Occasional Blockage During Exhalation

[Jdansti]

A couple of times I've woken up because I can't exhale. This only happens when I'm on my back. It's not a problem with exhaling against the CPAP pressure. The pressure doesn't bother me. My tongue or soft pallet blocks my throat when this happens. After I wake up, I can feel he blockage come and go as I exhale. When I first started CPAP years ago, my doctor said that the CPAP should keep my airway from closing off during inhalation and exhalation. Has anyone else had this happen?

My CPAP pressure is 14. The EPR is turned off. I don't see my machine listed below. It's a Resmed S8 Elite II.

[Julie]

Can you not make a real effort to not back sleep (which provokes more apneas) by putting pillows behind you, wearing a backpack (temp of course) to discourage it, any number of creative ways to deal with it if at all possible.

[Jdansti]

Thanks. Good ideas. I try to stay on my side, but some of those ideas might keep me from rolling onto my back.

[palerider]

I don't see my machine listed below. It's a Resmed S8 Elite II.

you'll need to put it in the equipment comments.

[ChicagoGranny]

A couple of times I've woken up because I can't exhale. My tongue or soft pallet blocks my throat when this happens. After I wake up, I can feel he blockage come and go as I exhale. Has anyone else had this happen?

Of course. Almost all of us have. What you just described is an obstructive apnea.

When I first started CPAP years ago, my doctor said that the CPAP should keep my airway from closing off during inhalation and exhalation.

Years ago your doctor may have had your CPAP machine settings at a good point to provide good therapy and prevent most apneas. In the meantime, you body has changed (Your machine may also be pumping differently.) and your settings may need tweaking.

It's easy to tell someone to sleep on their sides. But for many people, it is not so easy to sleep on their sides all night long every night. And there is no need to if your machine settings are configured to be effective while sleeping in any position.

What are your thoughts on getting a more up to date machine? Current machines have SD cards which can be read with common SD card readers. You can read the data and use the free Sleepyhead software to analyze what is going on and tweak your machine settings appropriately.

There is good help in this forum to lead you through the entire process.

[Jay Aitchsee]

If you don't want to get a new machine (though it's probably about time) you could, for about $55, get a card reader, if you have the smart card that came with your machine, or a USB adapter if you don't, to download the data from your machine into ResScan (ResMed data Software). Unfortunately, you won't be able to use SleepyHead with your machine, but ResScan is available at no cost.

[Jdansti]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'm due for another sleep study. I checked the pressure on my machine this morning using a u-tube manometer to make sure it was putting out 14 cm-H2O and it was. But since it's about 8 years old, it's probably time for a new one. I'll talk to the doctor about that.

[ChicagoGranny]

But since it's about 8 years old, it's probably time for a new one. I'll talk to the doctor about that.

It's prudent to have a backup machine. Keep your old one for this purpose.

Before getting another machine, make sure you run the exact model number by the forum for opinions.