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Introduce Yourself!

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mhugs +1 point · about 8 years ago

New here, experiencing really dry mouth issues. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea back when my friends had even heard of it. Having my CPAP machine changed my life. I only wish I'd been diagnosed earlier. Any way I'm on my 2nd or third machine-they keep getting smaller, and I have tried various masks over the 20ish years. My original mask was the best fitting but it is no longer made :(. Glad I found this site.

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DanM +0 points · about 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast Support Team

Hi mhugs. If the dry mouth issues are new and have not been a problem in the past, it may be worth making sure your humidifier is working properly. I have worked with patients in the past where we did find the humidifier failed and stopped warming the water. Best wishes!

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wiredgeorge +0 points · about 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

Dry mouth is a med issue and can have effects beyond just annoying. I tried all the Biotene products and their mouth wash has helped a bit over time but I recently was tipped off to Xylimelts which are little lozenges you place next to your molars and against your cheeks at night. They disolve VERY slowly and last all night and have really made a huge difference with dry mouth in my case. I bought a pack at CVS pharmacy to try them and will end up buy via the internet as they are pricy but very effective. The initial pack I bought were mint flavored but the mint is faint and not obtrusive and I am hooked. First time since on PAP therapy I haven't had super dry mouth in the morning!

http://www.oracoat.com/products/xmdm

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Sleep +0 points · about 8 years ago

Xylimelts are a very interesting concept, glad you are receiving some help with the dry mouth Wiredgeorge.

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wiredgeorge +1 point · about 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

I can now kiss my pretty young wife after removing my mask where before it took at least 10 minutes to get the lips working! A+ product+ Much more effective than Biotene toothpaste or mouthwash. They work decently but the Xylimelts last through the night and I haven't had them fully gone, even after 7 hours of sleep.

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DanM +0 points · about 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast Support Team

Thanks for sharing, wiredgeorge! I had never heard of this product until it was mentioned here on the Forum.

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BrightAzureJaguar5129 +1 point · about 8 years ago

Hello! I'm just starting my treatment (8 days on CPAP, being switched to APAP now). I was looking up information on what to do when running into a treatment problem, and this seemed to be a very nice, helpful forum. Nice to meet you all.

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DanM +1 point · about 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast Support Team

Welcome, and congratulations on starting your therapy! Our community members are excellent, and we enjoy sharing what we can to help others. Please keep us posted on your progress, and feel free to ask any questions! Also, if you want to change your Forum display name, click on the tiny down arrow in the top bar of your screen and go to the Settings page. You can change your Forum name field to something you prefer if you don't want to be BrightAzureJaguar5129.

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UnderstandingTealJellyfish9394 +0 points · about 8 years ago

Hi, folks. I've had sleep apnea for years, but didn't learn about it until this summer. I went to my doctor in February because I was down to two hours of sleep at a time. His usual course of healthcare is pills. I am now probably addicted to Ambien. I can't go to sleep without being on it. Then, I had an oxygen test where I wore a sensor clamped on my finger overnight until it came off, and they took a reading from that machine. Then I went for an overnight sleep study at the hospital. They discovered I was having 50.2 AHI. They put in motion the process of my getting a CPAP machine, which turned out to be an APAP machine - ResMed AirSense 10. I've been using it for two weeks.

Last Friday, they had me in for a second sleep study, wearing the full face mask this time. I won't find out the results of that until I see the sleep doctor at the end of September. My fear is that I take an Ambien to go to sleep, wait for it to start to work, go to bed, put my mask on and become sedated enough to fall asleep. At some time between an hour and a half and five hours, I take the mask off, but I have no memory of doing it. I'm not having any leak issues or a bad fit, there's this thing strapped on my face. At some point in my drug-induced state I take off the mask because it bothers me. At this point I know I have REM sleep, because I remember my dreams. So I get between 2 and 5 hours of use of the mask. My experience seems to be making me more tired; than I've ever been. I go to work and have to fight the urge to close my eyes all afternoon, or I know I'll fall asleep sitting at my desk. If if's so bad that I have to take a nap when I get home, I have to take half an Ambien, or I'll just lay there for an hour or more, not able to fall all the way asleep. I know the object is to be able to go to sleep without drugs, but I'm afraid I'm not there yet; I wonder if I will ever be there. This is also going to mess up my Ambien prescription because I'm going to run out of pills before I'm eligible to get more. That's going to be a problem.

Last night, I slept for 5 1/2 hours with the mask on, and two more without it, but I was still fighting sleep all day, and that was a good night for me so far. I can't properly articulate what I'm asking. I guess I want to know if it gets better. Another thing: when I started with the nasal pillows, I was aware that the incoming air was warm. With the full-face mask, it seems to be blowing cold air up my nose, which is making it harder to go to sleep- even though I have warming turned on. Does anyone have any words of encouragement? I would give just about anything not to be so tired all the time. I don't want to have to fight narcolepsy, too. I don't know, if I could get prescription amphetamine-type drugs I could see that helping me to stay awake. But it would also make me dependent on uppers and downers, and that's a road I don't want to have to travel on. I just need to be asleep at night, and awake during the day. I wonder if I'm ever going to get there... I'm sorry if I sound discoruaged, but I guess I am. Does it get better?

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DanM +0 points · about 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast Support Team

Hi @UnderstandingTealJellyfish9343. Adjust to CPAP or APAP and the changes in treatment can definitely take some time. Hopefully, your latest sleep study will help provide some answers regarding both how you are sleeping and how well you are breathing during sleep. It is common for patients to wake up and find the mask in bed next to them, often with no recollection of taking off the mask. I was one of those patients, and this went on for months and months. I slowly built my tolerance to the mask, and now I wear it all night (most of the time). There is still the occasional morning when I will wake up and find the mask next to me, and I suppose I removed it at some point because it was bothering me. But that is really rare these days. As for the continued sleepiness, there are many other things that can contribute to that feeling--medications and other health conditions are things to consider. I encourage you to speak with your sleep physician about how you are feeling and explore other options. Have you tried adjusting your humidifier to a higher setting for more warmth and moisture? Are you using heated tubing? These things may help, and some patients report that using a hose wrap also helps. Keep up the good work, talk to you doctor about your continued sleepiness, and please keep us posted on your progress! Best wishes!

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brose005 +0 points · about 8 years ago

Hey there. Glad to have found this place. Hope to get some answers to my queries. I suspect I may have sleep apnea and hope to get it figured out. Thanks in advance for the help!

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DanM +0 points · about 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast Support Team

Hi there. I replied to your other post about how to proceed with testing. Feel free to ask any other questions, and good luck! Sleep that is interrupted by symptoms of sleep apnea can cause fatigue and sleepiness, so I hope you get some answers soon.

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compwiz878 +1 point · about 8 years ago

Hi Im kinda been lurking around the site reading the forums . Ive been diagnosed with sleep apnea and ive been useing a cpap machine for about 2.5 years ans the cpap therapy has help alot with my apnea .

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DanM +0 points · about 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast Support Team

Hi compwiz878. Glad to hear you CPAP machine has helped with your apnea. Hopefully, this will continue for you. Happy sleeping!

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ModestBeigeTrout7858 +0 points · about 8 years ago

Hi ,Norine here! I just got my CPPAC. 3 nights in and having a had time adjusting. Hard to get to sleep, waking up with mouth full of air, leaking mask, severe dry mouth ! My sleep quality is far worse!!! Please tell me this will improve

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DanM +0 points · about 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast Support Team

Hi Norine. I'm sorry to hear you are having a hard time adjust to your CPAP. Three nights means you are really new, and adjusting does take time. Consider practicing wearing the machine while you read or watch television in the evenings to get used to the way everything feels. You might also practice laying in bed and getting into a the position you find comfortable for sleeping. Troubleshoot your mask leaks while you are awake and practicing. If you continue to find the mask leaks too much, I encourage you to call the equipment provider. It may be that a different mask style or size will help. As for the dry mouth, are you using a humidifier with your machine? If so, is it adjusted properly? Sometimes just increasing the humidification setting can help. Best wishes, and I hope thing start to improve quickly!

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wiredgeorge +0 points · about 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

MBT7858 - Try looking through the many threads on the subjects you find you need info on. Lots of discussion. It will get better as you figure things out!

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NannyVal +1 point · about 8 years ago

Hi there! I'm Vallery. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in July 2016. Dr. says I quit breathing 63 times the night of my sleep study. I am starting to feel better already. So far so good on the cpap machine. I've actually been surprised at how easily I've adjusted to it. There have been a few nights when I could tell I didn't sleep as well. Glad to find this site!

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DanM +0 points · about 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast Support Team

Welcome, Vallery! Glad to hear treatment is already helping. Feel free to continue to share your experiences!

