Suffocating

[goober]

I am a CPAP noob (11 days). I got my first CPAP machine 11 days ago (RemStar Series M basic unit with humidifier) and have been using it every night since. First couple of days were rough, kind of nasty sleep. Since then it's been pretty good. I am actually dreaming again! I was diagnosed with CSA but I know I have both CSA and OSA. I also believe the OSA is the worse of the problems. My split sleep study didn't get much sleep out of me until the put the CPAP to me about 3:00 am. I stopped breathing 67 times per hour and 12 cm of CPAP caused the problems to cease.

My questions, if someone would be so kind to help, are as follows:

1) My humidifier runs dry every some nights even though I fill it all the way up. Also, I wake up with cotton mouth even if the humidifier still has water in it. I have the humidifier all the way up. My air leaks seem to be fairly well controlled. Any thoughts?

I wear a full face mask because I AM a mouth breather! I have no choice. Because of a problem with my nasel passages, I cannot pass enough air through them to sustain life through my nose.

Last night something weird happened. I was sound asleep and my nose started to itch. Reflexively I went to scratch it and my hand hit the mask. While still mostly asleep, this put my mind in panic mode. For a split second it seemed like somebody was trying to smother me. Then I remembered I had a CPAP mask on and calmed down. Has anybody else experienced anything like this?

Thanks!

[blarg]

1) My humidifier runs dry every some nights even though I fill it all the way up. Also, I wake up with cotton mouth even if the humidifier still has water in it. I have the humidifier all the way up. My air leaks seem to be fairly well controlled. Any thoughts?

Since your mask is a full face mask, most likely it's either leaks that are causing it or just that the M Series humidifier isn't big enough for you. I ran it dry most nights.

[azaloune]

I have discovered over the last 5 months, my treatment goes in cycles. Each cycle seems to last 3-4 weeks, and then it resolves, or I force it to resolve.

The first 3-4 weeks, I was just getting used to the mask, never quite did get enough air at night, but, that was because the mask was leaking live a sieve. But how did I know? The first machine didn't have any software or compliance data. I was also having trouble with the A---company, see earlier post on topic of complaint to BBB.

The 2nd 3-4 weeks: Then I went to a pulmonologist, he got me an Auto with data for a loaner month from my new fabulous DME. New mask, that didn't leak, and proof the titration was correct, if the mask didn't leak.

The 3rd 3-4 weeks: good, just an itch or 2 before sleep that would mean I would have to take the mask off, scratch, make sure nothing was in the way (like a hair from my head).

Then, I did something stupid, that I will not explain here, but, it made another change in my treatment. Let me just say this about the incredibly stupid thing I did. If you intend to change from your prescription medication to an herbal supplement that is intended for the same purpose, take the bottle or label, of active and inactive ingredients to the Doctor and let them in on the desire to make a change. It is not the brightest thing in the world to take any herbal supplement without discussing it with your Dr. FIRST.

If you are experiencing something new every 2-4 weeks of your treatment, that may be normal. But, then again, I have never been normal. (That does not mean that you are not normal, it is just my attempt to poke fun at myself.)

[Wulfman]

goober,

Maybe you're going the wrong way with your humidifier.....

Try turning it DOWN or OFF for awhile and see what happens.
You didn't specify what your problem is with your nasal passages, but cool humidification may help open up your nasal passages to help nasal breathing.

Den

[littlemo]

I agree, cold passover seems to work best with full face for some poeple

[roster]

If the humidifier is running dry, then you have the highest setting (warmest setting). You will not be able to run it dry overnight in passover (off) mode.

I am a mouth breather using a full tank of water every night and it is still not enough to prevent dry mouth.