CPAP Issues

[Chicadee 10]

I just made a phone call to my medical supply company to see if one of their respiratory people can call me back. I hope they can do something to help. Since I have lost a good amount of weight my mask is now causing me to swallow air and/or pass air out of my mouth in the night causing me to sound like I am making raspberries.

While writing this they called me back and said they cannot do anything without a doctor's order. He said it sounds like my pressure setting is now too high. I no longer see the doctors that prescribed the CPAP to me 4 years ago so gonna contact my primary and see what if anything they can do.

Anyone else run into this issue? I'd hate to have another sleep study now knowing I am just going to continue to lose weight. I have quite a long way to go yet.

If i stop wearing it for any length of time I start feeling like total crap. I can't wear it waking up every morning with a full stomach of air, it is uncomfortable.

[lucill35 73]

I have no answers for you but am interested in any information anyone can provide. I have had my cpap for almost 2 years and have recently realized that I was extremely gassy and attributed it to the cpap but didn't realize how/why. I have lost 70 lbs since surgery and figured that I didn't want to pay another $3,000 for a sleep study but would just try and sleep without the machine and see how I did. My power was out last week due to storms so it seemed like a good time to try it out. AHH!!! Didn't sleep at all until the power came back on at 3:30a. So it seems I still need the machine but I think it needs to be adjusted as well and I'm not sure how to go about it without the sleep study. Good luck to you and I will be keeping an eye out for any answers/suggestions

[Hubie 1]

Irecently got a new CPAP machine after 8 years with the old one. The firstcouple of night I did not sleep well at all. I compared the airflow of my new machine to my old one and itseemed kid of low. I goggled how to adjust the airflow and found it prettyquick. It was easy and simple. I would recommend you adjust it yourself. Itwould take another sleep study, follow up appointment, $$$$$$$$$ for the MDworld to figure out what you need…….Good luck

[Griselda 7]

It is also possible that you have lost enough weight in your face that your mask is no longer fitting you properly. Have you tried adjusting it? Ultimately, a new sleep study would be the way to go, but you might be able to play around with the mask and get it to fit better and if your machine can be changed as far as pressure, then you might try what Hubie said.

[snowfie9 6]

They REALLY don't want people adjusting their own CPAPS. but it can take a month or more just to get into a sleep study, and then another 2-4 weeks for the evaluation to come back and tell you wha tit should be. And by then you'll have lost even MORE weight and it'll STILL be wrong.

Long ago I did a google search on the make/model of my cpap and found a comment on a forum that shows the magical key-combination to change my pressure. I never set it above a certain pressure, but I set it lower if I know it needs to be lower. (and I can tell).

Up to you. but there are options.

[FatJuicyMouse 1]

I could tell my pressure needs had changed a month after surgery. I belched like an old drunk every time I sat upright and that had not happened before! I called my PCP who had set me up with the sleep study (I have no idea which doctor read the results - never met the man or even know where his office is) and got a copy of my prescription. I then ordered an APAP online and have slept like a baby and found a few of the more than 17 masks I have tried over the years actually worked without leaking now. I don't have insurance and could barely pay for the sleep study, machine and masks when I DID have insurance. There was no way I was going to have a sleep study when I wasn't anywhere near my weight loss goal! My old machine was set at 14 and the new one never seems to go up that high now. I made the investment because I not only have obstructive apnea but central apnea and I was never going to be able to do without a machine.

Linda

[Chicadee 10]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I found the instructions to change my pressure online and I will experiment with it rather than wait for anything else to happen. My pressure was 11, I am going to see what happens with 9 and go from there.

Thanks again.

[sasicas 194]

Ohhh! I wonder if that is my problem! I keep meaning to schedule an appt with my RT and just haven't gotten around to it. I went from not having issues to waking up with a super dry mouth and throat every day now. Dh says it sounds like I am breathing really heavy almost enough to sound like I am snoring again with the mask on. Hmmm, guess I better get on the ball and make that phone call tomorrow.