question regarding my body's newest trick....

Snoop · Post by **Snoop** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 10:06 pm

I've been on CPAP therapy for about 2 years now.

My biggest frustration has been finding a mask that actually works well for me.
Right now I have a breeze and am OK with it....I only wish the mask makers would make something a little more streamlined (for the lack of a better term) that is smooth and doesn't catch on sheets and blankets.

I have fought with sleep walking for many years...which after I went on CPAP included removing my mask and placing it in the oddest places while I was sleeping.
I actually found my mask in the newspaper box on the front of our house one morning!...(not kidding!).

Onto my body's newest trick....lol

My wife swears that after I go to sleep with the machine (breathing normally in and out through my nose) a short time later I start to inhale through my nose and then exhale through my mouth. She tells me she watches me sleep and my mouth hangs open and I am simply exhaling my breath and the air pressure from my machine is not escaping through my mouth. She says she hears a small "clicking noise" from me with every breath...as if a valve is opening and closing...and when I'm inhaling I am not taking air in through my mouth, it's coming in through my mask as she can hear the air flow change through the machine. To summarize..best she can tell I'm inhaling through the machine and exhaling through my mouth.

Other then my wondering what else my wife is watching me do in the middle of the night (must be really bored evidently)...I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this situation?

I am on 13" and tolerate this pressure very easily as I am a large man and built quite solidly with excellent lung capacity (probably as a result of being in a marching band for 5 years with a tuba).

Just curious if anyone had any opinions of a possible cause of this?

Snoop

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 10:45 pm

Isn't it refreshing to get such good feedback from one's spouse.

I regard myself as very lucky that my wife will observe my sleeping when it seems to vary from the norm. Her feedback to me triggered me off into investigating what she was observing.

Sorry I don't have anything specific I can offer by way of feedback or things to try.

I tend to stick with a f/f mask which for me helps elimiate that type of problem.

Cheers

DSM

PhilinOK · Post by **PhilinOK** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:41 pm

dsm, I have been told that I do the same thing, minus the clicking noise. I don't have a full time observer, though - as a matter of fact, I currently don't have an observer, but next time I get one I will have her listen to me a little more closely.

yardbird · Post by **yardbird** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:47 am

I can identify the clicking sound! And it IS a valve opening and closing.
It's probably your tongue in the back of your throat. I don't know if you learned circular breathing for tuba, but I'm fairly sure as a musician you know what it is. I play didjeridoo and circular breathing is a necessity. Sounds to me like you are applying SOME of the mechanism of circular breathing as you sleep!

If you're breathing IN through your nose and out though your mouth AND as long as you're not just leaving airway open so all pressure blows right through..... I'd not be real concerned. If, however this is causing dry mouth or other problems, then maybe a chin strap to keep your mouth closed would be of benefit.

Snoop · Post by **Snoop** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:59 pm

yardbird -

I think you are probably on the money with your theory!

Thanks for the info all!

Snoop

Mask

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