Blowfish / Chipmink Cheeks

[Treehorn]

I had to move back to my Opus nasal pillows because the full face mask didnt fit well and cut my nose open. With the nasal pillows I need to tape but I get this blowfish effect.

I am wondering what exactly causes this?

The reason I ask is that I almost made it trough a whole night without this happening but then all of a sudden at 5am I had it happened many times. (I actually had a dream I was talking to friends and my cheeks were blowing up - I finally woke to realize what was happening - very funny)

I don't have auto so my pressure is constant. I am wondering what happens to change things and cause it to happen. Am I having OA's that redirect the air into the mouth? Or maybe it was going on all night but I didnt realize until I was roused in the AM.

At around 5:30 it got so bad I blew the tape out.

With time will I adjust to CPAP and find this may go away?

[twokatmew]

I get this too on some nights, though I've never blown my tape out. I think what happens is that my tongue relaxes and lets CPAP air into my mouth, blowing my cheeks up like a balloon. I'm on straight CPAP at a pressure of 10cm. I suspect it's worse at higher pressures, but I don't know what the solution is. I haven't been able to find a FFM that fits me well enough to wear all night. The best fit is the F&P 432, but that's still too big. I keep it for emergencies.

[Rebecca R]

I had this too a few times, and never gave it much thought.

I don't think as severe as yours. I haven't used tape yet, but I woke up because...hmm... how do I describe this? Waking because of air pushing on my lips and making them vibrate. It felt like I was preparing to blow bubbles under water.

It happened while I was about to doze off, but awake this morning. I felt like I had two choices, swallow the air or open my mouth. I didn't want to do either, so I just got out of bed.

I woke a few weeks ago in a panic because it felt like I had an airlock built up between my throat and mouth--couldn't breath in or swallow and the cpap air flow felt like it was suffocating me. I had to take the mask off in order to release the air enough to breath out, before I could take a breath in. I am not sure if that was the same, but it sure woke me up.

Sorry, I know this info doesn't help, since I am too new to this to offer any advice, but it shows me that there don't seem to be any side effects that others haven't experienced as well.

R

[eloise1253]

I, too, have experienced this to a small degree (nasal mask). So far, I have not minded too much, because I find that it keeps my mouth shut, where before, my open mouth snoring was SO bad that it's a wonder my husband has stayed with me so long! I will confess to "pop-popping" it out, bt not being disturbed.

What tends to wake me is the rain-out...not using the humidifyer because of this; it happens a lot, but I am thinking the humid weather this summer affects it. Hope it settles down in the fall!!

[SaltLakeJan]

Treehorn,
Wish I knew the answer to chipmunk cheeks. For me it has a lot to do the the UPPP surgery I had. But it isn't consistent. I have had those fun blow-outs too. My Doctor changed me to Fisher & Paykel 608 with heated hose & extra humidification. I hade other sinus and nasal issues that factored into his decision.

I have tried turning the humidification down on my F&P. I get the excess air in my cheeks immediately and turn the humidification back up. If you use a heated humidification you might try that.

Good luck . . . it is one of the small annoying things like rain out, keeping your equipment clean, etc. that goes alone with apnea therapy.

Jan

[Marietjie]

Try less pressure - it helped for me (from 11cm - 10.5)

[Rebecca R]

I get the excess air in my cheeks immediately and turn the humidification back up. If you use a heated humidification you might try that.Jan

You are saying that if you turn the humidification up, it helps with the chipmonk problem? I had turned mine down because of rainout--but I actually did find a way to deal with rainout last week on this forum. I think under "Our Wisdom." I took a small hook--I used a nail and elastic band the first night-- and put it in the wall, about 2 feet over my head and threaded my hose through a scrunchie and looped the scrunchie through the hook. It works great. I am going to turn the heat higher up 2night.

Treehorn, do you have a humidifier?

[SaltLakeJan]

Rebecca said:

You are saying that if you turn the humidification up, it helps with the chipmonk problem? I had turned mine down because of rainout

Hi Rebecca, I said it helped me. I have had the UPPP surgery (An ENT reams your throat out with a laser, cuts out the uvula and all excess tissue. Consequently, it leaves a big wide throat, and after that surgery CPAP doesn't work as well. I can't say how it would work on you. Probably worth a trial. I see you are a fellow-suffered with PLM's & RLS. Unfortunately, they do have a tendency to keep your legs dancing all night.

Routing the hose over your head does help with rainout. If that doesn't take care of it, you can consider getting a hose cover. Karen, who is a member makes them. You can find her at WWW//. .pad-a-cheek.com. I haven't used one, but many of the members have mentioned how they help eliminate rain out.

Good luck, most of the small things that bug you in cpap therapy, can be eliminated.

Jan