on cpap for 2 days, and hating it

auntiebeccaneedssleep · Post by **auntiebeccaneedssleep** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 1:33 pm

Hello. I finally got my cpap. I have a nose mask (full face and nose pillow were too much to handle) The problem is I am a mouth breather. I was warned about too much air in my system, so I will burp or let it out another way. This is driving me nuts. I can feel all the air in my system. Any ideas out there? At this point I am still very tired, and not feeling rested as I had hoped.

HappyHoser · Post by **HappyHoser** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:06 pm

Hang in there! Two days is still early in the adjustment phase. I am also a life long mouth breather (47 years). I use a chin strap to help "remind" my jaw and tongue to stay in the correct position. At first the strap needed to be fairly snug but now that everything has "trained" for a little while I only wear the strap loosely, mostly because it's over my ears so its quiet. The desire to swallow once the gear is on also seems to subside with time after popping your ears repeatedly. In my case, it took a couple of weeks to iron out the mask adjustments etc... The adjustment to the pressure came pretty quickly. Let us know more about your setup. Someone at the same pressure setting may have more specific advice for you. Good luck!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:53 pm

Becca:

What brand/model machine do you have?

What pressure is it set at?

What brand/model mask are you using now?

What brand/type of masks have you already tried, that didn't work for you?

Back when I was experimenting with raising the pressure (a lot) on my autopap, I experienced air swallowing (aerophagia) and it is very painful!! Granted, I'm a wimp about pain, but the abdominal bloating with aerophagia really can hurt. Dropping the pressure down stopped that from happening.

I've read that it's not uncommon in the first days/weeks of cpap use, but I wouldn't want to endure it a single day. (I'm a wimp, remember? ) Some doctors are willing to let the patient move the pressure down to below wherever aerophagia begins to bother them - until the patient gets more accustomed to cpap. Gradually over a period of days, the pressure can be moved back up to therapeutic level. The thinking being - if the first days are bad to the point the patient may just quit cpap entirely, it's better to use less than ideal pressure for awhile, letting the patient get adjusted to breathing lower pressures even if the lower pressure isn't treating all the events. You might ask your doctor if it would be ok to try a lower pressure for a few days or a week, becca.

auntiebeccaneedssleep · Post by **auntiebeccaneedssleep** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:54 pm

[/quote] Where can I get a chin strap? That might help me. My pressure setting is at a 9. I am on a cool humidifier, but I still get hot. I am in Maui, so it is humid here. I have 3 fans on me at night. I am trying to sleep on my back with my back and neck elevated. Is this a good idea?

auntiebeccaneedssleep · Post by **auntiebeccaneedssleep** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 3:04 pm

My mask is a small comfort gel nasal mask by respironics. My cpap is a REMstar plus with C-flex. I use a cool humidifier. I tried a full face mask (not sure the brand) and a nose pillow (not sure of brand) Those two freaked me out. The nose pillow gave me a panic attack, and the full face made me claustrophobic.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 4:58 pm

You can look at pictures of chinstraps at cpap.com and other online supply stores. You might decide to just make one of your own more inexpensively using an Ace bandage or something - any material that will hold your lower jaw up securely and comfortably.

As HappyHoser mentioned, some people are able to train themselves to keep their lips closed and tongue in a position to seal off air leaks from inside the mouth. Others (like me) never have been able to perfect that. I tape my lips shut to keep air from escaping so that I can use masks other than a full face mask. But given Maui's high humidity, you might not be able to get tape to stay "stuck" all night, even if you were brave (some would say "foolish") enough to try that.

Your bet bet might be to ask the doctor to let you drop the machine's pressure down to 8 - see how that goes. If no relief, maybe 7. Just until you get more used to it and are perhaps less apt to swallow air during the treatment.

Sleeping With The Enemy · Post by **Sleeping With The Enemy** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 9:32 pm

Here I come with the old "are you drinking carbonated beverages in the evening" question.

It made me very bloated and uncomfortable. I also turned down my pressure and got an AUTO.

Good luck

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 6:04 am

I concur with RG. See if you can get the pressures lowered for a few days. In the beginning, I had VERY bad aerophagia, and occassionally if I have a really bad night and the pressure stays high, I have it.

What helps. MOVING!! Sounds counterintuitive, but the more you move, the more the air gets out, (at this point I you usually don't care which end )
Take Advil or something for the pain, and take Gas-X. But, the only thing that really helps is to move around and get the air out...

It does get better!

Mask	Humidifier

on cpap for 2 days, and hating it

on cpap for 2 days, and hating it

chin strap?

more info