Edema

gulfpearl · Post by **gulfpearl** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:18 am

I am a cpap user for the past 2 months after being dx. with severe sleep apena. Since beginning to use the cpap I have been troubled with persistent leg & ankle edema. Is this a side effect of using the cpap.

SLEEPYCD · Post by **SLEEPYCD** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:46 am

Gulfpearl,
Good question, I hope someone can answer. I have been having facial edema, my eyes and left side of my face and lips swell pretty bad off and on. Someone out there please help us. Dr. put me on Allegra last week, nothing else has helped. Thanks for asking, hope you find a solution.
Take care
CD

Born Tired · Post by **Born Tired** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 4:03 pm

I've never had any problems with lower extremity edema but the FF masks and even the Activa caused swelling around my eyes, cheeks and upper lip at times. I have not had this problem with the Aura. I think it was due to the pressure of the other masks--had to really tighten them down to try to prevent leaks. The Aura does not put any pressure on my face--just at the end of the nares.

Gulpearl,
Have you reported the leg edema to your Dr.?
Esther
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macoil2 · Post by **macoil2** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 4:43 pm

Edema in the lower extremities is usually associated with congestive heart failure when a patient ingests too much sodium. A condition from which I suffer

Colordao Jan · Post by **Colordao Jan** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:24 pm

Edema in the lower extremities is also associated with just leaky veins, which I have.....

No heart failure, thank goodness.

Jan in Colo.

SLEEPYCD · Post by **SLEEPYCD** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:38 pm

Born Tired,
I use the Activa, so should I assume that the facial edema is just a side effect of using this mask for OSA. I thought the eye swelling could be because of mask. I also would sometimes get a rash on body (hives), don't really have that problem anymore. Thanks for info, I will tell my doctor, he's been treating me for angioedema. Maybe the rash was caused by the stress of getting used to the mask. Can't afford a different mask, ect.
CD

JimH · Post by **JimH** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:42 pm

I wonder if it has something to do with the humidifiers. Think about it, all that moisture going directly into your system all night long. Probably has the same effect as high sodium intake. But I could be entirely wrong and off base. Just a thought. Go back to machine supporte sleep y'all.

JimH

SLEEPYCD · Post by **SLEEPYCD** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 8:53 am

Jim,
Thanks for input. In my case, probably just a side effect of of being ONE OF THE FEW, THE PROUD, AND THE INFLATED!!!!!

GULFPEARL,
Keep us posted on what your doctor has to say, everyone is right, edema in the extemities can be a sign of heart problems, keep us posted ok. Take care!!!!
CD

ProfessorSleep · Post by **ProfessorSleep** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 8:56 am

Colordao Jan wrote:Edema in the lower extremities is also associated with just leaky veins, which I have.....

No heart failure, thank goodness.

Jan in Colo.

Or slowed venous return, which I have, or ageing which, well, nevermind.

morphy · Post by **morphy** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:20 am

Lower extremity edema can have many and varied causes, some quite serious - best to work with Doc to determine what's happening.

Born Tired · Post by **Born Tired** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 10:41 am

SLEEPYCD wrote:Born Tired,
I use the Activa, so should I assume that the facial edema is just a side effect of using this mask for OSA. I thought the eye swelling could be because of mask. I also would sometimes get a rash on body (hives), don't really have that problem anymore. Thanks for info, I will tell my doctor, he's been treating me for angioedema. Maybe the rash was caused by the stress of getting used to the mask. Can't afford a different mask, ect.CD

SLEEPYCD,
Please don't just assume that what is happening to you is the same as what happened to me. Much better to go through your Dr. I don't think I have read anybody else say they had puffiness with the Activa.
Is the Allegra helping with the problem? I would think that if the antihistimine is helping, it is more of an allergy problem rather than a problem with a mask being too tight against the face like my problem. (I also have allergies which flare up at times.)
Do you have to really tighten the Activa down? Activa is a mask that is supposed to stay sealed even being very loose on the face--it just didn't work for me that way--wrong shaped face I think. But most seem to be able to keep a good seal and have it loose. Search for Activa and loose and you can find lots of posts on how to adjust it.
Hope things work out.
Esther
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SLEEPYCD · Post by **SLEEPYCD** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:54 pm

Born Tired,
I do wear my mask fairly loose on my face and now I wear 3M Waterproof tape on my lips, to stop the mouth breathing. I will continue to take the Allegra, I think it's helping a little so far. Time will tell, usually have severe swelling a few times a month. Doctor wants me to check in a month or so and see if Allegra is working for me. We'll see, thanks for the input.
Carolyn

dankazoo · Post by **dankazoo** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 4:04 pm

Another cause of edema in legs/feet etc. is prescription medications. It is a side effect of an assortment of drugs.

Dan

Colorado Jan · Post by **Colorado Jan** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:04 pm

I think what we've all decided is that Gulfpearl should go to the doctor and find his/her own particular reason for the edema. It can obviously result from a wide range of reasons, some serious, some not so serious. But I doubt that it results from CPAP. It probably is just a fluke that it started around the same time frame.

Good Luck! And let us know what is going on!

Jan in Colo.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 3:37 pm

SleepyCD,
I agree with BornTired - plus, angioedema can be life threatening if/when the throat becomes involved in the swelling. Your doc is playing it safe with the Allegra. Better safe than sorry. IMHO.

Hope you get this resolved.

Humidifier

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