weird breathing issue

[momtoteren]

I have only been on the cpap machine 3 nights now, my pressure is at 13 , I noticed that I am having a little differcultly getting a real deep breath with or without the machine, but this has only been happening since I started using the machine. Also,when I have the mask on, I am doing a TON of burping. Also when I am not on the machine during the day Ihave noticed a LOT of yawning,even though I feel rested. Can anyone tell me any more about these issues or has anyone experienced anythinglike this??

[bdp522]

All of these things could be because your body just hasn't gotten used to the machine yet. It can take weeks to adjust to this new way of sleeping. Give it a bit more time.

Brenda

[kteague]

Hi. It would be helpful if you went into your profile and listed your equipment type, etc. Some setups control breathing differently than others, due to things like exhalation relief settings and how the different brands handle exhalation relief. I have read some postings where people felt they breathed differently even when off CPAP. don't know why. I do know I breathe more shallow when on my machine.

The burping - that's due to some air pushing past the closure at the top of your stomach. You might search under the term aerophagia or aerophasia. I have it pretty bad, and just haven't really tried to do anything about it. If it makes you really uncomfortable (mine hurts even in my back) you can see what others have done to help.

Yawning has been discussed too. It's going to take a while to where your therapy helps you recover from the time with untreated apnea. My yawning finally subsided when I started being consistent with my machine usage (I was a poster child for noncompliance - even sometimes with legitimate cause). How I wish I'd found this site earlier before I gave up on treatment and had to start over. Hang in there.

[JZ]

momtoteren,

I was short of breath for about three weeks after starting CPAP. I believe after reading about other people's experience that the reason was because I am a shallow breather. CPAP pushed air into parts of my lungs that did not usually get air and it make my lungs a little sore and strange feeling.

I'm guessing that could be what you are experiencing. Since I am not a health care professional, if you have any concern about your experience, I recommend you consult your doctor. Good luck. Hang in there.

Janna

[Juri]

Sounds like your diaphragm is perhaps weak making it difficult to breathe against a constant pressure of air, in this case CPAP. I suggest talking to you pulmonologist and see if BiPAP will be more suitable for you. BiPAP is a bi-level therapy which gives you a support with inhalation (breathing-in) part of your breathing cycle.

Juri

[Julie]

Hi, aerophagia is often relieved by lowering your pressure just a notch (not necessarily enough to affect your therapy), and yawning is pure and simple the body's grab for more air (or O2). I would talk to your sleep doctor about them.