Yawning

[Tigerlily]

Hello again everyone,
I haven't posted in a while but I've been using a new mask for about a month now - the Swift FX nasal pillows. Previously I was using Tap Pap, but drooling was a big problem. I don't drool at all with the FX, though the pillows are not as stable as the Tap Pap, they stay in place pretty well. The one thing I don't like about it is that you can't move the pillows around to different positions. I wonder if I am not getting enough air because of that? I've had good numbers with it....under 2 majority of time, however, I've been yawning a lot again (like I did before I started cpap last year). I yawn in the morning after waking up and I yawn in the evening when relaxing in front of the tv or on my computer. My leaks are under control. I don't want to try another mask again, is there a way to keep this mask but decrease my yawning and increase my alertness?

[Julie]

Do you know for a fact that you're not mouth breathing when sleeping (and therefore may need a full face mask)?

[Tigerlily]

Hi Julie,
I'm pretty certain I'm not. I do wear a chin strap and monitor my Sleepyhead software daily. On the days I have experimented and NOT worn my chinstrap there is a major difference in leaks. I'll have many huge spikes all night long, where as when I do wear my chinstrap it is close to flatline with just a few little peaks where I mouth breathe a little.

[Julie]

I think I'd try on as many different masks as I could (and I did within the first year) because it can take a while to find the right one for you... and get it in the right size and properly fitted. Most of us have had to do that unless we were very lucky at the start. I don't know your mask 'personally' so can't really address it otherwise, but good luck with it all.

[Tigerlily]

I have tried 6 masks now in less than a year. I can't get another one yet...too much money. I've tried a full face, a hybrid, 2 nasal masks and 2 nasal pillows.

This has been the best one for me yet in regards to having the least problems with it. The only thing I notice is that I seem to be yawning more when waking up and at the end of the day.

[Julie]

Have you tried an overnight oximeter to check your 02 levels (yawning of course means you 'need' more air)? A very popular one is the CMS 50D+ (and the plus is very important - the one without it doesn't do overnights) from http://www.pulseoxstore.com/Downloadable-Pulse-Ox.html.

[Tigerlily]

I haven't, but I'll consider it. I just can't buy it yet.

Last night I didn't use cpap, but I haven't yawned once this morning. It's so confusing. Almost like the nasal pillows are blocking more air than they are giving me.

[Julie]

What are your pressures set at and do you use the ramp?

A lot of doctors who don't know better tell people to start off with the pressure range wide open (4-20) but no one can really breathe at 4 and if you have an event at e.g. 11, the machine will take too long to get there from 4 (or 5/6) and not stop it, so we encourage everyone to set their low pressures a little higher, see how things go, and re-adjust as necessary, also bringing the high (20) number down to about 5 #'s higher than the low one. And using the ramp unless you absolutely cannot get used to Cpap without it after a few tries) can also be counterproductive.