Will my CPAP Machine help w/Asthma and o2 levels?

DianaJune · Post by **DianaJune** » Thu Jun 04, 2020 1:17 pm

I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea about 10 years ago and got a Resmed machine at first, which I had trouble using. It felt like I was being suffocated, so for a long time I went w/o using it. The level they set it at was 11.

I got a little money going on 3 years ago and bought a Dreamstation with a heated humidifier. I'm ashamed to say that I've not been very diligent when it comes to cleaning it regularly and a couple of weeks ago it stopped because the filters were in desperate need of cleaning/changing.

I tossed the pollen disposable filter and cleaned the other one as best as I could & put it back in. Wearing the mask is much easier but I still take it off overnight for reasons I don't understand.

I have uncontrolled asthma because last year, the maker of Advair tossed me from their patient assistance program saying I was eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. Being eligible and being able to afford them are two different things. I can't afford the Medicaid spend-down and I can't afford the Medicare late signup charge for the parts of Medicare I don''t have. All I have is part A.

I have a nebulizer which I've been using on an average of 2-3 times a day. I caved several days ago and asked my primary care provider (NP) to write a prescription for a rescue inhaler, which I haven't had in ages, and Advair 250/50. I'm going back on Advair only because a clerk at the Walmart pharmacy told me about Good Rx and they had a coupon for Advair. I'll just have to ration it and use it whenever I have flares.

I decided to get a pulse oximeter in the mail today and have been checking my o2 levels. They really fluctuate - anywhere from mid-upper 80's while lying down to 94/95 when sitting up. I'm usually at 95 when they check it at my pcp's office.

If I can get into the habit of wearing my cpap mask for much longer each night, will that help with my asthma and o2 levels?

I'm worried that I may end up in the hospital if I keep having low levels, but I find that they're usually ok when I concentrate on breathing (while sitting up) and don't go w/o my nebulizer for very long.

I would appreciate some advice. Not having adequate insurance makes life very hard and now I'm worried about Covid too. I can't afford to catch it. It would be the death of me. Thanks!

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Thu Jun 04, 2020 2:16 pm

DianaJune wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 04, 2020 1:17 pm
I'm worried about Covid too. I can't afford to catch it. It would be the death of me.

------------->

COVID-19 Risks to People With Asthma Much Lower Than Expected

“Asthma really hasn't shaken out to be a significant risk factor,”

Full article: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions- ... sthma.html

But still, be careful.

Janknitz · Post by **Janknitz** » Thu Jun 04, 2020 5:34 pm

There is now a generic version of Advair called Wixela https://www.goodrx.com/wixela-inhub/med ... binations.. It's about 1/2 the price of Advair retail, and maybe even less for Medicare and/or Good RX. . Ask the pharmacist, because I think one of the other long-acting bronchodilator/steroid drugs (Symbicort?) just came out as a generic as well.

Sleep apnea is an upper airway issue, so CPAP doesn't really treat your asthma, and it's just a splint to open your airway, not oxygen supplementation. BUT, if you are breathing clean, filtered, properly humidified air all night with a nice open upper airway it will definitely help reduce the asthma triggers and causes of inflammation.

Change those filters! You can buy 52 filters from Amazon for less than $15--change it out every week.

CPAP will reduce the strain on your heart and the stress hormones that lead to inflammation in your body. All that is good for asthma. Half-assing CPAP therapy is NOT.

klm49 · Post by **klm49** » Fri Jun 05, 2020 5:26 am

DianaJune wrote: ↑
Thu Jun 04, 2020 1:17 pm
I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea about 10 years ago and got a Resmed machine at first, which I had trouble using. It felt like I was being suffocated, so for a long time I went w/o using it. The level they set it at was 11.

I got a little money going on 3 years ago and bought a Dreamstation with a heated humidifier. I'm ashamed to say that I've not been very diligent when it comes to cleaning it regularly and a couple of weeks ago it stopped because the filters were in desperate need of cleaning/changing.