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PhilosophicalPeriwinkleWaterBuffalo6398 +0 points · about 8 years ago

Hi! My name is Janette. This is my first time visiting this website. I live in the Chicago area, and I'm 57 years old. I was diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea at the end of July 2016, and started CPAP Therapy on August 8, 2016. I use the nose pillows, and it took me only two days to get used to using the machine. This is the reason why I'm doing the therapy: On May 15, 2016, I woke up to a little blurry vision on the corner of my right eye. It took twelve days to lose my vision on my right eye. The worst part? It occurred during the week of my 25th Wedding Anniversary. I was diagnosed with "Ischemic Optic Neuropathy", also known as a stroke on the optic nerve. After all the tests that they performed in the hospital came back negative, it was suggested that I get a sleep study done. Guess what??? The results came back positive for sleep apnea. I stopped breathing 13 times each hour for a period of three hours. I do believe that my condition caused my eye stroke. I'll do anything in my power to save and protect my good eye. Last night, I had my follow-up appointment. The therapy is working. The report showed an average .2 in a period of six weeks - that is, I stopped breathing .2 times per hour using the CPAP machine, as opposed to 13 times each hour without the machine. The doctor didn't want to change anything. Is there anyone else that has experienced an eye stroke caused by sleep apnea? It was very devastating for me. My vision won't come back because the optic nerve was damaged. Thank you for providing me with the opportunity to share my story.

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Sherry +0 points · about 8 years ago Sleep Commentator

Janette, thanks for sharing your story! I know it will raise the awareness of many. Keep sharing it and telling everyone about MyApnea.Org where there is great information and surveys. I find that the surveys are very insightful. I realized that my son had sleep apnea through working through a survey. Then we proceeded to a sleep study where he was diagnosed. I have been a sleep apnea patient for 25+ years. I have never heard of an eye stroke so you have raised my awareness. We just have to be in conversation about the risks of ignoring the symptoms or non-compliance of treatment in hope that we will make a difference in someone else's life.

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PhilosophicalPeriwinkleWaterBuffalo6398 +0 points · about 8 years ago

Sherry, thank you very much for your reply. I'm glad that I can be of some help. Good luck to you and your son. I'm happy that I found this website. I actually heard about it on the radio because of the surveys. At least, now I can get some support from people who understand what I'm going through. Thanks again. <3

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DanM +0 points · about 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast Support Team

Hi Janette. Thanks so much for sharing your story. I'm not sure if your sleep apnea contributed to problems with your eye, but there is information out there related to sleep apnea and vision. You might find this article on the American Academy of Ophthalmology's website interesting: http://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/obstructive-sleep-apnea-eye-ophthalmologist-s-role. The article actually mentions ischemic optic neuropathy. Best wishes as you continue your treatment, and please keep us posted on your progress!

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CourteousIndigoBear9331 +0 points · about 8 years ago

Hello. I've snored really loud for the past 10 years, and finally decided to request a sleep study. I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea two weeks ago, and have been on the therapy for a week now. Slowly getting used to being on this.

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DanM +0 points · about 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast Support Team

Hi CurteousIndigoBear9331. Congratulations on completing your sleep study and starting treatment! Please keep us posted on how you are doing. Hopefully, some of that loud snoring has resolved with treatment!

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AnnR +0 points · almost 8 years ago

Hi and I'm glad I found this site. I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea in March of this year. My symptoms have been going on for around 15 years and I got progressively worse over time. My initial symptoms started with moodiness, irritability, and crying spells. Of course I was diagnosed with depression. I was in my mid thirties and a new mom. I knew I wasn't depressed and my search for a diagnosis began. Over the years I saw 12 doctors and not one ever brought up sleep apnea. I was sent from one doctor to another and no one could see the whole picture. I finally decided to go see a neurologist who specialized in sleep studies on my own and bingo. My doctor told me my oxygen levels dipped into the mid 70s at night. I was started on the Resmed Airsense 10 about 7 months ago. I've taken baby steps. I guess at about 5 months in I really started noticing some improvements. I know I have a long way to go to get my health back but I'm so thankful for a diagnosis and this cpap machine.

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DanM +0 points · almost 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast Support Team

Hi AnnR. Thanks again for sharing your story. I commented on your other post, but this one really gives quite a picture of your journey. The hope is that more physicians will become educated about sleep apnea and start integrating sleep screening into their practice. We also hope more patients find this site and know to start asking their physicians questions about their sleep problems. We often hear stories from people who share that it took years for them to even be asked about their sleep. Congratulations on your treatment and getting your health back!

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aimeetx +0 points · almost 8 years ago

Hi I'm Aimee I'm 47 and just had my 2nd night of cpap last night tuesday.

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wiredgeorge +0 points · almost 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

Hi Aimee! Welcome and self-educate. The medical profession is a lot more useful if you are armed with info about what is going on. Hope your therapy brings you some sound sleep and alert days!

