3rd night on cpap

I just recently got put on a cpap machine. I realized last night that the place you put the water in, has a leak somewhere. I didnt use the humidifier last night. Do you have to use the humidifier? Also i have had a stuffy nose, and since i have a mask that just fits over my nose, i couldnt get enough oxygen....any ideas on what i could do about that. Thanks!

Abby

Hi Abby!

Welcome! We can help you more if you fill out the equipment portion of your profile. I have a philips respironics Remstar system one. This machine has an overflow feature, so that you cannot over fill it. If you put too much water in, it spills out. If that is not what is happening, perhaps calling your DME would be a good idea. I assume your machine is new, and therefore if it is broken and leaking, your DME should resolve the problem for you.

You don't have to use your humidifier. Each machine is different, but I am sure once you fill out the equipment portion of your profile someone can tell you how to set your machine to operate without the humidifier.

Having a stopped up nose is a big problem, and a common one. Lots of people here can help you with tips and advice on that topic. Do you know if it is mucous (hate to be gross, but I gotta ask) stopping up your nose, or are the actual tissues inside the nose swelling? If it is mucous, there are lost of ways to attack that. I never had that problem, so no advice here. I did have the swollen tissue problem though. The inside of my nose became swollen and inflamed when it was too DRY. It was completely counter-intuitive, but my doc told me to crank up the humidifier and that worked.

Comfort is all important to good therapy. You can't sleep if you're not comfortable. Trying out different things,and attacking one problem at a time, you will get there.

I hope you can find the answers you need. There are lots of great people here with a wealth of wisdom to share.

Thanks for your help. This may be a dumb question, but how do you know what kind of equipment you have? And where do i put that information? My nose is stopped up from swelling, i used some nose spray which helped for a while, but when i woke up i had to remove my mask cause i couldnt breathe. Oh, and my water chamber is not overflowing, i didnt even fill it to the line, and it was leaking out the bottom. I will call tomorrow to try and get that fixed.

Wow. Sorry to hear you are having such an awful time. As far as putting models and brand names, it helps if your say you have a Respironics or Resmed (or whatever brand and model) machine. Also whatever kind of headgear/mask. Honestly, if you don't know I'd be really unhappy with the DME who 'sold' it to you.
A good DME should explain all the equipment, give you documentation showing what it is and have explained how to use it.
If you already have nasal congestion for whatever reason (allergies, cold, etc.) they should have counseled you on how to handle it OR explained the choices in masks so you would not feel this way with what you so recently got.
I'm a newbie. One week. Haven't had to deal with a cold or congestion. But I'd be seriously unhappy if I told my DME I had a problem with congestion and they did not counsel me on appropriate mask choices to deal with it.
One other thing......if you have insurance which pays for mask replacements......you may want to use that to collect several types of masks to handle different situations.
Good luck. You are doing the right thing by calling them to get things fixed.

yeah i am kind of unhappy about the darn thing leaking, and I did tell her i have issues with my nose, and she just said to talk to my doc. about it. I am on medicare (im on disibility) and they dont cover much. They only way they will pay for their part is if i use it at least 4 hours a night for 21 days...i have a chip in the back of my machine that will tell them how much i have been using it. The only thing i know about my machine is its a ResMed H4i heated humidifier, and a Mirage FX nasal mask. The mask is very comfortable except for when your nose is stopped up and you cant breathe I may have to go with a different mask, but i'll see what we can work out.

When you call your DME, you can ask them the name of your machine. Then, click "User Control Panel" at the top left of the page, just below the search box. Click on the "profile" tab. The second selection down is the equipment page. There are drop down menus for each part of your equipment-- machine, humidifier, mask and software. At the bottom of the equipment profile page, there is a selection how you would like your equipment displayed... choose "text."

I am on Medicare, disabled also, and had a follow up appointment with my doctor after, I think, 2 or 3 weeks. Unless things vary by state (not sure?) Medicare will pay for a follow up. Whether your doctor wants to give you a follow up appointment is another question. My doctor, although feckless, is very happy to see me as often as needed. Your DME SHOULD be trying very hard to make sure you are able to comply with the insurance requirements.... if you don't comply, they lose a sale on an expensive machine and all the subsequent resupplies.

Your comfort definitely comes first. You have to be able to breathe. Talk to people here, talk to your doctor if possible, try to get the DME interested in helping you comply. If there is a will there is a way.

welcome to the forum butterflygirl26. It does sound like your reservoir may have a leak. Take the unit to your Durable Medical Equipment (DME) supplier tomorrow and have them check it out for you. That's what they are for and why they get to charge big bucks to the insurance company. On your user control panel you will find 'edit equipment' under the 'profile' tab. Look for any markings on the equipment and you will find the equipment list is pull down and just pick what is closest to what you seem to have.

I also use a nasal mask. If you have a cold, you just have to sleep without if you simply cannot breath. Unless that is, somebody can suggest a different mask for those times. I myself find that the cold tablets with pseudophedrin nasal decongestants combined with an antihistamine are pretty good for letting me breath on the occasional night I am stuffed up. If I get a full blown cold, I sleep sitting up on the sofa for a few days till I can mask up again.

I'll freely admit my anxiety made me short of breath and made my sinuses stuffy when masking up for the first several months. Once I realized I could trust the unit, I got into the routine... Get to bed, get calm, mask up with hose not attached to mask. If breathing OK with just the mask then calm enough. Then turn on blower. Finally when air is blowing, attach hose to the mask, lights out, and off to sleep. I think I slept with a light on for at least a week because I kept waking up and it was comforting not to wake up masked in the dark. I tell you this just so if you have any anxiety, we have been there too and it will pass.

Looks like you need to "mask-shop". Try a full face mask and see if you like it. You don't need to go to your doctor. Call your DME and see if they will allow you to swap for another mask. I rarely use my humidifier. I only use it when I'm plugged up. If you don't need your humidifier, don't use it. It will save time cleaning, getting distilled water, filling up etc... My humidifier was messed up when I first got my machine (it was empty every morning - and boiling all the water out) and my DME had to repair it. I appears that you are going thru the normal "tweaking" issues everyone has when they first get started on therapy. Keep trying... we'll help you thru it!

Sheriff

snuginarug wrote:When you call your DME, you can ask them the name of your machine. Then, click "User Control Panel" at the top left of the page, just below the search box. Click on the "profile" tab. The second selection down is the equipment page. There are drop down menus for each part of your equipment-- machine, humidifier, mask and software. At the bottom of the equipment profile page, there is a selection how you would like your equipment displayed... choose "text."

Good instructions from snug.

And here's a picture of the User Control Panel steps: