Connect
BiPap and swelling eyes
After being in the hospital 10 days for a severe bout of aspiration pneumonia, I was found to be in AFib. The cardiologist prescribed various medications, including blood thinners to prevent stroke. A sleep study was also ordered for me. During the sleep study I was found to stop breathing 121 times per hour. Apparently this has caused my AFib as well as other medical problems. I was immediately put on a BiPap. The sleep study determined that the air pressure I need is 21. As soon as I started using the BiPap, I started having problems with leaks at that high pressure. I tightened down the straps as much as I could tolerate, even to the point of bruises and bad chafing on the back of my neck. I only got a couple decent nights on the BiPap before my appointment to speak to the sleep Dr. He reduced my pressure setting to 19 at that time. I could not tolerate the full face mask that included a forehead strap, so I was given a memory foam mask. I was mistakenly given a small mask, which also aggravated the air leak problems. When I was switched to a medium sized mask, the leaks stopped and my sleeping time extended. That's when a new disturbing problem began. Any night that my BiPap indicated that I got 7+ hours of sleep, I woke with an eyelid swollen up horribly. Often there was swelling around the eye, and even a large blister-like swelling below the eye. I did a search about memory foam and found it can cause allergic reactions, including swollen eyes. Thinking that was the problem, I switched to a silicone mask. Last night I got my first long sleep with the silicone mask, and woke up looking like I had been in a prizefight again. My eyelid is swollen to twice it's normal thickness. I have swelling around the eye, and a blister-like eruption on the cheek. So apparently it is not an allergy causing this, but I am at a loss to know what could be causing it. This only happens if I get 7 or more hours of sleep with the mask. Is it from the high pressure or the tightness of the straps? I'd appreciate any feedback.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Sleep Health Support Group.
Connect
.Hi, @magicalladyj - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm tagging @kmg365 @crookshank @oldkarl @duvie @jakedduck1, who also have mentioned bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines and may be able to help you find some answers with the swelling around the eye following use of your mask. @johnbishop may also have some thoughts for you.
While we wait for the others to join in, here is some Mayo Clinic information on obstructive sleep apnea that may interest you: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obstructive-sleep-apnea/symptoms-causes/syc-20352090
@magicalladyj - does this swelling dissipate fairly quickly after you get up?
Hi, @magicalladyj – I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @lisalucier. I have the full face memory foam mask (ResMed AirTouch F20) and if you have or had the same mask I think the reason is due to tiny air leaks right at the top of the bridge of your nose and into your eyes. I wake up a lot at night not due to the obstructive sleep apnea but for old man reasons ☺. I notice my eyes have moisture in the corners and I frequently rub it off with my finger several times during the night. Before the memory foam mask I had the silicone version of the mask (ResMed AirFit F20) and found a reusable mask cloth cover that you can wash that makes the mask a little more comfortable. It works for several different kinds of full face masks. Previously to the AirFit and AirTouch masks, I tried the Fisher-Paykel full face mask and it had that piece that went up on the forehead and I hated it. I'm a mouth breather but do breathe through the nose some but I have a deviated septum and the nose is mostly stuffed up all the time so I need a full face mask.
I have a Dreamstation CPAP machine with the pressure set to 8 to 18 but it has a ramp feature that I use anytime I'm having trouble sleeping that puts the pressure back to 4 and gradually comes up again. Sometimes the high pressure will "puff" my cheeks open and I wake up and press the ramp button and can go back to sleep. With my memory foam mask I find that having it too tight creates a problem and if I think about it I had the same problem with the silicone mask. I would get a large sore on top the bridge of my nose. What has worked for me was disconnecting the hose from the mask and taking the mask into the bathroom so I can put it on using the mirror and adjust it to be firm but not too tight against my face. Then I just have to go back and snap in the hose to the mask.
@magicalladyj do you have a local medical store you can go to and talk to a sleep therapist? I received some great tips from the one close to me.
John
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI have a cpap and this eyelid swelling is happening to me. I'm also having general inflammation too just recently. I have the recalled DreamStation. My dr says to keep using it. I'm a little concerned bc the swelling started this past December and hadn't happened before that. I've had it for a year now. I'm scared to not use it because I don't feel like I'm going to die from exhaustion anymore, but these other issues are coming up now and I believe they're directly correlated to the machine.
Welcome @rachaeler, It can be scary when new symptoms pop up after you've been using the CPAP for awhile. I was also a little leary once the recall was announced and I had 2 Dreamstations - the big one and the Dreamstation Go. I ended up biting the bullet and just purchasing a ResMed AirMini since I wanted a smaller unit that I could take with me. It has worked better than I could have expected and I like it much better than the Dreamstation. I too have had some issues with my eyes watering a lot after having the CPAP mask on due to a little air leakage around the mask which dries the eyes out some. I use eyedrops in the morning which helps some. I use a full face mask and have thought about trying to use a nasal pillow or a mask that fits under and up against the nose but I haven't had much luck with those in the past. I can make the mask really tight and stop most of the air leakage but then I have the pain in the bridge of my nose.
Do you think the eyelid swelling could be related to air leakage around your mask? Have you thought about getting a second opinion?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reactionalso have problems with air blowing into my eyes. I have found that a homemade eye mask tucked into the eyes helps a lot. I take fabric from an old white T shirt and sew strips about 12-14 x3-4 inches wide. inches long. When I finally lie down for the night, I apply it to may face and eyes and bring it all around to the back of the head. I sleep on my back all night so that helps to secure it to the back of the head.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@magicalladyj -
I have just started using a memory foam full face mask and I too look like I was in a prize fight. I was so happy I had found a mask that actually allowed me to sleep then this happened. At first I didn’t think it might be the mask but it’s really the only change recently. I’d love to know if you ever determined it was the mask? My swelling doesn’t really go down much during the day but also seems to have gotten progressively worse over the last few days.
I just searched “swollen eyelids” in my central sleep apnea fb group (I also use a bipap machine) and someone said that we have lymph nodes in our cheeks and if the mask is too tight, the lymph nodes can’t drain and cause puffy eyes. Makes sense. Something to consider. It is hard getting the mask to properly fit. I have the memory foam full face mask and high pressures as well and feel leaking in my eyes that drives me crazy. The high blast forces my mouth open too. I’ve recently given in and started using a chin strap and have discovered that when I’m sleeping and getting blasted in the eyes, I apparently just pull the covers over my head now and it doesn’t bother me as much! Good luck!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI’ve had quite severe swelling about and below my eyes since I’ve been using my cpap machine. I had a full face mask and just got a new resmed mask that just covers my mouth and sits under my nose and my eye puffiness was just as bad this morning. I assumed it was pressure from the mask cutting off the lymphatic drainage either side on my nose, there weren’t any air leaks in that area so I don’t believe it was air blowing into my eyes. The new mask might still be restricting lymphatic drainage but the contact area is so much smaller and lower down on my face I didn’t think it would still be an issue. I wondered if it might be an allergic reaction to silicone but I don’t think that’s the way it presents. I love my machine and I feel so much better but I’m really self conscious about how my face looks now! I can’t win!
I’m new to BiPap but also using the foam mask after trying many others. The seal is the best but I’m having the same issues with puffiness around the eyes. Have you found any solution?