Where does all the air go?

linda b · Post by **linda b** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 1:17 pm

I've been using an APAP machine for about 3 years now. I've had a touch of a cold recently and had to take off the nose cushion to blow my nose. I didn't turn off the machine to do this and I thought "Wow, that's a lot of air blowing out of that tube and going down into my lungs!" Then I began to wonder how the lungs could hold all that air! -- Where does all that air go? I know some comes out the little air holes, and I exhale a little bit more, but not nearly as much as is going into my lungs. When we breathe normally (without a mask on) we breathe in and out about the same amount of air. Right? So with all that air going into our lungs from the machine, do you ever wonder why your lungs don't just blow up like a balloon? Put too much air into a balloon and it can burst!!!!

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 1:40 pm

You are making a false assumption.
All that air is the result of pressure on an unopposed empty air space.
When you put the mask on, it becomes a closed system and the pressure is equalized.

Some have even written about all that air rushing down their nose.
It does not.

There is an increase in PRESSURE, not velocity.
The amt of air inhaled is the same, the pressure is greater.

OutaSync · Post by **OutaSync** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 1:43 pm

Where does all the air go?

For me, I believe the term is "flatulence".

Bev

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 1:50 pm

For others ... it goes to their head

What Tom said is the correct answer though.

boston · Post by **boston** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 3:47 pm

OutaSync wrote:Where does all the air go?

For me, I believe the term is "flatulence".

Bev

my co-workers could attest to that

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 4:03 pm

Hmmm,

It sure can seem like we breathe in more than we breathe out.

To add to tomjax's comments, most modern machines back off the pressure when the user breathes out - they maintain a fairly constant pressure at the machine's air exit port by adjusting up or down the amount of 'pressure' being delivered. Say titration=12CMs, then at the exit port, the machine will try to sustain 12 CMs pressure. The bulk of the exhaled air does go out the vent holes which are designed to allow the air to do so at normal breathing rates.

The Inhale part of our breathing is typically shorter than the Exhale part (we tend to breath air in faster than we exhale it) but we aren't always aware of this & thus it can seem we breathe in more than we exhale - trick of perception

DSM

blowfish · Post by **blowfish** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:10 pm

Marietjie · Post by **Marietjie** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:03 am

mth712 wrote:
boston wrote:
OutaSync wrote:Where does all the air go?

For me, I believe the term is "flatulence".

Bev
my co-workers could attest to that
A lot of it comes out the other end for me too! Sometimes I wake-up in the morning to my little one giggling and holding their noses cause their mom tells them to go listen to dad... Not so funny if you ask me . Atleast as long as it comes out and I am not bloated in pain though. All I know is a major increase in gas and very rank smelling gas at that... My wife has to leave the room and shut the door. Another reason I need to order some pursleep. The morning shower is turning into the gas chamber,thinking of ordering a gas mask. I know TMI...

.........................
All that wind in your stomach ? ? ?................ Oh I feel so sorry for you.....Is it because you sleep on your back?
I'm sure you (and family) don't feel happy about this!.....Before cpap you made noises at night and now it is noises out the other end during daytime! Oh no man, I hope this will stop very soon - (isn't the pressure too high?!?) I'm very curious what causes this.
Kind regards - Marietjie RSA

roster · Post by **roster** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:48 am

Marietjie wrote:,,,,,,,,.........................
All that wind in your stomach ? ? ?................ .....Is it because you sleep on your back?
......... I'm very curious what causes this.
Kind regards - Marietjie RSA

It is just the reverse of a burp. With cpap you create a pressurized system. For some people the pressure will leak through the upper esophageal sphincter and then the lower esophageal sphincter into the stomach. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec09/ch120/ch120a.html

As far as sleeping position, the leaking into the stomach is typically worse when sleeping on the side and less severe or nonexistent when sleeping on the back.

There is one passage which we use for talking and through which we have to eat, drink and breathe. That is a lot for one passage to be responsible for. If you were designing, wouldn't you put in three passages, one for eating/drinking, one for breathing and one for talking?

Newzzz · Post by **Newzzz** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:57 am

OutaSync wrote:Where does all the air go?

For me, I believe the term is "flatulence".

Bev

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I had noticed a significant increase since starting CPAP, but hesitated to ask if this was common. It seems logical with the increased pressure that we would swallow more air.

Now I can poot with pride! It's all part of the treatment!

Marietjie · Post by **Marietjie** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:15 am

rooster wrote:
Marietjie wrote:,,,,,,,,.........................
All that wind in your stomach ? ? ?................ .....Is it because you sleep on your back?
......... I'm very curious what causes this.
Kind regards - Marietjie RSA
It is just the reverse of a burp. With cpap you create a pressurized system. For some people the pressure will leak through the upper esophageal sphincter and then the lower esophageal sphincter into the stomach. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec09/ch120/ch120a.html....THANKS! Read it!
As far as sleeping position, the leaking into the stomach is typically worse when sleeping on the side and less severe or nonexistent when sleeping on the back.

There is one passage which we use for talking and through which we have to eat, drink and breathe. That is a lot for one passage to be responsible for. If you were designing, wouldn't you put in three passages, one for eating/drinking, one for breathing and one for talking?

.........Rooster, three passages....and three mouths ? Just joking... A good strong breathing passage - one without obstruction! Have a nice day - Marietjie

echo · Post by **echo** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:18 am

why can't we just have gills and live underwater? Or better yet, absorb O2 through our skin like some amphibians!!!

blowfish · Post by **blowfish** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:35 am

Marietjie · Post by **Marietjie** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:34 am

RE : " It looks like I can go back to my favorite sleeping position-my back! I have a lot of lower back pain this morning but I am sure it will take some time to adjust to back sleeping again.[/quote]

Hi Mike - re: Lower Back Pain - When sleeping on your back - put a wedge pillow under your legs/knees - it is very relaxing and will hopefully resolve your lower back pain problem. And when you sleep on your side - put the 'hour glass shaped' pillow between your knees. Regards - Marietjie RSA

roster · Post by **roster** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 9:11 am

Marietjie wrote: .........Rooster, three passages....and three mouths ? ....

It would be a boon for cosmetic manufacurers.

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