remstar cpap user snorer

[srembert]

Please help. my husband has been using his remstar cpap, pressure 15 for about 6 months. He is snoring and exhaling making loud noises. He wears a full face mask, I'm not sure what kind? What may be causing this? I'm told he's not getting the full benefit if he is snoring? I'm surely not getting enough sleep )Is this true?

Any suggestions?

[gailzee]

Is what you're hearing his exhalations, or the mask making leaking sounds? In the case if it's leaking, he's not getting the full benefit of wearing the mask. I take it from the number, he's on a straight cpap, meaning his pressure will go up to a spec. setting and stay there.........If he is snoring, maybe pressure not sufficient? Or is there some other problem, allergies, etc. ? Did he have a sleep study?

If you can ans. some of these questions, maybe some help can come your way?

Please help. my husband has been using his remstar cpap, pressure 15 for about 6 months. He is snoring and exhaling making loud noises. He wears a full face mask, I'm not sure what kind? What may be causing this? I'm told he's not getting the full benefit if he is snoring? I'm surely not getting enough sleep )Is this true?

Any suggestions?

[srembert]

Yes, he had a sleep study, he does have allergies and sinus problems, the noise during exhalation, it sounds like snoring sometimes, others it's like his lips vibrating. Also the hose hisses. Is that normal? He likes to sleep on his back. He also uses extra pillows to raise his head up some.

When he first starting using cpap, the circles under his eyes seemed much better, but they are back. He is able to stay awake all day and usually all evening until bed time, which is a great improvement. But on weekends, he likes to lounge and nap all day.

He also uses a humidifier, uses Nasarel for sinuses, and inhalers before bed each night.

Help, I can't get to sleep at night

[Mikesus]

Yes, he had a sleep study, he does have allergies and sinus problems, the noise during exhalation, it sounds like snoring sometimes, others it's like his lips vibrating. Also the hose hisses. Is that normal? He likes to sleep on his back. He also uses extra pillows to raise his head up some.

When he first starting using cpap, the circles under his eyes seemed much better, but they are back. He is able to stay awake all day and usually all evening until bed time, which is a great improvement. But on weekends, he likes to lounge and nap all day.

He also uses a humidifier, uses Nasarel for sinuses, and inhalers before bed each night.

Help, I can't get to sleep at night

From the sounds you are describing it sounds like the mask seal is leaking. what kind of mask is it?

Also, how is he cleaning the mask? With a full face mask, he should be cleaning the seal daily. Facial oil can collect on the seal making it unable to maintain a good fit. At a pressure of 15 getting a good seal on a full face mask is a challenge to begin with, making sure that the seal is perfectly clean to start is a must.

[rested gal]

hi srembert,

Several thoughts from a "not a doctor"...

You mentioned:

But on weekends, he likes to lounge and nap all day.

I hope he's using his machine and mask when he naps. Some think they need it only at "bedtime", but he does need to use it any time he sleeps - even for brief naps.

He likes to sleep on his back. He also uses extra pillows to raise his head up some.

Raising the upper body some does seem to help many people. However if the extra pillows to raise his head are tilting his head forward and pushing his chin down toward his chest, that's a very "throat closing" kind of head position.

If that's not the pillow arrangement and tilt of head he was sleeping in when he was studied at the sleep clinic, the prescribed pressure might not be high enough to deal with the position of his head while sleeping at home. Might take more pressure to keep his throat open if his head position is tilted rather extremely forward and downward.

I think I'd talk to the doctor about getting a trial at home on an Autopap with C-Flex to see if the prescribed pressure is getting the job done at home. Would also let you and the doctor see if lower pressures work most of the time for him - which could lessen the chance of mask leaks.

Also the hose hisses. Is that normal?

I guess you're sure it's not the normal hiss sound from the mask's exhalation vents? Like Mikesus and gailzee, I'd suspect the mask losing its seal and producing hissing leaks from somewhere around the cushion.

If you're absolutely sure the hiss isn't coming from the mask or the mask's exhaust, and really is the hose, there's always the chance there's a crack or puncture hole in the hose. Got cats?

Or there could be a leak from a loose seal where the main air hose connects to the mask.

Perhaps try this, to rule out a puncture hole in the hose... take the hose off the machine and mask. Block one end of the hose and fill the hose with water. Maybe you could see if it springs a leak anywhere.

My bet, however, is the same thing Gail and Mike suggested...that the hiss is a leak from the mask not sealing well at the high pressure he's using.

If the mask is a Respironics ComfortFull full face mask, your husband might want to try a ResMed Ultra Mirage FF full face mask, instead.