Just can't use cpap

[Andymanone]

Hi everyone, starting to feel like a lost cause at the moment. A long battle with OSA involving surgery that's not worked and a year long battle trying to use cpap. I have major dry mouth and blocked nose issues when trying the cpap and it's really intolerable. Yes I've tried both types of mask plus heated humidifier on full settings on both but two hours is my limit. Taking a glass of water to bed really isn't an option either as taking the mask off every ten minutes really won't improve my sleeping. Along with insomnia and severe loss of daytime energy I'm almost at the point of giving up. Recently diagnosed with CFS too my life is an ongoing struggle and I can't find anyone out there who can help me or understand these problems. I'm sure the hospital will take away my cpap on my next visit and I wouldn't blame them but then what? I can't carry on like this. Sorry guys needed a rant and seeking desperate help, Andy.

[ElleCee]

Hi Andy,
I don't know what CFS is but anyway..
You can get sprays for dry mouth from the chemists, kind of an artificial saliva. If you want to take a drink of water to bed try adding just a drop of lemon juice cos that will help make your mouth water on its own and don't take your mask of every time you need a sip. Use a straw and push it up the side of the mask, it takes a bit of practise but it does work and saves having to reseat the mask each time.

Hope that goes a little way to helping.

[Andymanone]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I will look into what you said, maybe the artificial saliva thing may work it's just that when I've tried taking water to bed I've had to have a drink every ten minutes or so which obviously stops me getting any sleep anyway so what's the point. Just really going round in those vicious circles and stuck with what to do next. Just want a normal nights sleep. Thanks for your suggestions, Andy.

[Grumpy]

the dryness problem

Hi Andy,

I have had similar problems but am hopefully on the way to getting it sorted.

The blocked nose problem can be solved using Sinupulse; its not a cheap solution but it does work.

My dehydration problem is potentially down to a hyperactive bladder.
I get up having just gone to bed, take off the mask, go to the bathroom, have a drink of water, have a pee, go back to bed and start the cpap again.
This can repeat 8 or 9 times a night. The key is to make sure you mask up every time; the machine is still registering between 4 and 7 hours most nights which makes me DVLA compliant.

Hoping to get test results in the next few days and then start trying out some drug therapy.

best wishes,
Ian

[symmit]

See if you can get hold of an auto machine and get the pressure down as low as possible, it'll compensate when you have an apnoeic episode.

Less irritation, and you can then up the pressure a bit at a time at your own pace to get to a comfortable and effective pressure.

[Sparticus]

The best thing to use for your nose is vapour, vics rub, obas oil anything you can get your hands on then put it on some tissue or cottonwool and stick it behind your machine near your inlet. If you get it right this will take care of your dry mouth as you will be able to breath threw your nose. An apap machine is all well and good but if the preasure is set too low then the machine will be hopeless! An apap machine takes quite a while to react to an event and most times misses them if your preasure is low to start with. I have overcome all the things that youve mentioned it just takes some time to fiddle with things so your comfatable when sleeping

[andymoir]

dont give up

Hi Andy...Another andy here

I quite agree with several other posts especially sparticus, I too have OSA and use a CPAP, I too get a dry mouth and have come to accept it rather than fight it, yep vics or similar as explained olbas oil near the inlet will help

I think my problem is medication, do you take any? the straw idea is great and Im going to give it a try myself, be careful not to break the gel seal on the mask if you have one

the artificial saliva spray/gel etc you can get from the chemists is expensive and I have been told doenst taste too great, the trouble you might get by putting the humidifier too high would be condensation in the tube

my pressure is set to 11 and humidifier is set to 4, however you should find a happy medium that suits you and stick to it
please dont give up, my life and that of my partners has been transformed since using my CPAP for the last 2 months

GOOD LUCK

[Kipper]

As Andymoir says, check any medication you are taking. I have just found out that one of my tablets can cause a dry mouth, so will be getting alternative from GP.
For nasal blockage, I was prescribed Mometasone 50 micrograms spray - far better than Vicks, etc.

[eurostar]

Hi Andy, I also have CFS. With the OSA it's a killer combo, isn't it? For the CFS I go here, where I am nick h. http://forum.chronicfatiguesyndrome.me.uk/ They're a good bunch with masses of help to offer you.

How exactly does your nose get blocked? I find it hard to imagine because I have a nasal pillow and a CPAP on high pressure - I can't see how my nostrils could ever get blocked while they're being blasted with such strong jets of air! Is it because you're producing lots of mucus during the night? If so, could a food intolerance be partly to blame? I find that if I give up milk my mucus production drops to almost nothing.

DON'T let the hospital take your machine away. You might find the answer if you keep trying new things.