Latent Difficulties with CPAP

[kurtchan]

So, here I am six months into my CPAP therapy and, in the last four weeks, I've suddenly developed difficulties keeping the mask on all night. I seem to be waking up 2 or 3 hours after going to bed coughing and spluttering badly enough to take the mask off and leave it off for the rest of the night. Needless to say, after a month of this, I'm exhausted again and feeling like I did before I even started using the CPAP.

Trying to analyze what's going on, the only major difference I can see is my weight. I joined Weight Watchers in mid-September and have already lost 30+ pounds. But, the doctors keep telling us that losing weight will improve the OSA, not compound it, so I can't figure out what's going on. I'd venture that my airway is already open and the machine is just getting in the way, but once I take off the mask, my sleep goes back to the old no-Rem, no rest pattern.

[Moogy]

The other thing that changes about this time of year is the weather. Cooler houses make a difference in how our humidifiers work. Try varying your humidifier settings--when I cough and sputter, the problem is usually too much humidity in my mask, but maybe not enough for rainout.

Moogy

[Julie]

Congrats on the weight loss! Have you tried lowering your pressure to accommocate for the loss - you just might not need it so high anymore!

[dsm]

Re weight loss. What I find is that when it happens, I have trouble with mask fit and then seem to spend many nights trying to adjust the mask & straps.

I wonder if this particular problem is because of changing face shape.

Good luck

DSM

[GoofyUT]

I've noticed this too Doug, especially I have lost a HUGE amount of weight since starting xPAP. My face is MUCH thinner!! However, fortunately, the Swift seems to acccomodate to these changes easily, and with only slight readjustments of the strap tension.

I do take the extra precaustion of loosening the straps entirely EVERY morning when I awaken. That way, I have to adjust them every night, which is a good thing because I'm losing an average of 2 lbs. a week. But, the Swift has and contuinues to work fine for me throughout.

Cheers!

Chuck

(P.S. I hope that your blushing has receded)

[Snoredog]

congratulations on the weight loss,

are you taking any new diet pills, supplements or medications with the diet?

Medications can easily impact the level of melatonin your body produces (hence poorer sleep, waking up etc.).

If it is a prescription medication, read the adverse side effects in the prescribing information packet to see if it says may impact sleep.

You also have to be careful with any herbal supplements, some can wire you up, others can settle you down but can also increase your blood clotting risk factors.

Lastly,

If you have lost 30lbs. your pressure may now be too high. That could easily produce pressure induced centrals even if you never had them before, those would WAKE you during the night to a completely wake state. You would also feel like you are dying or already dead the next morning.

I would lower your Maximum pressure to 1cm below your last titration pressure especially with the machine you have.