Lung Problems, other questions, please help.

[cpapguru38]

Hi all!
Need some help here with some questions.

I've been on cpap therapy for about 5 months now. I use a pressure of 8.0 with a Cflex of 2. I use a nasal only mask.

Here is my problem and can anyone tell me if it is normal. I notice my lungs and chest area are still sore each morning. Not so much so that I'm in intense pain, but a "bruised/soreness" type feeling is always there. I was told by everyone this feeling goes away, but for me it has not.

I notice that when I have my mask on, if I "pinch" off the airflow by using the muscles above my tongue to stop the flow of air coming into my sinus and open my mouth, my lungs will drop and deflate like a balloon. So my lungs are pumped full of air when I'm using the machine. Is this normal?

Also, often times, because my lungs are filled with pressured air, it feels as if it is placing pressure up and around my heart. When I first go to bed at night, I will often experience palpitation, I'm thinking as a cause from this.

So, is it normal for the lungs to inflate with air like that? I understand how the therapy works using pressure to hold everything open while you sleep, but should my lungs be pressurized too?

Also, for lack of a better definition, my eyes and face are super puffy in the morning. It often looks like Mike Tyson had a few rounds with me. My eyes get super puffy and are glazed over like I'm hung over or something. Anything you can do prevent this?

I appreciate any reply's or advice anyone has. Responses, of "go see your doctor" will not work for me, as I lost my job and have no insurance.

Thanks!
Darin

[katcw]

It is so discouraging when you don't get any replies, so although I don't have complete answers for you, I thought I'd write. Before I began xpap therapy, I often had that bruised / sore chest (especially in back) feeling. After two months on therapy, I still get it sometimes but far less frequently. I don't know what that is about, and will ask my dr. next time I see her, but just want you to know you are not alone in this.

AS for your other questions, I hope others with more experience will get back to you soon.

[Slinky]

WE could start to help you IF we knew what CPAP brand and model you have and what mask you are using. There are LOTS of nasal cushion style masks.

It is good you know your pressure and C-Flex setting. You'd be surprised the newbies that don't even know that much! So we know, because of the C-Flex, that you have a Respironics brand CPAP, now we just need to know which model. Some are full data capable and if yours is that would be a blessing and a real help to us in helping you. I suspect tho, that like most newbies w/o advance education, yours is just a compliance data only CPAP.

I strongly suspect that 1] you have high leaks via your mask or mouth that is quite likely drivng your pressure up or 2] less likely, but possible, that your pressure setting is too high.

Most likely the puffiness and redness around and of the eyes are caused by mask leak in the eye area. If we can't get you another mask we're going to have to work on some other "cures" for the mask leaks around the eyes. One should NEVER tolerate leaks into the eyes.

You might try buying some Mack's Silicone Ear Plugs at the drug store. They are quite cheap. Take 1/2 of one and roll it in the palms of your hands to warm and shape it until it is like a rope or tape. Place this "tape" of silicon on your mask along the area your mask fits to the bridge of your nose. That should eliminate the leaks of the mask around your eyes. You may have to play w/this a bit to get it "just right". The Mack's should be good for 2-4 days before you have to replace it.

Hopefully, others will have some more or even better suggestions.

[Wulfman]

Hi all!
Need some help here with some questions.

I've been on cpap therapy for about 5 months now. I use a pressure of 8.0 with a Cflex of 2. I use a nasal only mask.

Here is my problem and can anyone tell me if it is normal. I notice my lungs and chest area are still sore each morning. Not so much so that I'm in intense pain, but a "bruised/soreness" type feeling is always there. I was told by everyone this feeling goes away, but for me it has not.

I notice that when I have my mask on, if I "pinch" off the airflow by using the muscles above my tongue to stop the flow of air coming into my sinus and open my mouth, my lungs will drop and deflate like a balloon. So my lungs are pumped full of air when I'm using the machine. Is this normal?

Also, often times, because my lungs are filled with pressured air, it feels as if it is placing pressure up and around my heart. When I first go to bed at night, I will often experience palpitation, I'm thinking as a cause from this.

So, is it normal for the lungs to inflate with air like that? I understand how the therapy works using pressure to hold everything open while you sleep, but should my lungs be pressurized too?

Also, for lack of a better definition, my eyes and face are super puffy in the morning. It often looks like Mike Tyson had a few rounds with me. My eyes get super puffy and are glazed over like I'm hung over or something. Anything you can do prevent this?

I appreciate any reply's or advice anyone has. Responses, of "go see your doctor" will not work for me, as I lost my job and have no insurance.

Thanks!
Darin

First of all, we don't know what kind of equipment you have. Obviously it's a Respironics machine (you indicated you have C-Flex) and you have a "nasal only mask".
Do you have a data-capable machine?
Since you use a nasal mask (as opposed to a full face mask), do you use something to seal your mouth shut (to prevent it from opening) while you sleep?
Ever wake up with a dry mouth?

Please fill out your profile with the exact equipment you have.

I really don't think that 8 cm. of pressure from a CPAP machine is enough to inflate your lungs without some help from your own chest muscles. It's supposed to be enough to splint your airway open to keep you from having many more apneas and hypopneas while you sleep.

I have some suspicions as to what the problem is, but I'll wait for your updated information and some answers to my questions.

EDIT: I see Slinky was also typing as I was......and her suspicions are the same as mine.


Den

[MoneyGal]

Not a doctor, but here is my answer: I suspect what you are feeling is not "lung" soreness per se, but muscle soreness related to the deep breathing that you are (now) doing (as your breathing is no longer sleep-disordered).

Many people with breathing issues, and many people in general, do not breathe deeply, using their diaphragm. Over time, this will cause the muscles involved in deep breathing to atrophy (and, if you have other lung issues, such as a history of pneumonia or asthma, can even cause lung tissue to atrophy, which is why people with severe asthma sometimes have lung lobes removed). However, (undisrupted) sleep breathing is quite different from daytime breathing, and will be deeper than your "regular" daytime breathing.

If this supposition is accurate -- and even if it is not! -- you could try doing deep breathing exercises. I sang in a choir for many years and did a LOT of breathing exercises and practice (even rebreathing exercises to sustain notes over long periods). Now I practice martial arts, which also involves deep breathing exercises. Yoga is another form of breathing exercise -- there is a specific yoga form, called pranayama, which focuses on breathing and breathing technique. In addition, a lot of chiropractic work, particularly network chiropractic, focuses on opening up breath pathways in the body. And there's even digeridoo playing, discussed here on this forum!

I don't know if any of that helps -- it's just what I thought of when I read your post. What you describe, in terms of "lung" soreness, makes me think it is diaphragm and dorsal (chest) muscles. A CPAP machine doesn't supply enough pressure to actually "inflate" your lungs -- you would need an 'iron lung' for that. The CPAP machine just overcomes the valve mechanism in your upper airway.