Our veteran clinicians share their tips for success for CPAP therapy
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Today's Clinician
Braxton Erickson
Braxton has been a Registered Respiratory Therapist for 3 years and serves Apria's respiratory and CPAP patients in the Idaho region. Outside of work, Braxton enjoys trimming and shoeing horses for the public, training his own horses, and competing in local horse shows & ranch roping events.
CPAP
Q. I use my humidifier but the water runs out in the middle of the night and I either have to refill it or let it run out and wake up with dry mouth, what am I doing wrong?
A. The amount of water the humidifier uses will often be directly correlated to the leak of your mask. If your mask is leaking at an above normal rate, the machine will compensate by creating more pressure and flow, therefore the humidifier will use more water.
The first thing to do is check your seal and run a Mask Fit test on your PAP device, if it has that option. If you cannot obtain a proper seal, your cushion could be old and need replacing or cleaning. You might also want to try a different size or style of mask that could fit better. If you do have a good mask seal, try adjusting your machine’s humidifier. You may need to set your humidifier to manual to do this. The humidifier will use less water at a lower setting but adjust it to a level that you don’t experience a dry mouth or nose.
Your local Apria respiratory therapist is a great resource if you have any problems completing these steps.
For more information: Why your mask is leaking and how to fix it.
Q. I’m wearing my CPAP (full face mask) but have been told my snoring is still significant. Does this mean I need to increase the amount of air flow?
A. Contact your local Apria respiratory therapist who can download and review your machine’s data and determine how well the PAP device is treating your sleep apnea. If you are still experiencing snoring while wearing the device, it’s most likely that the pressure settings are not adequately treating sleep apnea events. Increasing the pressure is most likely the answer. Depending on your prescription, your Apria RT may be able to increase the pressure settings to keep your airway open while sleeping. It can also be a great idea to contact your doctor that oversees your sleep therapy and discuss their recommendations.
Q. What do I do if I use nose pillows and become sick or my nose becomes congested and have a hard time breathing through my nose?
A. Using a nasal mask or nasal pillow mask while being congested can often be very uncomfortable. Using over-the-counter decongestant drugs or a saline solution irrigator can often ease congestion, allowing the therapy to be more comfortable while you’re sick.
The PAP device’s humidifier can also help to loosen and reduce congestion. Another option is to try a full-face mask. This would allow you to breathe through your mouth while also treating your sleep apnea. A patient’s prescription usually states to always use the PAP device while sleeping, and it's critical to adhere to your treatment. Contact your local Apria RT to see what options you have for ordering a full-face mask.
For more information: How to sleep well with CPAP even while sick.
Q. Why am I passing a lot of gas after using my CPAP? Or I wake up feeling really bloated, what is causing this?
A. If you’re experiencing gas or bloating when waking up after using your PAP device, you’re likely experiencing what's called aerophagia, or air swallowing. Usually this occurs when the muscles of the esophagus are relaxed during sleep and the air flow from the PAP device enters the stomach. It’s generally not considered harmful, but it isn’t comfortable.
Several options to prevent air swallowing are available. You may want to try a nasal mask; research shows that nasal and nasal pillow masks can often reduce aerophagia. You can also try sleeping on your side or raising the level of your head while sleeping. Over-the-counter anti-gas medications could also reduce the symptoms of bloating. I would recommend you contact your doctor before taking these medications, though. Contact your local Apria RT for guidance on reducing symptoms of air swallowing.
For more information: Bloating from CPAP therapy.
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