Uhoh. 6 months of good sleep and now this.

[dans]

I've been using CPAP for about 8 months, the last 6 months have been great - using a ResMed S9 APAP with humidifier and Swift FX nasal pillow mask. No troubles with the mask, no face irritation, and (usually) 7 good hours of sleep per night. Pressure starts at 9cm and ramps up from there, usually to 14cm or so. No problems with mouth breathing, no need to tape my mouth, etc.

About 10 days ago I came down with nasal congestion and a chest cold. I tried the usual remedies - saline spray, higher humidifier setting, etc. but had very little luck breathing through my nose. Switched to a full face mask which I rarely use. I have a hard time getting it adjusted right, stopping leaks, and falling asleep. Used it for about half a night then switched back to the nasal pillow mask. Eventually got my sinuses unclogged enough to breathe OK and sleep.

The congestion eventually passed and now I'm pretty much back-to-normal breathing through my nose. However, I am dead tired all the time. Just like before I started CPAP. Last night was what I consider a normal 7 hours of sleep with the nasal mask on, everything working as it should, but I woke up tired and that continued throughout the day.

I'm wondering if I picked up a bad habit of mouth breathing when I was congested that still continues now? The APAP reports an AHI of 1.8 which is a little bit high for me, but not by much.

Here's a report of the last few months of APAP use - spanning the time before the cold (most of February) to the point where I got the cold (last days of February/first days of March).


There are some nights with very high leak rates, I think that on some nights the hose popped out of the mask and that's what you're seeing on the graph. Maybe my mask is getting old? Don't know. I know that last night the mask and hose stayed in place, yet I'm still tired.

Any thoughts on how I can get back to feeling well rested? Thanks!

[Julie]

Hi, I think you may need to try a FF mask again. And, incidentally, next time you catch a bug, try turning the humidifier down instead of up, it can make a big difference to congestion.

[Uncle_Bob]

Now that you say your congestion is under control and from looking at your report i would say you have a leak issue that needs to be addressed. How many times have you replaced those pillows on the swift FX? Resmed pillow quality has deteriorated to the point that some people are only getting 1-2 months per pillow before they start to collapse overnight causing leaks. You have some leaks up to 44. The S9 will try and compensate with a pressure response that may be causing you some arousals during the night.

Another possibility you may be moving around more during the night for whatever reason (illness, allergies etc) and the tiny lightweight swift LT is being easily moved around your face under the weight of the hose causing the pillows to dislodge resulting in leaks.

If you suspect mouth leaking you could try taping your mouth. Thats how i found out i was mouth leaking after a while. Then i found out my mouth leaks were due to my jaw dropping during the night, PapCap chinstrap from pursleep fixed that and now i do not have to tape my mouth closed.

Good luck.
UB

[ozij]

I don't see that big a difference in leaks before and after the cold.

Common cold complications
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold- ... plications

A chest cold (bronchitis) affects your body's ability to get the oxygen it needs, and may leave you feeling, as you described it "dead tired" even when you're symptom free.

If it were me, I would go to my PCP.

[dans]

Thanks for the replies. I went to sleep very early last night, used my full face mask, and got about 10 hours of sleep with the mask on. I feel a bit better today although still not 100%. I'm going to do a few more days with the full face mask and see how it goes. Meanwhile, I called my DME supplier (Restoration Medical, in Brooklyn NY) about a new nasal mask and they cannot supply me with replacement masks as my insurance carrier (United Healthcare) has dropped them. I need to find a new DME supplier in the NYC area. Anyone have a recommendation?

[BlackSpinner]

I don't see that big a difference in leaks before and after the cold.

Common cold complications
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold- ... plications

A chest cold (bronchitis) affects your body's ability to get the oxygen it needs, and may leave you feeling, as you described it "dead tired" even when you're symptom free.

If it were me, I would go to my PCP.

Yes you can also develop what is commonly known as "walking pneumonia". I know several people who had that for months before being diagnosed, it does destroy lung function so you should have it checked out.

[CruzTerri]

Thanks for the replies. I went to sleep very early last night, used my full face mask, and got about 10 hours of sleep with the mask on. I feel a bit better today although still not 100%. I'm going to do a few more days with the full face mask and see how it goes. Meanwhile, I called my DME supplier (Restoration Medical, in Brooklyn NY) about a new nasal mask and they cannot supply me with replacement masks as my insurance carrier (United Healthcare) has dropped them. I need to find a new DME supplier in the NYC area. Anyone have a recommendation?

Call United and ask them for a list of approved providers, that should be your first step Good Luck to you.

[dans]

Now that you say your congestion is under control and from looking at your report i would say you have a leak issue that needs to be addressed. How many times have you replaced those pillows on the swift FX? Resmed pillow quality has deteriorated to the point that some people are only getting 1-2 months per pillow before they start to collapse overnight causing leaks. You have some leaks up to 44. The S9 will try and compensate with a pressure response that may be causing you some arousals during the night.

This was it. I had never replaced the pillows in 6 months of use. I switched to a new set of pillows and they felt completely different (i.e., they don't collapse!) I had forgotten what the pillows feel like when new. Now I'm getting actual rest, all is well. Thanks!