New to this, and I'm concerned...

wozzy · Post by **wozzy** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:07 am

Hi. I'm Kelly. I'm 20 years old. I just got my CPAP yesterday and I'm concerned about a few things.

I got my first sleep test a few months ago, a diagnostic test, which said I had moderate sleep apnea. I did, however, have a cold during the test and I couldn't breathe out of my nose for the majority of the night.

I don't snore. I'm not really the typical sleep apnea candidate.

I got another sleep test last week with a CPAP, and they said it helped. I picked up my CPAP yesterday, and I was having a lot of trouble last night.

I know it takes awhile to get used to, but I'm pretty sure I have a deviated septum. Because of that, my left nostril is almost always plugged, and when I lay down, it gets much worse. When I laid down with the CPAP, I couldn't breathe at all. I'm not sure if this will get better because I definitely have a nose problem.

I didn't even meet the doctor who said I need a CPAP, so I was never able to talk to anyone about my nose problem or my cold during the first test. I just think that, being so young, there might be another solution, such as fixing my nose, that would help me more than a CPAP. I don't particularly want to use nasal sprays for the rest of my life just so I can breathe through a CPAP.

Also, is there any way to make the air coming out of the CPAP less stuffy? The stuffy air made my nose block almost immediately.

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:19 am

Hello Kelly, which machine and mask are you using?

wozzy · Post by **wozzy** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:20 am

I just updated that, but I also have a 2nd mask (my dad thought it was a good idea?), a ResMed Mirage Swift Nasal Pillows System.

I have the same problem with both of them.

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:26 am

I would think the Swift would be a better choice for you. As far as the air being stuffy, perhaps the humidifier temp is set a bit too high, although I wouldn't think too much humidity would block your nose. Give your system time to adjust, and try the Swift, it should help keep your nostrils open, it sure does mine!

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:29 am

I will add my 2 cents (which may not be much more than that) and I am sure someone else will pipe in.

You show your humidifier and mask but not the machinie. You might want to put that on. Also you don't say what your pressure is.

I find that if my humidifier is up too high the air gets "stuffier". Also a pressure very low can make it hard to breath. I don't like less than 7 or so or I feel like I can't breath. Even if your pressure is higher, what is your ramp? Did they set it at 4? Not many can breath at 4. Easy to change or just not use it.

I also find that I breath better through my nose with the nasal pillow type system. I haven't tried a nasal mask, but have used a full face one and would think it is similar.

I like the jets of air shooting up my nose.

I used to think I was a major mouth breather, and when I lay down in bed I got stuffy. I was a nasal spray junkie for years and a taker of antihistimine/decongestants.

I stopped the nasal sprays years ago cold turky when they were causing more issues than they were solving. Since I started using my swift, I find that I don't need the oral antihist/decong anymore.

So my point is, maybe humidifier is too high (in the summer -- at least in the US) and maybe a different interface would help as well as checking your pressure and ramp setting. While I am not an expert a tons of interfaces as some on this forum are, the one you show does not seem to be overly popular here on this forum. It also seems to be one of the cheaper ones (maybe why they gave it to you?).

I would consider trying a different mask.

I also did not see the sleep doc that read my results. But if I was worried about a deviated septum (someone correct me if I am wrong), I might seek out the advice of an ENT (EAR NOSE AND THROAT) doc which I wonder if these sleep doc's who read sleep studies are or aren't. So I would ask your regular everyday doc about a specialist to evaluate your nose further.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, nasal pillow, swift, Ramp

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, nasal pillow, swift, Ramp

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, nasal pillow, swift, Ramp

wozzy · Post by **wozzy** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:39 am

I thought I listed my machine...I guess I don't really know what is what, but it seems like they are combined into one. All I have is the CPAP series machine and the masks that plug into it. I don't think the humidifier is a separate unit, but maybe it is?

My air pressure is only 6, and my ramp is set at 4. And my humidity is set at 2.5. I put it down to 2 for a little while, but that seemed to make it worse.

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:46 am

Try shutting off the ramp, in my experience, it made things worse. I would up the humidity setting to 3 and see how it goes.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:51 am

My apologies. Your picture is indeed an integrated CPAP/Humidifier. I just am not familiar with that one and when I clicked on it I read the title too quickly.

But, you do have your ramp set to the lowest the machine can go. I know many (including myself) cannot breath at that level. I coudn't even tolerate your normal pressure since I would feel like I am suffocating.

You probably don't have exhale relief on this machine, but with your pressure I am not sure that it really matters much (I am at 13).

I would consider not using the ramp, and maybe ask your doc about whether you could raise your pressure a tiny bit (maybe 1) to see if you could breath better. As I said, I need 7 to feel like I can breath maybe others have their opinion.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:02 am

As Snoregirl says, If I had been your Dr. I would have wanted you to use a Full Face Mask, trouble breathing is hard bit it's the norm for a lot of us.

WillCunningham · Post by **WillCunningham** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:05 am

I experianced a similar stuffy feeling using the heated humidifier. I got a loaner machine that did not have humidification and I felt dry and scratchy and genrally uncomfortable with no humidificaiton. I received my new machine and powered up it's humidifier and experianced that super stuffy feeling. I also got some moisture condensing in my mask which made me feel like I had a runny nose. I was running with my humidifer set to 1 on the heat scale (it goes to 5 on my model). That was still causing stuffyness (it has been really humid in my area lately) so I turned the heat off totally. The air still gets humidifed by being run over the water, but the water is not heated so it does not become as moist or stuffy.

With any heat it was too stuffy, with out any water at all it was to dry. Finding the balance was the key for me...perhaps that will be the case with you as well.

Good Luck!

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:42 am

To address another part of your post.

I would question the results of your sleep study pretty closely, especially since you had a cold and your resultant titration pressures were pretty low. I have been through two sleep studies, neither with a cold but I am not clear how they can get valid results in that situation. Sounds like "get 'em in the door and out the door" to me.

If you have a confirmed diagnosis of OSA, with your pressure being so low and with your youth it might behoove you to get a referral to a good (perhaps more than one) ENT to see if surgery might help you, particularly nasal surgery. It may not permit you to be machine free but it may permit you to get along without nasal sprays etc. There is no harm in exploring it so long as you go slow and think it through before actually doing it.

All that being said, there are plenty of folks on the forum that do not fit the "profile" and still do have OSA and at levels like yours so I wouldn't get my hopes up too high. There are also plenty of folks here who battle nasal congestion with greater, and lesser, success through cortisone sprays, antihistamine sprays, nasal irrigation and full face masks.

I am far from 20 (way, way too far) but I too have a deviated septum and struggle with one nostril shutting down often, especially when I tussle with one allergen or another. I will be having problems from now until December when I will get about 5-6 months of relief. I irrigate, use Flonase (generic) and Astelin. Right not none of that works and I am battling the new Hybrid so I can mouth breath.

Hang in there.

David