362 hours in and new problems

I started CPAP almost exactly 2 months ago at a pressure of 11. During this time, I have recorded 362 hours on CPAP. During this time I have lost 14 lbs. through reduced portion sizes and exercise. I went from 204 to 190 lbs.

Around 4 weeks ago give or take, I reduced my pressure to 9 because I was unable to tolerate 11. I was experiencing all kinds of aches and pains with my chest and lungs that disappeared immediately when I went down to 9. (My doctors refused to acknowledge that the CPAP could be responsible and put me through every test in the book, including a battery of heart and stress tests -- all normal.) I enjoyed 3 weeks of pretty good experiences with the CPAP at that level.

In the last week to 10 days, however, I have found it harder and harder to use. Can't sleep. Breathing feels funny. Tossing and turning. Going back to 11 just made it worse. Last 2 nights I took it off after 2-4 hours and had far better sleep for the rest of the night. My wife says that without it I started snoring again, but said the snoring is not nearly as bad as it was 2 months ago.

I'm kind of at a loss as to what to do at this point. A 7% loss in body weight might be a factor, of course, but that hardly seems like enough to make such a difference. Or is it? I don't know. If anyone has gone through something similar, I'd like to hear about your experience. Thanks.

I'm sorry to hear about your recent problems. I think that we all go through something similar, without a known cause.

However...I'm wondering if you actually have Apnea (holding your breath), and not just a snoring problem?

Your doc sounds thorough, have you discussed using CFLEX with him? You may have problems exhaling, which can be very disturbing and uncomfortable. I helped me considerably.

I'm just giving food for thought, not an expert by any means.

I'd see a cardiologist, if I was you. Or at least consult my internist regarding "breathing feels funny." I'd do it soon.

Just a thought.

Good luck! Hope it works out for you.

Chuck

Thanks for the responses.

I had the sleep study and apnea was diagnosed. I think it is correct as, prior to CPAP, I would often awake gasping for breath. I have seen significant improvement during the last 2 months.

I am using CFLEX. I can tell when it kicks in on the machine.

As for a cardiologist, they put me through the wringer on heart tests and all that is fine. My stress test score was great...actually scored higher than I did 5 years ago and I think the CPAP has something to do with it. The "breathing feels funny" is definitely CPAP related. I think it mostly has to do with machine settings.

I know that settings may need to be changed over time, and if you change (e.g. weight loss). I guess that may be what I'm going through...just not sure.

Try getting a loaner apap for at home titration.
You may be down to a 7cm now. Let a machine figure it out.

Here are some things you could try:

1. Play around with the cflex. You might be one of those people who can't use it. If you are at 3, set it for 1, and vice versa.

2. Lower your pressure to 7 - see if that helps.

3. Get an Auto machine - you would be at 6 pressure most of the night, and only go higher when you have an apnea.

Ironically, that's exactly what I did. As an experiment, I lowered it to 7 last night to see how that felt. It was the first night in at least a week that I made it through the whole night with the mask on. We'll see how that goes over the course of a few nights, I guess.