Anyone have a BiPAP machine for sleep apnea?

I got my CPAP 2 weeks ago but I am having trouble adjusting to it. While I am inhaling and exhaling it seems the CPAP is disrupting my flow of air, causing me to gag. When I am exhaling, before I complete the exhale it seems like it is trying to blow air back into me. This is causing me some breathing problems and when I am asleep I keep waking up because of the disruption. This in turn makes me even more drowsy during the daytime, even worse than the original apnea problem.

I was thinking of stopping the CPAP but after googling CPAP problems I found that this sometimes happens with people who use the CPAP. They suggest using a BiPAP machine instead which will better help with a person's breathing.

I was wondering if anyone had a problem using the CPAP and eventually switched to a BiPAP and if it was an acceptable solution to a sleep apnea problem. For the others who use the CPAP, how do you handle the disruptions or did your body just get used to the CPAP?

 

Can you have surgery done for that problem?

 

I have been on CPAP for 6-7 years. I use it 99.5% of the time and have gotten used to it and have trouble sleeping without it (mouth breather). Occasionally I have trouble getting settled and have to remove it and take a few deep breathes. It sounds like your pressure might be too high.

There are a few great message boards out there that might be of help. CPAPTALK.com is one. Check there.

I am no expert and not a doctor, but I would fiddle with you settings. Sometimes they are "locked down" by the provider, but you can google to find out how to bypass it.

 

I've been on CPAP for about 7 months now. I use just the nasal pillows, not a full mask, which has helped me with feelings of claustrophobia or being gagged by the mask. If you feel that you aren't getting enough air, you can inhale with your mouth. The pillows only work if you are a nose breather, though. I am not an expert, but if your mask is pushing back at the end of your exhale, it sounds like it isn't titrated correctly. You may want to talk to your provider about lowering your pressure.

 

I have used a CPAP machine for about 20 years and have had no problem. If I don't use it (only times I don't are when it isn't working properly), my sleep is HORRIBLE.

I can tell when it's working properly becaise I achieve REM sleep (have dreams).

 

Lots of great info at this board...

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Public-Area

 

Yea it takes a little while to get use to it, I use the Resmed Autoset

 

I've been using a CPAP for about 15 years and had some difficulty at first, but now can't sleep without it. Most machines can either be set to start on full power or have the option to ramp up the air slowly, might be worth checking out?

 

For some - yes. I moved to nasal pillow a few years back and they work great. I am a terrible mouth breather, but switch to nose with the mask on. If I fall asleep without CPAP, I go back to mouth breathing and sleep poorly.

 

I have been using one for 11 years. You may want to go back to your doc to have your settings checked to make sure it is set properly for your specific condition. 2 weeks IMHO is way to long to adjust to having one.

Dumb question, are you exhaling with your mouth open? If so that might be the problem. I sleep now with my mouth closed since being put on the CPAP.

 

I have a CPAP and also have insomnia issues. It was probably 6-7 months before I could fall asleep with the CPAP on. But I adjusted.

I would give it awhile longer to adjust before assuming you simply can't use it. The feeling of the pressure resisting you is quite common, but you get used to it.

What pressure do you have it set at? And does your CPAP have a ramp up or SenseAwake feature?

 

Hey, thanks for all the responses. I didn't realize that this was a problem for many.

My CPAP machine has a ramp. It starts off at 4 which I can handle but I noticed that once it gets to 6 I start to have breathing issues and when I notice it affecting my exhaling. It's as if I am trying to breathe out but something is in my way preventing the exhale or even trying to push air in, which causes me to gag. My CPAP also goes up as the night goes on, it is programmed to handle my apnea situation by raising the pressure. My history shows that it goes up to an average of 8 point something. Once or twice I got up gagging and the pressure was at 9 and once at 10 (although the technician said that it doesn't go over 9).

I asked the CPAP people about lowering the pressure but she said that only the doctor can prescribe a lower pressure. The other problem though was that the pressure goes up during the night to handle my apnea issue but then I wake up gagging even worse. I have to see if the dr. can also lower that pressure or if the machine can be lowered. I also asked the CPAP people if I could change the settings or anything (like the humidifier) and there were a couple of things to touch but nothing helped and I would probably have to speak with a dr to adjust the pressure settings.

I have the mask that just fits over my nose. During my overnight sleep study I tried the mask that goes over the lower part of my face (nose and mouth) but I felt I couldn't get a good seal. Apparently it turns out that the problem may have been the same thing bothering me now.

Yes I could probably get surgery for my apnea problem but my problem isn't that bad (they rated it between moderate and next one less moderate) so I'm not sure if my medical insurance will take care of my surgery.

