Concerned about exhalation

Hi, I am a newbie, recently diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. I have been using a cpap machine for a few weeks with some success and with some issues. This week, while cleaning my nasal mask, I forgot to remove the small exhalation filter, which got wet. I replaced it and happened to test the mask for exhalation, blocking the supply intake port with my finger. I was surprised to see how little air could escape the mask. I have been feeling very concerned that I am rebreathing my exhalations. I have noticed that the air the mask supplies me with does not seem fresh and sometimes I have felt as though I am not getting enough oxygen.
Could someone please explain to me what happens to the co2 I am exhaling, if it is not going out of the tiny exhaust holes on the mask? Has anyone else had this experience of the mask not exhausting adequately?
Are there masks available with superior exhaust systems.
I would very much appreciate any advice on this subject.
Thanks, Cali guy

57 years old, Marin county, CA
Philips Respironics REMstar Auto A-Flex machine
F&P Eson Nasal mask

You rebreathe the CO2 if it doesn't go 'out', but I'm not sure which filter you're talking about because I have that machine and there is only one filter (black) in the back (unless you happen to add a white one behind it). Do you mean you accidentally popped out the tiny plastic patch of vent holes? How would that block exhalation? It would enhance it by a lot in the sense it wouldn't be diffused by the patch and come out all at once.

I had the same concern when I first started. Accept that the engineers that design the masks AND the large companies that make them DO NOT WANT YOU TO DIE, sorry be yes that is true. They have indeed calculated and tested the masks before they put them on the market.

Now that said, you could indeed be feeling like you are not getting enough air, I sure did for several reasons. Others around here that also use the same machine as you do will help you fix that.

Cali guy wrote:Hi, I am a newbie, recently diagnosed with mild sleep apnea. I have been using a cpap machine for a few weeks with some success and with some issues. This week, while cleaning my nasal mask, I forgot to remove the small exhalation filter, which got wet. I replaced it and happened to test the mask for exhalation, blocking the supply intake port with my finger. I was surprised to see how little air could escape the mask. I have been feeling very concerned that I am rebreathing my exhalations. I have noticed that the air the mask supplies me with does not seem fresh and sometimes I have felt as though I am not getting enough oxygen.
Could someone please explain to me what happens to the co2 I am exhaling, if it is not going out of the tiny exhaust holes on the mask? Has anyone else had this experience of the mask not exhausting adequately?
Are there masks available with superior exhaust systems.
I would very much appreciate any advice on this subject.
Thanks, Cali guy

57 years old, Marin county, CA
Philips Respironics REMstar Auto A-Flex machine
F&P Eson Nasal mask

I use this same mask and I too am a newbie - 41 nights. Hi!

Just starting out, I was very anxious and felt somewhat claustrophobic / suffocated (it really isn't so much feeling confined as "trapped") when I put on my mask and got ready for bed - like I'm not getting enough oxygen too.

These suffocating / claustrophobic feelings are not rational thoughts for me. They have no basis in reality. I also have supplemental oxygen, so I'm not going to suffocate. Before treatment and diagnosis, I would wake up gasping and drowning - fearful enough to have a panic attack. I've since identified that feeling of trapped or suffocation today as residual anxiety. I certainly am receiving enough oxygen because I have an oximeter that shows my O2 sat levels at 99%. When I relax, and using the ramp function helps me as well, the unsettled feeling goes away. After 40 days it has gotten easier and that "unease" has become less of a bother.

I found that when I really started getting serious about training myself to breathe from my nose, which meant I was taping my mouth (my choice, there are other methods, this works for me) I really felt a lot of that panic at bed time. Overtime it has melted away.

You might try using an oximeter, for your own peace of mind, so you know you are getting enough oxygen. The Eson is a pretty nice mask for me, but you might do better with something else - but if your feelings are due to residual panic (like mine are) a different mask might not make much difference.

Julie wrote:You rebreathe the CO2 if it doesn't go 'out', but I'm not sure which filter you're talking about because I have that machine and there is only one filter (black) in the back (unless you happen to add a white one behind it). Do you mean you accidentally popped out the tiny plastic patch of vent holes? How would that block exhalation? It would enhance it by a lot in the sense it wouldn't be diffused by the patch and come out all at once.

He's talking about his mask...never mentioned his machine.

Yes, and I asked what filter he was talking about - are there special filters on that mask?

Julie wrote:Yes, and I asked what filter he was talking about - are there special filters on that mask?

Yes......https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... er-pk.html

Read the post carefully before you answer.

Never heard of a mask filter before... thx for info, but in future don't tell me how to read!

Good morning,
Thank you for all of the replies to my post.
To clarify, I am referring to the small white fiber/ fabric filter that covers the small exhaust holes on the elbow where the hose connects to the mask. This filter is held in place by a plastic clip and serves to dampen the exhaust noise.
In my opinion it dampens it excessively. When I pulled the fiber filter apart and tried using only half of the filter, I was awakened in the mid of the night by a whistleing sound. I think the filter allows less co2 to escape as it gets damp from respiration.
Thanks, Cali guy.

The filter on that mask is optional. You don't have to use it if you are concerned about it blocking the venting too much. Trade off is a bit more vented air flow noise but that additional noise may or may not be an issue for you. Lots of people use various masks that don't have any filter to diffuse the air flow...we get used to the noise if there is any.

I can see where moisture accumulating in the mesh material could be a concern for a person new to this therapy and the whistling you heard was probably caused by the moisture in the mesh. In reality I doubt that the mesh even with lots of moisture in it would cause serious rebreathing issues but if it really concerns you...don't use the mesh or change to a different mask that might be less noisy and doesn't use one of those filters. Most masks do not use those types of filters.

You are new to this therapy....check with your mask supplier to see about changing to a different brand of nasal cushion mask that might not be so noisy without a diffuser (if the noise is an issue for you).
Most mask suppliers (DMEs) offer a mask swapping policy of some sort in the first month of therapy...make use of whatever yours might offer to maybe try something else that you are more comfortable with in general and peace of mind means a lot.
If it bugs you...that's good enough reason.

Julie wrote:Yes, and I asked what filter he was talking about - are there special filters on that mask?

masks don't have filters, however, some are now starting to come with what looks like filter material, but what it does is diffuse the hard blast of air.

F&P seems to be leading on this, the 'q' nasal pillow mask has a little clip on white diffuser pad, it looks sort of like the white flat filters in some cpap machines.

Cali guy wrote:Good morning,
Thank you for all of the replies to my post.
To clarify, I am referring to the small white fiber/ fabric filter that covers the small exhaust holes on the elbow where the hose connects to the mask. This filter is held in place by a plastic clip and serves to dampen the exhaust noise.
In my opinion it dampens it excessively. When I pulled the fiber filter apart and tried using only half of the filter, I was awakened in the mid of the night by a whistleing sound. I think the filter allows less co2 to escape as it gets damp from respiration.
Thanks, Cali guy.

get the manual for your mask, and look at the specs.

the piliaro q pillow mask has the same damper on it, and it reduces, if I remember right, the vent rate by one (1) liter per minute, so instead of venting 20liters per minute at 4cm pressure, you have 19... totally insignificant.