I tossed the pollen disposable filter and cleaned the other one as best as I could & put it back in. Wearing the mask is much easier but I still take it off overnight for reasons I don't understand.

I have uncontrolled asthma because last year, the maker of Advair tossed me from their patient assistance program saying I was eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. Being eligible and being able to afford them are two different things. I can't afford the Medicaid spend-down and I can't afford the Medicare late signup charge for the parts of Medicare I don''t have. All I have is part A.

I have a nebulizer which I've been using on an average of 2-3 times a day. I caved several days ago and asked my primary care provider (NP) to write a prescription for a rescue inhaler, which I haven't had in ages, and Advair 250/50. I'm going back on Advair only because a clerk at the Walmart pharmacy told me about Good Rx and they had a coupon for Advair. I'll just have to ration it and use it whenever I have flares.

I decided to get a pulse oximeter in the mail today and have been checking my o2 levels. They really fluctuate - anywhere from mid-upper 80's while lying down to 94/95 when sitting up. I'm usually at 95 when they check it at my pcp's office.

If I can get into the habit of wearing my cpap mask for much longer each night, will that help with my asthma and o2 levels?

I'm worried that I may end up in the hospital if I keep having low levels, but I find that they're usually ok when I concentrate on breathing (while sitting up) and don't go w/o my nebulizer for very long.

I would appreciate some advice. Not having adequate insurance makes life very hard and now I'm worried about Covid too. I can't afford to catch it. It would be the death of me. Thanks!

I have emphysema and yes the Apap/cpap helps my O2 levels a little when I am having problems. There are generic versions of Advair and your rescue inhaler that can be bought overseas. I buy my Symbicort and Proair (rescue inhaler) there. The proair generic is a little over $8 each if you buy 6 at a time. There are 2 overseas pharmacies people use:
alldaychemist.com and inhousepharmacy.vu. I suggest you visit a copd board to get better answers to your questions like http://copdforum.portalone.us/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=2
The generic versions differ in strength a little so I would ask on the forum what people are using for your strength.
If you do decide to use an overseas pharmacy keep in mind they are taking 30-40 days to get orders here because of the Wuhan virus.
It also sounds like you should visit a Pulmonologist as well.

colomom · Post by **colomom** » Fri Jun 05, 2020 9:17 am

Treating your OSA will most certainly help your nocturnal O2 levels. You list your machine as being an APAP, is that correct? What are your current settings (minimum pressure, max pressure, flex)?
Download Oscar and post a couple of charts. Those with more knowledge than I, may be able to offer suggestions of adjustments you can make to help using your Dreamstation become more tolerable.

My son also has Asthma and OSA. As was recommended by another poster, you can pick up extra filters pretty cheaply from Amazon. Since you have Asthma I recommend you use both filters and be sure to empty the humidifier chamber and let it dry out each day. My son happens to use Advair 250/50, Discuss is available in generic (Wixela inhub). Good RX offers it for about $100. If that is still to expensive for you perhaps ask your pharmacist if they are aware of any more affordable options you could discuss with your doc. I caution you against leaving your asthma untreated. Unfortunately hospitals are avoiding using nebulizers to treat COVID-19 patients and are instead using albuterol inhalers to treat them, which has created significant shortages. With rescue meds in short supply my son is being extra vigilant in trying to keep his asthma well controlled.

Will my CPAP Machine help w/Asthma and o2 levels?

Will my CPAP Machine help w/Asthma and o2 levels?

Re: Will my CPAP Machine help w/Asthma and o2 levels?

Re: Will my CPAP Machine help w/Asthma and o2 levels?

Re: Will my CPAP Machine help w/Asthma and o2 levels?

Re: Will my CPAP Machine help w/Asthma and o2 levels?

Humidifier

Additional Comments: I have a nasal mask but I don't know the brand name. It came w/my cpap machine

Machine	Mask