DanM

Hi @SincereOrangeRedWallaby1147. Swallowing air can be uncomfortable. It may be caused because of too much air pressure or because pressure is too low (causing you to gasp for air that you swallow). Even though you have had your CPAP machine function tested, I may recommend that you ask your physician or home care company to look at your data download. Switching to a full face mask can sometimes change your pressure needs. Some patients report that sleeping on a slight incline helps. I use an APAP machine, which adjusts the air pressure based on my breathing. I like it because I only get the amount of air that I need vs. a constant pressure. Hope this helps!

Hi @HappySleepingUser. You can access the "Settings" screen after you are logged in to MyApnea.Org and change your Forum display name. Glad to hear you persisted with your troubleshooting and are getting better sleep!

Hi @wiredgeorge. Glad to hear you are having success with the mask liners. I have had the experience of a water tank running dry during the night, and it can be uncomfortable. A room humidifer helped me because it helped humidify the dry air in the room and caused the water in my water tank to last a bit longer.

Proper mask fitting is a very important part of the process for any patient starting therapy. I have written in other posts about this, and I agree that mask fitting should be performed by an experienced technologist or therapist who understands the importance of good fit and the relationship to treatment success. Patients should be allowed to try masks in various sleeping positions with the machine set at a pressure at least similar to their prescribed pressure.

Hi @CommunicativeBlueGreenLark2154. AHI is the Apnea Hypopnea Index. In basic terms, this number indicates how many times you stopped breathing or had reduced airflow during sleep that caused either your blood oxygen level to drop or caused you to arouse from sleep. Here are the general classifications:

•None/Minimal: AHI < 5 per hour •Mild: AHI ≥ 5, but < 15 per hour •Moderate: AHI ≥ 15, but < 30 per hour •Severe: AHI ≥ 30 per hour

Treatment options are very specific to each individual. For some, there are surgical options that may improve or eliminate sleep apnea. For others, oral appliances work quite well. The most common treatment is PAP therapy (CPAP, APAP, BiPAP, etc.). I do not know anything about Chicago ENT or what other board certified sleep physicians in your area might be able to help, but I encourage you to continue with your treatment if it works well for you. If you wish to research other options, the website sleepeducation.org from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has a search function to help you find facilities in your area, and those facilities have physicians associated with them who may be able to help. Best wishes!

Thanks, @wiredgeorge. Glad to be able to help if I can. My guess is that your mask seal is changing as the muscles of your face and jaw begin to relax with sleep. Hopefully, your DME provider will allow you to try masks until you find the right fit and realize that you will be a long-term customer! Happy to hear the rest of your treatment experience is positive!

Hi @wiredgeorge. There are some constraints on how much air can move through a nasal pillow, as the openings are much smaller. If you only breathe through your nose and not your mouth, you might consider asking your DME if you can try a nasal only mask. There is a difference between a nasal mask and a nasal pillow. Full face masks are the most difficult when trying to obtain a good seal because there is more area to try and seal. You may also consider another manufacturer's mask to see if you get a better seal. Your DME provider should be able to assist you with trying other masks to see what works best for you. Pressure of 25/20 is a pretty good amount of air, so it is important that the DME company fit you with a mask and then pressurize it at your BiPap setting to assess for leak. Keep us posted!

Hello, @ExuberantMauveSnail6309. It takes about 115 days for red blood cell turnover, so it might take several months before there is a change in your RBC count. I encourage you to continue to follow up with your doctor, and best wishes with your treatment! Please keep us posted on how you are doing, and feel free to continue to post questions to the Forum and complete the MyApnea.Org surveys!

Hi @FriendlyPinkPony7949 (Abby). Medicare requirements for obtaining a new device can be complex, and many things will factor into the decision. One of the main things Medicare will consider is the age and whether reasonable useful lifetime of the machine has been reached or exceeded. If the machine is more than 5 years old, you will likely need to see your physician and get a new prescription. Medicare requires a face-to-face evaluation with your physician and documentation that the treatment is still being used and you receive benefit from the PAP machine. If the device is less than 5 years old, the device will usually only be replaced if broken and not repairable or if the device no longer meets your medical needs. There are other situations (loss, theft, etc.) where Medicare may also replace the device. This also requires a physician's order. Obtaining a new device becomes a little more complicated if you have not been using the device. In some cases, Medicare may require a new sleep study. Device replacement will really depend on your personal situation. I hope this helps, and please ask more questions if you have them. I hope some of our other members will chime in if they any advice. Best wishes!

I agree it is helpful for patients to know how to monitor data or know when to contact their providers for more information. Mask changes can definitely make a difference, and some machines need to be adjusted for the type of mask.