I have been a heavy snorer so guess sometimes I open my mouth when I'm sleeping. Using the CPAP I keep my mouth closed but guess I could try it with my mouth open (except I can hear the noise of the air rushing by). I have had this apnea problem for over 15 years at least. I didn't realize what it was until my SO at the time said that at times I would stop breathing for a few MINUTES and then get up as if I was gasping for breath, which I was.

Part of my problem is that my medical insurance requires that I use the CPAP for 4 hours a day over a period of 12 months. Unfortunately in the 15 days that I have had the CPAP there was only 1 day where I hit the 4 hour mark, and that was forcing myself to keep putting it back on after I gag and take it off. Using the CPAP I have never been able to sleep more than a few hours without waking up. When I got the CPAP the technicians said that I should sleep the whole night but my problems with the CPAP are worse than my apnea problem because the next day I am tired and feel like I'm sleep walking.

Lately the past few days my body has been rejecting the CPAP though, I put it on when I go to sleep and as soon as I fall asleep my body gags and I take off the mask. Not sure if it's a claustrophobia issue but I feel like I need to take off the mask to breathe. In the beginning I was okay with the mask but because of the gagging I think my body is rejecting it.


Thanks for all the suggestions and when I have time I will check the sites out. I also need to make an appt with my dr to see if he has any solutions to my problem but right now I will probably lay off the CPAP until my issues can be resolved.

I was just hoping that someone had used a BiPAP in place of the CPAP. Googling CPAP says that a BiPAP may be a better solution for me. I will check with my dr. to see if I can try a BiPAP instead.

 

Lots of good info on this thread for you. I like others had some difficulty at first for a few weeks. I found it helpful to sleep with it for a few hours then take it off. Once you get that first night of 10 hour uninterrupted sleep you will be hooked lol. Good luck with it.

On a side note. Do you all carry your machines onto flights with you? I'm afraid to check mine because they are so expensive. Figured I'd just carry it on to protect it at least the machine will check the hose and mask etc.

 

Like Sonya, I went to the resmed P10 a few years back. Way better for me.

As to your pressure issue and needing a Dr to adjust the pressure setting. I have ZERO intelligent facts on this but...... I think all of that is partially just a scam to get you into the Dr. office. Just like buying a replacement requires a prescription. BS in my book.

I would google your device and find the "secret" code to lower your setting. My thinking is a lower pressure must be better than what you are doing now (taking it off)

As to the mouth open thing. Being a bad mouth breather, I have taught myself to breath through my nose with my mouth open, but my tongue on the top of the mouth. It seals off the breathing from the mouth and forces it my nose. As I move my tongue up or down by breathing INSTANTLY changes from mouth to nose and back again.

 

As to taking on the plane. Been doing for years and have checked it often. It is near the bottom and padded with clothes. Not a big issue as it is pretty solid. But, in the past few years we have begun to do carryon only. Even did that on a round the world trip with 16 flights. I had stopped worrying about distilled water and just used filtered water. But for that trip I removed the humidifier/water part and do not use that anymore. The smaller unit fits fine in my carryon/rollaboard. TSA used to want to take it out but they have since stopped doing that. I expect somebody will decide they are bomb material one of these days and change it. LOL!

 

They do it in Canada too, so not complete scam (I mean, the Dr still gets paid, but they have no issue getting enough business). Having gotten this lecture recently (I have a CPAP I CAN adjust the pressure on), apparently if you adjust it too high you can make the issue worse or cause central sleep apnea. Lower pressure no idea but presumably the idea is it just won't work.

 

I had to change pressures every so often after I got mine. I turned the Ramp off and the Humidity on minimal.

Do you have a Resmed? Press and hold (for several seconds) the "Home" button and the button in the round dial simultaneously. This gets you in the "Clinical" mode to change the pressures. Turn the dial to move (or change values) to the menu item, press (once) the round button to select. Log your settings and try adjusting.

If you have a BPAP there are two pressures. One is to keep the pressure on and the other is the higher one during inhalation. Turn both down a notch and see what happens.

 

I found a bag at the Golden Gate that is small enough to carry my CPAP, power supply, hose and mask.

I realize that this is a little off-topic, but I thought I'd show you the bag that I use when I travel. It fits my CPAP quite well and is much smaller than the "stock" bag that the manufacturer supplies.

My CPAP "rig". I am using a Remstar Pro by Phillips


The bag I got from Golden Gate casino (downtown)


The bag plus a ruler. It's about 12" tall and I can remove it from my luggage as necessary, since I'm told that medical equipment is "carry-on-able" as a "third" carry-on item.



Hope this helps someone.