Hi to you all,
I began my journey with cpap on monday and registered so that I could thank you. I have been trying to figure things out about machines, masks and side-effects and have felt very isolated in my search. Your experience and advice to one another has been priceless in answering my questions.
After three days of treatment I was so full of air I couldn't do anything without pain so my nurse suggested a chin strap or full face mask. I have been trying to find out info, and once again, had but to read up here and find some answers.
Thanks so much
ST
Thank you
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1
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SleepTalker
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2005 6:19 pm
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Get Mylicon at the drugstore
Start taking it now. You will send me flowers within one week. Trust me!
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
ST, what you're describing is called "aerophagia" - swallowed air causing bloating -- sometimes very, very painful.
Some say that as you get used to the treatment, the tendency to swallow air will go away. I'm a wimp about pain and I would not put up with it for one more day. I'd beg the doctor to let me drop the treatment pressure down to whatever level does not cause swallowing air.
If the doctor wouldn't go along with that, I'd lower the pressure myself. Yes. I would. The pain from aerophagia is not fun at all.
I think it's important to make things as comfortable as possible in a treatment that has a lot of discomfort issues to work out - mask being one of the main sources of discomfort.
I don't think a chin strap would be any benefit at all to stopping you from swallowing air - the chin strap itself would probably add to the discomfort of trying to sleep with all the gear we use anyway.
A full face mask might (a very guarded "might") help if you are leaking treatment air out your mouth and perhaps swallowing in reaction to the air gushing out.
The most sure way to handle it, imho (I'm not a doctor) would be to lower the pressure temporarily. Better to get sub-treatment comfortably for awhile and work up gradually to the prescribed pressure than it is to endure what you're going through. Just my non-medical opinion.
You might also ask for a trial on a Respironics Remstar autopap with c-flex and heated humidifier. The autopap's varying pressure might allow you to sleep most of the night at lower pressures than your prescribed pressure, automatically using the prescribed pressure only when needed. The c-flex would give relief from pressure blowing in each time you exhale. That specific autopap might make quite a difference in getting more comfortable treatment.
Some say that as you get used to the treatment, the tendency to swallow air will go away. I'm a wimp about pain and I would not put up with it for one more day. I'd beg the doctor to let me drop the treatment pressure down to whatever level does not cause swallowing air.
If the doctor wouldn't go along with that, I'd lower the pressure myself. Yes. I would. The pain from aerophagia is not fun at all.
I think it's important to make things as comfortable as possible in a treatment that has a lot of discomfort issues to work out - mask being one of the main sources of discomfort.
I don't think a chin strap would be any benefit at all to stopping you from swallowing air - the chin strap itself would probably add to the discomfort of trying to sleep with all the gear we use anyway.
A full face mask might (a very guarded "might") help if you are leaking treatment air out your mouth and perhaps swallowing in reaction to the air gushing out.
The most sure way to handle it, imho (I'm not a doctor) would be to lower the pressure temporarily. Better to get sub-treatment comfortably for awhile and work up gradually to the prescribed pressure than it is to endure what you're going through. Just my non-medical opinion.
You might also ask for a trial on a Respironics Remstar autopap with c-flex and heated humidifier. The autopap's varying pressure might allow you to sleep most of the night at lower pressures than your prescribed pressure, automatically using the prescribed pressure only when needed. The c-flex would give relief from pressure blowing in each time you exhale. That specific autopap might make quite a difference in getting more comfortable treatment.
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SleepTalker
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2005 6:19 pm
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
I bought the Respironics Remstar autopap with c-flex and heated humidifier, it is prescribed for 7-11, I highest I have seen it is 8.5. I have been taking Ovol and that helps, but not enough to stop a buildup.
Since I talk in my sleep, a chinstrap is useless, I 'll open my mouth regardless. I have tried the HP 431 - too many leaks, I am trying the resperonics comfort full and the only way to keep it from leaking is from keeping it so tight it is way too unfomfortable. I did sleep one full night with it on though, my mouth was wide open when I woke up. I will be trying out the Ultra mirage and ultra Mirage 2 in hopes one of them might work. I'll have to look into that toilet seat cover suggestion... My consistant issue seems to be a tiny leak on the left had side near my eye. Nasal or full face, it's always there. It's a journey!
Thanks for your suggestions,
ST
Since I talk in my sleep, a chinstrap is useless, I 'll open my mouth regardless. I have tried the HP 431 - too many leaks, I am trying the resperonics comfort full and the only way to keep it from leaking is from keeping it so tight it is way too unfomfortable. I did sleep one full night with it on though, my mouth was wide open when I woke up. I will be trying out the Ultra mirage and ultra Mirage 2 in hopes one of them might work. I'll have to look into that toilet seat cover suggestion... My consistant issue seems to be a tiny leak on the left had side near my eye. Nasal or full face, it's always there. It's a journey!
Thanks for your suggestions,
ST
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1