OK, Now this is a weird one....calling all experts

[pat07011]

Last night after about 4-5 hours of sleep, I woke up with heart palpitations. Every time I started to fall back asleep, I woke up because air was coming "out" of one of my nostrils. Is it possible that I was having apneas that weren't splinting thereby causing the built up air to escape from my nose?

BTW, I'm still on CPAP waiting for the doc to approve APAP, so my pressure stays the same all night.

[krousseau]

The palpitations suggest that you were obstructing. Seems strange for a nasal mask-air escaping through the mouth yes-but out the nose-it would have to be going in one side and out the other-but the mask would be applying pressure to both nostrils. Which i guess could happen if you were obstructing in the naso-pharynx area. Got a sore throat or cold or severe nasal stuffiness??? Tonsils??? Adenoids??? How does your mask fit-do you have many leaks?

[Goofproof]

That does not compute, you show you are using a nasal mask. It's suppose to cover the nose,(both sides), air is forced into the throat area and force the airway open.

You can have mouthleaks that cause treatment failure, that can be taped or glued, to correct. Surely you aren't using the nasal mask over your mouth. If you get a Full Face mask it covers the mouth and nose at the same time. Jim

[Guest]

Goofproof (Jim), you're making me laugh surely I am not using the nasal mask over my mouth...too funny. I called Puritan Bennett tech support this morning and they said they if I'm opening my mouth (you've suggested this to me once before, Jim), the CPAP compensates by revving up and sending more air into the mask to keep the pressure steady. Maybe the air is so strong against my nose that I sensed it as coming out instead of in...also alot of air was being expelled through the vent. I don't want to use a chin strap because it's just another thing around my head and I'll still open my lips. You suggest taping or gluing...that creeps me out. I'd swear I don't open my mouth, but I guess I do and have to do something about it. What kind of glue do you use for your lips?????

[pat07011]

Whoops...forgot to sign in....I must be tired.....the guest is me...pat07011

[pat07011]

Hi krousseau
As far as I can tell, I have no mask leaks...in fact lately, I have it very tight to make sure of it. I do have some nasal stuffiness since using CPAP that seems to go from one nostril to the other. Tonsils are absent...got those out when I was a kid.

I spoke to tech support at Puritan-Bennett and they seem to think I'm opening my mouth causing the machine to rev up and send more air into the mask to compensate for the open mouth leak. I'm just assuming now that the big gust of air against my nose feels like air coming out instead of going in. I don't know. Calling doc today to see about APAP...maybe that will answer some questions.

I totally agree with you that the palpitations suggest obstruction...that's my biggest concern.

Thanks for input.

Pattie

[Goofproof]

I don't use anything, I've trained myself not to mouthbreath. The glue is Polident Strips or usually paper medical tape.

You must be feeling the cpap air going in not out. Also your P.B. tech, doesn't have a clue, yes the machine TRYS, to make up for the mouthleak, but there's only so much sand it can put in a rat trap. The leak can be bigger than the machine can cover, that's when you lose treatment, maybe he's under the impression that P.B. makes leaf blowers.

A Full Face mask, will make it so you get your treatment and not have to tape and yes for most people chinstraps are useless and can cause jaw problems. Jim

[Goofproof]

If you do get APAP, be sure it's one with good software, software is the key that tells up what's going on. If you do mouthbreath it may not be apparent as you might just be doing it while asleep and wouldn't know it. With the software it shows when the leaks happened and how the machine reacted to them. Jim

[pat07011]

Hey Jim

Thanks so much for all the info. I'm going to get those Polident strips today and try them. I spoke to a different DME the other day and they have an APAP with data software that they will loan me for a month. Waiting for doc to ok. I will call him again today.

As usual, you have me cracking up....leaf blowers!!!!!!

Have a good one!

Pattie