the CPAP and it stops when I stop using it. So I thought maybe the pressure had something to do with it. But I don’t know to interpret the data so I can’t say for sure. Thanks for your input! Maybe I should see a pulmonologist? But I do feel like it’s associated with the CPAP so I’d like to work with that first (I’m broke, and while I have insurance, the sleep studies I did were still expensive).

[Susancpv1]

And if someone can explain why my pressure bounces around so much, that would be great! Thanks!

[Pugsy]

And if someone can explain why my pressure bounces around so much, that would be great! Thanks!

I suspect the flow limitations are playing an important factor in your pressures fluctuating so much.
It's a pretty active flow limitation graph. Are you experiencing much nasal congestion if any???
Flow limitations are a major part of the auto adjusting algorithm function....FLs are the early warning signs that the airway is trying to collapse...and the algorithm is written to increase the pressure when FLs are present in the hopes of preventing further airway collapse.
This image shows the FL graph. Yours isn't horribly horrible and I have seen much worse but it is ugly enough to be causing those changes in the pressure.

https://imgur.com/a/26lkjSq

To give you an idea what a FL graph looks like that isn't active...here's one of mine

[Susancpv1]

Thank you, @Pugsy! Do you have any suggestions for keeping the FLs under control?

[Pugsy]

Thank you, @Pugsy! Do you have any suggestions for keeping the FLs under control?

Usually more baseline pressure is the trick to reducing FLs (assuming not related to nasal congestion).
Normally doesn't take a lot though..1 maybe 2 cm is usually enough to kill them off or reduce significantly. I don't really worry about them much unless they are creating a problem or someone isn't sleeping well and then I will try to kill them just to see if it improves sleep quality or how they feel during the day.

They don't always grow up to be full grown OAs but they can still disturb sleep in some people. There's a reason the machine wants to kill them...they are considered precursors to the airway collapsing and even if it doesn't collapse to the point of earning a flag...they can create problems.

So I don't try to eradicate all of them...just maybe clean up the FL graph so it isn't so ugly. Mine is never totally clean nor do I strive for that goal.

Now if the FL graph is ugly from nasal congestion (cold, allergies, etc) then more pressure isn't likely going to help because the flow limitation is actually caused by something that more pressure won't help with. Instead people have to try to open up the nasal passages somehow and go about reducing the FLs by reducing the nasal congestion in the normal ways we deal with nasal congestion.
Nasal rinses, sprays, OTC meds, etc.

[Susancpv1]

Ok, thank you! I will try adjusting the bottom number up and see if that helps. I don’t have terrible congestion. I usually use Flonase just before bed to keep it in check. I really appreciate the help!

[Susancpv1]

I have increased the baseline pressure on my CPAP hoping it would help with the pressure bouncing around so much. I don't know if it takes time for it to change or if I am being impatient. I definitely feel more energetic today but I am still having the shortness of breath (I have recently had a stress test and bloodwork, and my heart is in good shape). Should I keep adjusting or wait it out? Also, what does the upper red line in the pressure data indicate? Thanks in advance!

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Screen Shot 2020-01-16 at 11.38.13 AM.png (462.71 KiB) Viewed 916 times

[joeljjk11]

Try increasing your humidity. I increased the humidity on my machine a few days ago and my dyspnea is gone. For whatever reason probably from the medications I take and my body chemistry, I need high humidity. You may require more humidity also.

[Susancpv1]

Thank you, @joeljjk11! I will definitely try that!

[matthewb]

Thank you, @joeljjk11! I will definitely try that!

Hi there! I just found your posts here and it sounds EXACTLY like what I'm exiriencing. Did you ever get this figured out? My sleep dr says what Im experiencing isnt from the cpap. My family doctor and my cardiologist gave me a clean bill of health but this all started when I started cpap therapy 9 months ago. It makes me feel miserable and I have ZERO energy to do anything. I'd love to hear if anything has changed for you.