Resolving Nasal Pillows Problems. HELP!

[vintshave]

I have been on APAP for a long time. My pressures are on the high side (avg around 16). For the last several months, I have been using a FP full face mask. Seal is decent and my AHI is generally below 1.5. The problem is that I wake up around 40 times a night with horrible dry mouth. The humidifier doesn't help at all. I also suffer from vivid nightmares (I don't know if this is related). This happens every night. This hasn't been a problem throughout my entire CPAP use history, but it has been for months.

So I had the bright idea yesterday of ordering a nasal pillows mask and a chin strap to keep my mouth closed. I've been testing it out tonight while awake. I can feel my stomach, chest (I have a hiatal hernia) and pretty much my entire digestive system being filled with air. My ears also pop. This did not happen at all with the full-face mask.

Am I doing something wrong? Is there anything I can adjust to get the nasal pillows solution working properly?

John

[Wulfman...]

Are you using software to monitor your therapy?
If not, that would be a good place to start.

Also, go up to the Search line and do a forum search on "aerophagia".......ingesting air in the stomach.
Lots of discussions and there is no "magic bullet" to fix it. It depends on the user and their therapy settings and equipment.


Den

.

[vintshave]

I have the dreammapper software. By the numbers, my apnea is under control with the machine, but the quality of my sleep (waking up with drymouth 40 times a night) is awful. That's the problem I was trying to solve by switching to nasal pillows so as to not have my mouth blasted with air all night.

[Wulfman...]

I have the dreammapper software. By the numbers, my apnea is under control with the machine, but the quality of my sleep (waking up with drymouth 40 times a night) is awful. That's the problem I was trying to solve by switching to nasal pillows so as to not have my mouth blasted with air all night.

I would suggest getting Sleepyhead software (it's free) and look at what's going on during the night. I'm not aware whether DreamMapper shows all the events throughout the night........Sleepyhead does.
If you're using a range of pressures, it could be that the pressure changes could be causing problems when the pressures rise.
Maybe switching to a fixed pressure may help.
Without seeing detailed reports, it's hard to say.

Den

.

[vintshave]

OK, I downloaded, installed and imported data into sleepyhead. What should i be checking for?

[Wulfman...]

Here are a couple of links that may help. The bottom one is from the "Stickies" from the front page of the forum.

https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead/shorganize

viewtopic/t88983/Pugsys-PointersSleepyH ... Hints.html

I'd say take a look at what the pressure graph is doing during the night, the leakage lines, events......and just in general, view what's going on through the night.
Remember that with pressure ranges, the machine will trigger increases primarily on Flow Limitations and Snores.


Den

.

[jtravel]

If your AHI is 1.5 with treatment than it's very likely that sleep Apena is not causing your other sleep problems that your experiencing.
You need to keep in mind that Sleep Apena is just one of many sleep problems one may encounter.
Dry mouth usually indicates that your mouth breathing. Even when using the Full face mask you can still be breathing thru your mouth.
If you have the Humidifier at the highest setting and your still having dry mouth it may be time to try using a Throat spray or lozenge.
I have used these with good results https://www.walmart.com/ip/OraCoat-Xlyi ... t/27255382
They can be stuck to your gums and provide relief all night. I used Two for best results.
With the Nose pillows all the pressure is going directly up your nose instead if being distributed between your mouth and nose with the full face mask.
It will take some time for you to become accustomed to the difference but the good news is we normally adapt.
If the chin strap does not work and you experience large leaks thru the mouth then the nasal pillow mask will not work for you.
Your sleepyhead Data graphs will show if your experiencing large leaks or not.
Read up on how to organize the graphs and how to post them here so that they can be reviewed by our resident experts.

[Janknitz]

It sounds like you are mouth breathing in your ff mask. A chin strap won't necessarily stop that if you aren't sealing your airway properly with your tongue.

First, make sure you are sleeping with your tongue on the roof of your mouth (practice all day!) and that your lips are staying sealed. A small, vertical piece of surgical tape from just under your nose to your chin may help.

If you have sinus issues that are causing mouth breathing because of nasal congestion, you'll want to take care of that.