CPAP set too high?

[Keeska]

How do you know when your pressures are set too high? Is it detrimental if the pressure is too high? For 2 months now, my CPAP air pressure has been blowing out my cheeks, and now my mouth is open when I've never in my entire life been a mouth breather, and it's leaving my mouth totally dry. Seriously, totally dry. I'm now starting to feel discomfort in my lungs. I have recently lost 40 pounds. Any clues?

[Keeska]

FYI, I've been using CPAP since 2010.

[Okie bipap]

With the amount of weight you havelost, it is possible you can do with a little less pressure. The only way to know is to try it and see how you do. "Chipmunk cheeks" is a common complaint during treatment. It is harmless and as long as it doesn't disturb your sleep, it is nothing to worry about. The dry mouth is caused by mouth breathing. The usual methods of correcting this is with a chin strap or firm foam cervical collar. Personally, I could never find a chin strap I liked well enough to wear at night, so I use a cervical collar when sleeping.

[Julie]

Actually, the first go-to is a full face mask vs nasal alone... there seem to be few chinstraps that work well for most and collars don't address open lips, just jaws.

[babydinosnoreless]

There is also taping and scruncies and maybe even other methods that people have come up with to avoid full face masks.

Personally after a few weeks of leaking masks, farting noises, and general discomfort I would stand on my head or do back flips to avoid a full face mask.

Have I mentioned I'm clausterphobic?

[LSAT]

How do you know when your pressures are set too high? Is it detrimental if the pressure is too high? For 2 months now, my CPAP air pressure has been blowing out my cheeks, and now my mouth is open when I've never in my entire life been a mouth breather, and it's leaving my mouth totally dry. Seriously, totally dry. I'm now starting to feel discomfort in my lungs. I have recently lost 40 pounds. Any clues?

What machine are you using? What are your pressure settings? What mask are you using? What is your average pressure?

[Keeska]

Resmed something-or-other. Full face mask. Originally pressure was set at 9, then a year ago when my 1st machine died, I did another sleep study that showed I needed it set to 13. The machine is set by the DME and as I'm in the US, I can't access the program. I've got an appt. for another titration Tuesday night. I used the nasal pillows for the first 8 years and loved them...until I developed a sensitivity to silicone that left my nose raw to the point I had to go to a semi-full-face mask which was also silicone and made the skin under my nose raw, so I went to the big full face mask which, BTW, was also silicone, but I cover all the silicone with moleskin and problem solved.

I know the pressure must be too high because if I open my mouth inside the mask, I get that wind-blown effect. I swear, I don't have a problem keeping my mouth closed, but I can't fight this wind. It wakes me up every few minutes and I just hate that. And my lungs are starting to hurt. I'll let you know how the titration goes. I'll have to trot myself down to the DME to have it re-set. I also can't wait to get rid of the chipmunk cheeky, wind tunnel effect. I'm really glad the doctor's office could get me in for titration so quickly.

[palerider]

Resmed something-or-other.

viewtopic/t172378/Sticky--Newbies-PLEAS ... STING.html

[zoocrewphoto]

Resmed something-or-other. Full face mask. Originally pressure was set at 9, then a year ago when my 1st machine died, I did another sleep study that showed I needed it set to 13. The machine is set by the DME and as I'm in the US, I can't access the program.

Actually, you can access your settings and data any time you want with free software. Read the sticky post at the top for newbies.

I know the pressure must be too high because if I open my mouth inside the mask, I get that wind-blown effect.

This is seems really odd. I use a full face mask because I sleep with my mouth open all night. My pressures are 11-17. After the first couple weeks, I stopped feeling the air flow. I have to put my hand in front of the mask to feel the exhaust to make sure it is on. You really shouldn't be feeling it blast you like that.

Are you getting bad leaks? Perhaps your mask isn't fitting right anymore? We do tend to lose weight on our faces.

[K5MOW]

Resmed something-or-other. Full face mask. Originally pressure was set at 9, then a year ago when my 1st machine died, I did another sleep study that showed I needed it set to 13. The machine is set by the DME and as I'm in the US, I can't access the program.

Actually, you can access your settings and data any time you want with free software. Read the sticky post at the top for newbies.

I know the pressure must be too high because if I open my mouth inside the mask, I get that wind-blown effect.

This is seems really odd. I use a full face mask because I sleep with my mouth open all night. My pressures are 11-17. After the first couple weeks, I stopped feeling the air flow. I have to put my hand in front of the mask to feel the exhaust to make sure it is on. You really shouldn't be feeling it blast you like that.

Are you getting bad leaks? Perhaps your mask isn't fitting right anymore? We do tend to lose weight on our faces.

I have to do the same thing. Sometimes I wonder if my machine is even on. I put my hand in front to feel the air. After years of use you get so used to it.

Roger

[kteague]

How do you know when your pressures are set too high? Is it detrimental if the pressure is too high? For 2 months now, my CPAP air pressure has been blowing out my cheeks, and now my mouth is open when I've never in my entire life been a mouth breather, and it's leaving my mouth totally dry. Seriously, totally dry. I'm now starting to feel discomfort in my lungs. I have recently lost 40 pounds. Any clues?

Few things for starters. It would help you get more targeted (thus helpful) replies if you could go into your profile and add your equipment. If your machine gives you data, you could probably do just as much for yourself with some guidance here as another titration would do. You may be able to use a lower pressure, but without data it's a guessing game.

The first few years of my treatment I used about every aid out there to deal with air in my mouth. Best thing I did for myself in that regard was training my tongue to stay suction sealed to the roof of my mouth. It is so second nature now that it stays there 24/7. To avoid breaking the seal, consider how you sleep. Make gravity work for you so your jaw isn't as prone to dropping. A firm flat pillow and side sleeping works well for ne. Jaw can't drop if the face is level. It can relax a bit but it can't drop. Also, if you are side sleeping with your face hanging over a bit off the edge of your pillow, usually this compresses the edge enough for your face to tilt slightly downward toward the mattress. Good position for gravity to help keep your tongue forward instead of falling back and breaking the seal. Plus, keeping your tongue out of your throat could possibly help you use a lower pressure.

A big congrats on the 40 pounds!

[djams]

Resmed something-or-other.

viewtopic/t172378/Sticky--Newbies-PLEAS ... STING.html

[cyberdreamer]

With the amount of weight you havelost, it is possible you can do with a little less pressure. The only way to know is to try it and see how you do. "Chipmunk cheeks" is a common complaint during treatment. It is harmless and as long as it doesn't disturb your sleep, it is nothing to worry about. The dry mouth is caused by mouth breathing. The usual methods of correcting this is with a chin strap or firm foam cervical collar. Personally, I could never find a chin strap I liked well enough to wear at night, so I use a cervical collar when sleeping.

What kind of cervical collar do you use? How uncomfortable is sleeping with one? Can you still use a regular pillow with it?

[Keeska]

I had another sleep study done and my pressures went from 13 to 10. The DME re-set my machine remotely (how convenient is that???). Breathing is so much easier now, and I'm back to sleeping through the night. Thank goodness!