just used apap machine for the first time

krassus · Post by **krassus** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 11:04 am

After a bit of an ordeal with my pulmonologist's office and the medical device supplier I got a ResMed s9 AutoSet machine. The nose mask that I got with it says "Wisp" on the side, but I am not sure what the specific model number is. The strap says "philips respironics"

Anyway it seemed to work pretty well!

I imported the data from the SD Card into Sleepyhead and it says I am having a RHI of 0.3 which is a dramatic improvement from the 60 I was experiencing when I had my hellish sleep study.

I was able to sleep on my back for the first time in years.

One odd thing that happened three times that I remember in the night, I would wake up and my cheeks were getting blown up like balloons. I had a chin strap on to stop myself from breathing through my mouth. I guess this means that the machine was trying to clear an obstructive apnea, but was failing and the pressure was trying to come out my mouth?

Anyway overall this was not as hard to adjust to as I thought it was going to be. One sad thing my cat is afraid of the machine, so she was making a weird howl. Not sure what her problem is, since the machine is really pretty quiet.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 11:20 am

Just wondered if you're aware that back sleeping provokes many more apneas than side or front sleeping, and your machine has to work harder to deal with them.

krassus · Post by **krassus** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 11:27 am

Julie wrote:Just wondered if you're aware that back sleeping provokes many more apneas than side or front sleeping, and your machine has to work harder to deal with them.

yes. I couldn't sleep on my back at all before because of the obstructive apneas - The nose mask that I have seemed to keep the best seal on my face when I was sleeping on my back though, so I figured if it is fitting well and dealing with the OSA, then it probably is fine that way.

I feel like when I was trying to sleep on my side I was getting slight leaks from the corner of my nose up into my eye area. I am not sure if it was actual leaks or if it was just the "blowhole" or whatever you call that thing on the front that is supposed to let out air when I exhale.

I am going to experiment more with it tonight. I would prefer to sleep on my side if I could, if only out of habit.

djhall · Post by **djhall** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 1:22 pm

krassus wrote:One odd thing that happened three times that I remember in the night, I would wake up and my cheeks were getting blown up like balloons. I had a chin strap on to stop myself from breathing through my mouth. I guess this means that the machine was trying to clear an obstructive apnea, but was failing and the pressure was trying to come out my mouth?

It happens to me too. The machine works by using pressure to inflate your airway and push the air passages open. Your mouth is part of those air passages and the pressure can become high enough to start pushing out your cheeks. I don't think it is a side effect of anything other than needing a high pressure to keep you breathing.

kaiasgram · Post by **kaiasgram** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 1:28 pm

djhall wrote:
krassus wrote:One odd thing that happened three times that I remember in the night, I would wake up and my cheeks were getting blown up like balloons. I had a chin strap on to stop myself from breathing through my mouth. I guess this means that the machine was trying to clear an obstructive apnea, but was failing and the pressure was trying to come out my mouth?
It happens to me too. The machine works by using pressure to inflate your airway and push the air passages open. Your mouth is part of those air passages and the pressure can become high enough to start pushing out your cheeks. I don't think it is a side effect of anything other than needing a high pressure to keep you breathing.

There is a very sophisticated medical term for what you're describing -- chipmunk cheeks.
No, really, that's what we actually call it here. You can do a search on chipmunk cheeks and find some suggestions on how to deal with it.

library lady · Post by **library lady** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 5:20 pm

I am a side sleeper but usually spend at least part of the night on my back. I do think leaks are greater when side sleeping, but I solved the problem with mask liners. Some leaks still happen, but they don't bother me now. As a mouth breather, I need a FF mask. At my sleep study they started me on a nasal mask, and very quickly switched me to the FF. The O2 vent holes do bother me but I am adjusting to the blowing that comes from them. Just had my Medicare/Insurance compliance test the other day, and all is well. Good luck to you in your adjustment.

RogerSC · Post by **RogerSC** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 5:53 pm

kaiasgram wrote: There is a very sophisticated medical term for what you're describing -- chipmunk cheeks. :lol:
No, really, that's what we actually call it here. You can do a search on chipmunk cheeks and find some suggestions on how to deal with it. :)

When you put it that way, sounds like cutting back on nuts and seeds might help *smile*.

kaiasgram · Post by **kaiasgram** » Sat Mar 22, 2014 7:31 pm

RogerSC wrote:
kaiasgram wrote: There is a very sophisticated medical term for what you're describing -- chipmunk cheeks.
No, really, that's what we actually call it here. You can do a search on chipmunk cheeks and find some suggestions on how to deal with it.
When you put it that way, sounds like cutting back on nuts and seeds might help *smile*.

*smile back*

just used apap machine for the first time

just used apap machine for the first time

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