AnnR, I was in the same boat as you as far as low O2 levels. I am not sure if I was more irritable back before therapy as I am still a big ol' grump if you ask my missus. The therapy really did help the brain fog and nodding off during the day. Therapy is one challenge after another and seeking help from the right sources (such as this forum) and your doc and self-educating helps jump the hurdles as they come up. I went almost a year and my jaw started to go slack at night and the bottom of the mask would end up in my mouth... talk about mask leaks! I am still working on getting this issue 100 percent tamed but I am sure it can be done. Anyway, therapy isn't like setting a broken bone... more like a board game... 3 steps forward, 1 step back kind of deal. Good luck!

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Natalie +0 points · almost 8 years ago

Hi I was first diagnosed with severe sleep apnea back in 09 and again this year. I used a ResMed Escape II for about 2 years and then had a sinus infection so I stopped and then I lost weight so I felt I was sleeping well enough. During the next 5 yrs, I went thru menopause, gained my weight back, and had to change my insurance. So this year I wanted to start using my old CPAP but had a hard time finding a supplier here that used my insurance, and I doubted my first study. My Dr. agreed we should do another sleep study since it was more accurate today. I had my sleep study a few months ago and just this last week got a new Dream Station Auto CPAP with Respironics. I am not doing as well this time. I feel the c-flex is too low and find myself wanting to gasp for air, so that needs to be adjusted at my check up next week. But I also feel dead tired when I wake. I sleep thru my snooze button and find it hard to wake up at 6AM. I do wake fine around 3AM and then find it hard to want to continue wearing the mask. I have to use it 4 hours min. for the insurance to pay for it. I hope the morning tiredness is temporary. So that's my story. Thanks. I am glad to find this site.

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DanM +0 points · almost 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast Support Team

Hi Natalie, and welcome to MyApnea.Org. I'm glad to hear you started back on your treatment. I find it difficult to function if I don't wear my CPAP. I just feel tired and sleepy most of the day, but mornings are the worst if I cannot wear it for some reason. Hopefully, your doctor will adjust your machine so that you feel like you are not gasping for air. As for feeling tired, you might still be adjusting to your new machine and settings and the morning tiredness is temporary. Please let us know how things progress, and good luck!

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wiredgeorge +0 points · almost 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

Welcome Natalie! The issue may not be the machine/pressure setting but may also be the mask. I CAN NOT wear a nasal mask like the Wisp as the exhale holes are insufficient and I feel like I can't breathe with my Bipap machine on OR off. The mask also gets filled with moisture where my full face masks do not share this issue. I only mention this because you didn't mention mask type or pressure setting(s). Good luck and let us know how the sleep doc visit goes!

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AdaptableVioletFish6529 +0 points · almost 8 years ago

Hello fellow cpap users. I'm Al, found you all on Google, searching dry mouth cpap. Been using my machine for over 6 months now, can't immagine sleeping without it even though I want to shoot it with a shotgun, w/ birdshot! It's a love hate relationship, but I haven't felt this good in years. Was suffering with waking up with migrants for over 20 years, probably 2 to 3 a week. My wife a RN, kept telling me I needed a sleep study for 10 years, and I refused. She made appointment , I went, Dr. told me I was the worst case she ever saw. I was getting headaches because my brain was starving for oxygen. Dr. said if my wife did not make appointment I would not live long, was only a matter of time, my desaturation was bad. I stopped breathing over 100 times in an hour. Probably tried on a total of 10 different masks, its hard because pressure is so high. Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! Happy Turkey Day!

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DanM +0 points · almost 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast Support Team

Hi Al. Welcome to MyApnea.Org. Glad to hear you are persisting with treatment and feeling better. My experience was similar to yours when I was diagnosed, and I sleep like a baby with my treatment. It was definitely a love-hate relationship early on, but I cannot imagine being without treatment now. Best wishes, and Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!

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wiredgeorge +0 points · almost 8 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

Al, First, welcome aboard! Go up to the pulldown menu next to the search ICON and change your user name to something that better suits a human!

My story was bit similar to yours. My blood oxygen dropped into the low 70s when I quit breathing for long periods. I didn't believe there was anything wrong till my wife took a video with her phone of my breathing stopping and then me gasping for air; all while I was still asleep. The therapy fixed that. The pressure I got set up with is MAX 25/20 on a bipap with the 20 the exhale pressure to make the machine easier to live with.

Dry mouth is usually caused by air getting out your mouth. You will find your waster reservoir also dry in no time. The problem can be fixed so if the dry mouth is the main issue, just holler for help!

Please be advised that these posts may contain sensitive material or unsolicited medical advice. MyApnea does not endorse the content of these posts. The information provided on this site is not intended nor recommended as a substitute for advice from a health care professional who has evaluated you.