I WK ON BiPAP: Experiencing Dizziness---Co2 Rebreathe???

Hello to the Forum Members!

I am just finishing my first 6 nights using a Bipap machine with a face mask. I am occasionally encountering some moderate to severe problems and hope I can get some feedback or advice from the readers here. The problem is that I start getting dizzy or that I awake with dizziness and sometimes tingling in my arms or hands and feet. I know something is wrong and I am suspecting that the problem is rebreathing CO2.

---Could my sleep position (sleeping on my side) be blocking the exhaust port?
---Does this relate to the mask seal? It seems to be okay, no whistles or other undue sounds during the RAMp phase of operation
---Some other cause?

Thanks, in advance, for your help!

Cheers,
Nix

NIX wrote:Hello to the Forum Members!

I am just finishing my first 6 nights using a Bipap machine with a face mask. I am occasionally encountering some moderate to severe problems and hope I can get some feedback or advice from the readers here. The problem is that I start getting dizzy or that I awake with dizziness and sometimes tingling in my arms or hands and feet. I know something is wrong and I am suspecting that the problem is rebreathing CO2.

---Could my sleep position (sleeping on my side) be blocking the exhaust port?
---Does this relate to the mask seal? It seems to be okay, no whistles or other undue sounds during the RAMp phase of operation
---Some other cause?

Thanks, in advance, for your help!

Cheers,
Nix

With the limited info provided here - it would be too hard to guess.

I will say the 1st thing you should do is contact your doctor to let them know right away. The doc can order an ONO or OverNite O2 monitor.

You could be at the wrong pressure and still having way too many events but we don't have that info from you. You could be leaking?? Who knows?

I know my sleep position often leaves me with numb arms & hands - but I cannot say that is what you are feeling.

Thanks for the reply.

I did call the nurse at my sleep center just in case they might say "Stop using the unit immediately until we can diagnose the problem". But they did not say that. I am going to call the rep at the medical supply that furnished the BiPap unit to see what help she might offer.

Cheers,
Nix

It always temting to assume that whatever it is, is caused by cpap... I'd contact the doctor, and also, check you BP - if you're taking BP medication, the BP might be too low now that cpap (bipap) is working - if it is, of course.
O.

Welcome to the board, Nix. Hope the DME or your doctor are able to figure out why you're feeling dizziness and tingling occasionally.

To make your machine and mask info show up automatically each time you post:

Click the words User Control Panel (upper left of this page, just below the "Search" box.)

Click the Profile tab.

Click Edit Equipment (select at least the machine and the mask.)

If you're not sure of the name of your machine, look on the machine. Full name of machine is usually written on top. Name of mask is usually written on back of headgear or on the mask itself.

Allow other users to view your CPAP equipment: Yes

How would you like your equipment displayed: choose Text (not "Image")

Click Submit.

What are your settings for IPAP, EPAP, and rate?

It could be hyperventilation.....the state of breathing faster and/or deeper than necessary. Hyperventilation can cause symptoms, such as numbness or tingling in the hands, feet and lips, lightheadedness, dizziness, headache, chest pain, slurred speech and sometimes fainting.

It is not from rebreathing CO2, but just the opposite....."blowing off" too much CO2. That's why a person who is hyperventilating from a panic attack or for some other reason is instructed to breath into a paper bag....it allows them to rebreath their CO2 and cause the levels back to normal.

I've seen this numerous times in the emergency room.

NIX wrote:Hello to the Forum Members!

I am just finishing my first 6 nights using a Bipap machine with a face mask. I am occasionally encountering some moderate to severe problems and hope I can get some feedback or advice from the readers here. The problem is that I start getting dizzy or that I awake with dizziness and sometimes tingling in my arms or hands and feet. I know something is wrong and I am suspecting that the problem is rebreathing CO2.

---Could my sleep position (sleeping on my side) be blocking the exhaust port?
---Does this relate to the mask seal? It seems to be okay, no whistles or other undue sounds during the RAMp phase of operation
---Some other cause?

Thanks, in advance, for your help!

Cheers,
Nix

Nix,

I would lean more toward hyperventilation - are you able to get the data off the machine & look at your breathing rate ?
if it gets up around 20BPM or higher then what you are describing is hyperventilation.

That is usually brought on by PCo2 build-up & the body deals with it by elevating the breathing rate to clear it out. The
opposite is having centrals due to too little Co2 being breathed in or retained. The body shuts down breathing to allow Co2 build up.

DSM

I went to ER after using the biPAP machine. after approX. 2 months on it.
I had so much gas in my stomach,intestines and where ever else it could seep into that I had pressure on my lungs,ribs, back bones and whole abdomom area and finally up the Eustachion tube and that caused diaainess and nausea that I fell against the walls etc. I went to ER as it was violent throwing up and they determined that I was so dizzy the I had nausea. I asked it it could be the bi PAP machine.
They said NO and gave me pills for dizziness and nausea. CAT scan of my brain, and xrays of my chest and blood tests were all normal.
I did not use the biPAP machine for two weeks and the tightness across my abdoman slowly went away the ribs aches went away then the back ache went away the dizziness stayed but the nausea went away. I could breathe better as the pressure on the lungs went away. I saw my regular doctor and she said to take Malanta or Gas-X and benadryl . All helped releave the gas and the the dizziness went away except for a few episodes
I went back on the BiPAP and immedialy swallowed air when I was asleep and dizzyiness and nausea returned in 2 hours on the machine.
So I saw the Sleep apnea clinic and they adjusted my pressure to 13 and 11 and said they saw this all the time even occasionly the dizziness but they did not think that the 13 and 11 would help my breathing and to try it till I had an appt. with my pulmonary doctor who put me on the whole mess.
5 days later I
at my doctors appt. I described the whole thing and he said he doubted that 13 and 11 would help and they took the O2 test with a finger pulsator I think and said it was normal and to use the BIPAP for a month and return for futher tests.
I yahoo'd the Bi PaP machine and the side effects and they were aALLthere and ways to help it (something the doctor did not mention) . I am trying this and so far it is a pain but sort of working. I will keep you posted. It is bad when you have to detect your own problems. I am only putting this on the web to help others.