newbie has figured it out!! :)

Hi everyone!
So glad to see others out there to share with. Reading this forum kept me from giving up and lead me to try different things to overcome my individual and universal problems with CPAP and I want to thank you... Mostly for the encouraging words that you give to each other...don't give up!

I got diagnosed with OSA in August. I have a AHI of 22 and 33 when I stay at my home in the mountains. I think I have had apnea pretty much all my life. My mother tells me I snored as early as three.
anyway... I know I have had fatigue and snoring for sure since childhood and always thought I was depressed, and lazy. So did everyone else. It's nice to know that there is another reason and i'm not lazy, just tired. It's also nice to see others who understand.

I also have had humidity induced (Intrinsic asthma) since I was 5. my mother moved my brother and I to New Mexico when I was 8 and my asthma reduced greatly since the move. I only get asthma now when Its going to rain, i am sick with a cold or flu, and sometimes I get exercise induced asthma. I did develop some mild Extrinsic asthma from certain things later in life...perfume and some flowers.

Humidity however brings on the worst attacks and I go into respiratory distress when humidity get's into my lungs...Not the mold or other allergens from the humidity, the humidity or water itself (wet lung) so when I got my machine on October 17th 2012 and the therapist said that I need to use the humidifier I knew it was going to be a problem.

Dealing with mask leaks and dry mouth is bad enough but adding asthma and spinal problems to the mix is absolutely insane. But I did it and solved all of my problems in less than two months.

I started with the humidity level at .5 which is very little humidity and moved up to a 1.5 and that's tolerable on nights when I am clear and there isn't any extra humidity in the air. other wise I have to stay at .5. and you know that leaves you with dry mouth. I searched the internet for a few weeks till I found three great products that have eliminated (not reduced) my dry mouth. But you have to use them all day everyday.... Biotene tooth paste, btiotene oral balance gel or spay (I use it three times a day and before bed) and during the night while on CPAP I use OraMoist Dry Mouth Patch or XyliMelts for Dry Mouth. The last two are time release and last me for about 7 hours. For me that's good sleep. I don't know if it works that many hours for everyone...movement of your tongue and other factors may change that?

As for the Asthma, if you are having an increase in asthma symptoms or having them for the first time using your CPAP then you probably have humidity induced intrinsic asthma. There are doctors who will tell you that humidity is good for all asthma. Unfortunately, they are going off of really old research and a lot of doctors do not keep up with new research and many refuse to do so? I have no idea why, they to me, are like my mother who still thinks the best way to get rid of a nose bleed is with toilet paper under your upper lip and a cross on your head made from broom sticks. She doesn't believe that your noses stops bleeding because you are lying down. lol

For those of you who are interested look it up, it's real. There is a lot of research out there and some of it is conflicting but's that's pretty typical in the medical felid. I also have three kids with asthma so I have done a lot of research over the years. Everyone is different and there are different types of asthma.

Most of the research out there states that humidity triggers asthma because there is an increase in dust mites in the air and that is true as well, but other research indicates that the weight of the air is what actually causes the attack. It is widely accepted that any factor that exerts pressure on lungs will trigger asthma symptoms for those with asthma and Humid air with more water content is heavier, which makes it hard for asthma patients to breathe. Non-allergic asthma is triggered by other factors as well, such as stress, exercise, anxiety, cold air, dry air, humidity, hyperventilation, viruses. The immune system is not involved in the reaction in non-allergic asthma

The key to asthma is education, once you know what you are dealing with the better equipped you are to deal with it.

My advice to those experiencing asthma symptoms from your CPAP that you didn't have before the CPAP is to see your doctor and talk to him/her about the humidity research. Get them to look at it or change doctors if you have too to help you reduce the level on your machine and work your way up until your lungs get used to the heavier air. Use the xylitol products, they work for the dry mouth. Saline for the nose.

last thing I want to talk about is mask leaks.

Aside from asthma, I also have an osteophyte and spinal stenosis so I can't tighten my straps without pain and have to leave them loose or can't sleep. I struggled for about a week trying to figure out the headgear until I finally came up with a device that stops all my ffm mask leaks and keeps my mouth closed enough to stop jaw drop but leaves it open enough to breathe. I hate breathing through my nose and I freak out if I tape my mouth... so this thing I made is a minimal addition to the mask, no chin straps, no tape. Who wants more gear?? not me! I just wanted the leaks to stop and thats what it does!
I have been sleeping like a baby for the last two weeks.

