H2O and masks - are these common issues?

[LauraK]

I am relatively new to using the ResMed s9 with the heated humidifier, been on it for about a month. I am having two issues that are keeping me from leaving the mask on all night, and thought someone here might be able to share their experience.

1) several nights I have been awakened with my mouth filled with air. Think back when you were a kid, trying to blow up a balloon and your cheeks are all puffed out and even behind my lips- that is what has happened. I sleep with my mouth closed and have had to open my mouth to get rid of all this air and pressure. I have been experimenting with two different masks - full face and nasal masks - and it has happened on both types. I'm thinking this is not normal but don't know if it is an equipment issue or an apnea related response.

If it matters the paperwork I received lists the PAP setting : auto 5-15cm/h2o

2) I started with the full mask, a ResMed Quattro, but had some troubles feeling like I was being smothered by lots of air - this happened several hours into my sleep and not immediately. So I asked for a different mask and got the Mirage Micro, I prefer the nasal mask and am not a mouth breather, and did pretty well with it the first few nights, getting up to 6 hours sleep. Now the past few nights I am being awakened by an air leak that I can not find, as well as the overfilled mouthful of air I mention in #1. The leak is at the top of the seal and blows air directly at my right eye tear duct area. I try readjusting the straps, and the position of the mask, but the leak reoccurs almost immediately. I am sleeping on my side, which probably shifts the mask position just enough for this to happen.


Are both of these situations normal or is there something I need to do to the machine, mask or me to make this work? When I can sleep with the mask, I do feel better in the morning and want this to work.

thanks, Laura

[nanwilson]

Welcome Laura
The progrlems you are having are so very normal so don't dispair. I went through about 8 masks before I found the "one" that I prefer. If your supplier won't let you try another mask....go to cpaplibrary (Dane is a member here) he loans out masks in the US for $14 which is the cost to mail them out and back to him. If you are not a mouth breather I would recommend you try a nasal pillow mask, go to cpap.com and take a look at the masks there. Having "chipmunk cheaks" is normal, until your system gets used to having air blow into it. Your lungs are not used to being artificially filled with air. It will subside before too long.

[wittymomma]

Ah I am glad to see this post.. even though I do not have answers for you lol. I call the mouth full of air as the "Mr Ed" syndrome lol. When I crack my lips to release the air your lips flutter around like Mr Ed lol.

I am also glad to see about the loner program.. I am interested in checking out the Hybrid one..I am going to see what the details are on that site. Also searching this site for info on they Hybrid.. it looks like it may fit my bill.. I am used to breathing in my nose and out my mouth.. so hopefully this will do that.. Right now I am using the nasal pillows.

Hopefully you will get your answers you need

[Pugsy]

Chipmunk cheeks....common complaint and highly annoying. The air going up the nose and proceeding down the airway tries to make a detour into the mouth instead of proceeding down the airway. It enters the mouth and inflates the cheeks. It can be avoided by keeping the tongue in position so that it acts like a door and blocks the air from entering the mouth. Fairly easy to do when awake..just position the tongue so that it is resting in the roof of the mouth. Hard to do while asleep because the tongue relaxes and drops down. Sometimes with enough practice during the day the tongue learns the habit to stay in position to block the air from entering the mouth.

[LauraK]

Thanks, I wasn't sure if perhaps there was too much air being supplied, or what else might be going on. It is a crazy feeling to wake from - chipmunk cheeks describes it perfectly. Mr Ed is even a funnier image, Wilbur!

I was surprised after I wrote this I was in the bedroom and checked the log for last night and see I made it 4.6 hours. I would have sworn I slept without it most of the night. Thanks for helping me out - just trying to figure this all out.