Blowing bubbles / gurgling

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 4:41 pm

Gosh, Lori, you're definitely trying everything. Hope you get it going right, and I know you hope that, too!

Throwing so many variables into the mix each time you try something might be making it harder for you to get a handle on what mode, what pressure, what settings, and what leak solutions are going to end up working best. But I sure do understand why you're trying so many things. You have a lot on your plate to deal with.

oops...forget that I said "plate" since you're trying to shed those last 10 pounds or so. Not that you need to!!

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 4:42 pm

Sleepless on LI wrote:DSM:

Okay. Refresh my rather elusive still memory. I know you have been keeping the CFlex off, as have I, but I don't remember what you were doing as far as cpap or auto and what your numbers were. Glad, in any event, you had a great night.

Lori,

5 weeks back I started with CFLE mode with Cflex of 2 & 15cms - 1 night was enough (actually, more than enough). Went to 14 & stayed on that for 2 weeks. Got regular mouth puffs & aerophagia. I tried Activa mask (like it - but mouth failed).

Then in 4 nights went 13 - 12 - 13 - 14 then stayed on that for another week but at same time as reverting to 14 dropped Cflex to 1 then 2 nights later Cflex off.

Things seemed good then I did 2 things that derailed my progress -
I up'ed cms to 15 & at same time I tried Breeze pillows but mouth just kept opening (wife said that air was rushing from my mouth - nose began to hurt - switched back to mirage f/f - constant noisy leaks from mask (seemed to rotate all round). In the night I dropped cms back to 14 & survived.

Last night I switched to APAP 13-16 & had a great nights sleep. Some time into sleep I think cms rose as I got a few leaks but then everything settled - when I woke I checked pressure setting & it was back to 13. Tonight I will up lower setting to 13.5.

Once I solve mouth problem will retry Breeze pillows & Activa

Cheers

DSM

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): breeze, mirage, activa, cflex, CPAP, auto, APAP, aerophagia

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): breeze, mirage, activa, cflex, CPAP, auto, APAP, aerophagia

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 4:50 pm

wb9tpg wrote:

I did call the doc today to get the results of the last sleep study. They said he was not going to change my pressure but wanted me to come in earlier than my next appointment. I was scheduled to go the 30th but he wants to see me on the 16th. I'm wondering whats up here????

Gary, he's probably heard rumors that you've been asking questions on the INTERNET!!!

Maybe he figures he better reel you back in as soon as possible!

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 4:58 pm

RG,
You know me by now, I exhaust every possibility in hopes of finding a solution. But you know there comes a time when all you can do it throw up your hands and say, "I surrender!!!" I won't say that time has come yet, but I'm getting pretty darn near it. I think I am going to try to do what SnoreNoMore suggested and make a conscious-unconscious effort to keep my tongue at the roof of my mouth and train myself to not mouth breathe. I did order the nose breath mouthpiece, but the kit hasn't come yet. Just ordered it over the weekend. Did anyone ever say this was gonna be easy? If so, tell me who they are, point me in the right direction and get out of the way.

And it's okay to mention "plate" around me. I was stuck at a plateau since about 3 weeks into my new heathy eating plan (refuse to call it a diet, because it's not) at an 8-lb. loss. I stopped doing what I was doing, increased my caloric intake and added two calcium servings a day, usually a cup of yogurt and a piece of cheese, because my son's girlfriend who is almost graduated from college to be a nutritionist swears it helps in losing weight, and have since lost, in the past week, an additional 3 lbs. So the curse has been broken. I'm eating more of the right things to make my metabolism work, exercising fiercely and feel wonderful. So bring on the food-related terms. I have no fear anymore, I'm happy to say.

DSM:
I am glad what you did last night worked for you. May it only continue to do so. I think I'm going to put my pressure back tonight to 10 and take another Clonazepam and see what happens. Getting about six straight hours sleep last night was shocking. I want that again. That doesn't happen, or rarely does. So I have to assume it was the C. Now if I can take it and not have my AHI affected or my snoring index, which HAD BEEN zero, that would be a beautiful thing. Like RG said, too many variables sometimes makes it hard to figure out. But I know 9 cms. is not my pressure. I think what I was titrated at, the 10, is the right pressure for me.

I am also looking forward to Dr. Sue's device. But that should take some time before the finished product arrives.

Good luck tonight.

wb9tpg · Post by **wb9tpg** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 5:02 pm

dsm wrote: Is the Ruby chinstrap made of more rigid material than the average item ?. My Respironics premium looks ok but is very floppy & it doesn't take much effort to move my jaw even if it is tight.

This strap is the only one I've seen or used so I can't make any comparison. I can open my mouth but the strap is tight enough to keep it closed when relaxed without forcing my teeth together. There are three sizes and I found a sizing chart on another site to pick the medium one. It's not adjustable at all.

The wife reported I've begun "mouse snoring" since I started using the strap (compared to "elephant snoring" before CPAP). Why can't anything be simple and easy??? I'll try it without the strap tonight to see what happens.

I see the sleep doctor tomorrow and we'll have a lot to talk about. I get the results of my 2nd sleep study and get to learn why he moved my appointment from the 30th to tomorrow with no pressure change. I'm still wondering why....

I'd hit him up again asking for an APAP capable machine if I'm going to buy one. I want one that'll give me more data than just compliance numbers.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, CPAP, APAP

fnorette · Post by **fnorette** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 5:23 pm

Tiara also makes the Topaz chin strap which is virtually identical to the Ruby Red version but fully adjustable at the top and bottom to cover all sizes. Works great for me.

JL · Post by JL » Mon Aug 15, 2005 5:56 pm

Are the Topaz/Tiara straps strong enough to keep your mouth closed without overtightening? Have tried 2 different kinds of straps but they are both too flexible to do the job unless tightened to the discomfort level.

Jim

fnorette · Post by **fnorette** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 7:41 pm

In my case, the Topaz does a pretty good job ... but not 100%. Often I have to add the good old mouth tape to the mix. It is FAR superior to the chin strap offered by Respironics.

wb9tpg · Post by **wb9tpg** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 11:59 am

I saw the doctor this morning. During my latest sleep test they ramped my pressure up from 8 (my current point) to 12. They did not get much time in at 12 as morning came it was time to get up.

I was still experiencing "occurences" at all pressures tested and the quantity did not seem to change with the pressures they tested.

Doctor wants me to keep using the chin strap for mouth leaks and up my pressure to 12. I told him I could do it myself and he said "oh, you're one of those". I could hardly keep from laughing. He said if I develop more severe mouth leaks at 12, call in and they'll prescribe a full face mask.

I'll see if I can navigate the menus to change the pressure myself. I know how to invoke setup mode but never did it yet. I also want to change the ramp to start at 8 (instead of the current 4 which is unusable to me).

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 4:04 pm

wb9tpg wrote: <snip>

Doctor wants me to keep using the chin strap for mouth leaks and up my pressure to 12. I told him I could do it myself and he said "oh, you're one of those". I could hardly keep from laughing. He said if I develop more severe mouth leaks at 12, call in and they'll prescribe a full face mask.

LOL

Good one !

DSM

wb9tpg · Post by **wb9tpg** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 4:16 pm

I got my cpap machine reset and ready to go for tonight! Hope it's an easy night. The higher pressure didn't bother me during the sleep study so I'm hoping it'll be an easy night tonight.

I want to publicly thank everyone helping me!

wb9tpg · Post by **wb9tpg** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 3:22 pm

I woke up once last night leaking a small amount of air from my mouth even with the strap. Just changed my position slightly and it stopped and I went back to sleep.

I awoke this morning feeling no energy and my back was sore too. I've been under an extraordinary amount of stress this week so it may be the cause or could be the increased pressure (or both).

I'll keep at it.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 4:04 pm

wb9tpg wrote: I awoke this morning feeling no energy and my back was sore too. I've been under an extraordinary amount of stress this week so it may be the cause or could be the increased pressure (or both).

I'll keep at it.

Gary,

I believe stress (work or whatever) distorts the effects of OSA & CPAP. Often when the stress is lifted, a variety of symptoms (aches, pains) low energy can follow. When we are under stress we tend to burn extra energy to contain/hold it, then take a dip when it is lifted.

An extreme case of this that I knew of this was a manager I had in the early 1990s. He was a wonderful guy to work for partly because he would bear the burden of any problems in our team as well as carry a heavy responsibility in his role. He would work hard to sort problems out - he used to win major awards in our company and part of these rewards was to go to a convention in a nearby country, at a resort. On the two occasions he won such awards he went away - once away from the stress he carried at work he would collapse & both times he was hospitalized. On one of the occasions he turned yellow.

Most of us don't react quite that way, but stress does have a double cycle - control then relax(dip).

Cheers

DSM

Blowing bubbles / gurgling

Tiara chinstrap

Stress