I think my adjustment period was so short because I understand my own health issues and was therefore able to come up solutions. get educated about your own health.

Last thing for other newbies... listening to music or nature sounds instead of pills with (comfortable headphones) takes your mind off the mask and machine so you can drift off to sleep.

Thank you for the encouraging words and for sharing your stories! Don't Give up!!!!

Masks used: ffm ResMed Mirage Quatro/ Hans Rudolph 7600 V2/ Swift FX Nasal
ResMed Escape
Start Pressure 4
Ramp 25 min
Set Pressure: 7
AHI 22

That you so much for that information on asthma, I had no idea there were different kinds and that some are affected by more humidity!

You said: ..." I finally came up with a device that stops all my ffm mask leaks and keeps my mouth closed enough to stop jaw drop but leaves it open enough to breathe"...

So what kind of contraption did you invent? I have a Mirage Quattro ffm. I bought a fabric mask liner and headbar cushion combo thingy from PadACheek. Saved my forehead from forming sores and helps some with mask leaks and the mask rubbing on the skin. But really, what kind of thing did you invent?

My opinion is that their mask headgear strap needs to be redesigned to pull the bottom of the mask UP at a slightly different angle instead of just 'across' and squashed to the face. Really, designers don't really think things all the way through! I have to wait another month before I can get a free strap and I want to try the smaller headgear as I have a smaller head anyway. Why they sell the LARGE strap thing with a small mask is beyond crazy! At PadACheek they had one of those chin type straps that go over the "air in hole" area and around the top back of the head. But, like you, I was feeling that would be a bit much, and was just sitting here trying to figure out how you did yours? I have to breathe a lot through my mouth too--something I had no idea about but found out the hard way because I chose the Whisp nasal mask to start out with. Loved it.....except my nose stayed totally stopped up all the time, new development in my life, but then, I had never been on oxygen before either. That's how I ended up in a full face mask.

Bunch of folks here "jump" on the humidifier bandwagon without seeing if they really "NEED" it or not. I thought I needed it early on, but when the humidifier broke, I realised I really didn't need it while it was being repaired. I do get dry mouth, but I have gotten used to it as I have had to with a lot of cpap-related issues. Plus, I don't mess with all the moisture-related hygiene issues, lugging water everywhere, etc... I know a lot of people have sinus issues and it may be a comfort thang', but it has been several months since I've asked this. Ask yourself:

DO YOU REALLY NEED THE HUMIDIFIER?

Go a couple of days without it.... see what happens. Just sayin'....

Sheriff

OK Sheriff I admit that it would be nice to not bother with the humidifer, but keep in mind that a dry mouth can lead to tooth decay and periodontis as saliva has some protective nature to it. So for anyone going that route I would recommend to especially keep up with brushing and flossing and make sure your mouth isn't dry throughout the daytime.

Sheriff Buford wrote:DO YOU REALLY NEED THE HUMIDIFIER?

Yes, as a matter of fact I do.
Or I guess I should say my nasal mucosa need the added moisture or they get really ugly and throw a big hissy fit and make me totally miserable for 3 or 4 days.
How do I know? Long time ago (when first starting cpap) I took Wulfman's advice and reduced the setting to 1 on the humidifier. Woke up with the most awful allergy like symptoms...runny nose, congestion, sneezing, horrible sinus pressure and tooth ache....totally miserable...took me 3 full days to get things back to normal.
So some people might think...coincidence...was a real allergy attack or sinus infection or simple cold.
Nope...3 times I have forgotten to fill the tank and it has gone dry during the night and all 3 times I woke up with exact same symptoms. That's not a coincidence. It's been a long time since I forgot to top off the tank and I have to do it pretty much every night....I learned my lesson.

I know that there are people who can get by without the added moisture or they can get by with minimal amount of added moisture as in passover mode but there are people who simply need the added moisture and in my case...a lot of it to make the nasal mucosa happy. Since they can make me miserable when they are unhappy then I gladly do what it takes to keep them happy.

I do believe I would do without the machine before I would use it without the humidifier because when my nasal mucosa get mad they stay mad for several days.

I went without my humidifier for a couple of years then suddenly it all changed. Now I can't seem to get enough. I don't understand this at all.