CPAP Intolerance

You mentioned your ENT tried to reduce your turbanines. Do you have difficulty breathing through your nose?

The reason I ask is that I have a deviated septum and met with an ENT at Mayo who explained all of the options for treatment, one of which I think was what your ENT tried. After he explained the risks involved and that it could make it worse, I opted for the alternative to surgery and am happy I did. He prescribed a Mayo Clinic proprietary nasal spray. The 3 ingredients are Mometasone to reduce inflammation, Ipratropium to reduce nasal drainage and Diphenhydramine which is an antihistamine to help reduce nasal drainage. The product description on my prescription is MOMET 0.033% – IPRA 0.02% – DIPH 0.02%.

The nasal spray worked really well and I used it for about 3 months along with a twice daily nasal sinus rinse. I transitioned after that to using a twice daily nasal rinse and recently switched to a stronger rinse using Xylitol after doing a little research -- Xylitol nasal irrigation in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis: a pilot study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21994147/.

I've also used a Hypertonic saline rinse which works well but was a little strong for my nose -- Hypertonic Saline Versus Isotonic Saline Nasal Irrigation: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29774747/

I'm not familiar with Complex sleep apnea but I saw in the information that one of the alternative treatments is a bi-level pap (bi-pap). I just recently started using one after having a c-pap for 3 years and it has been a game changer for me. The pressures can be set for both the inhales and exhales. It took me almost 3 years to understand and be able to articulate what was happening. I would wake up feeling like I was being suffocated with a lot of pressure and tightness in my chest. (Heart issues were eliminated) Within just a few minutes of use I could tell the difference and knew that we had found the answer. When I was able to explain that I couldn't push out a breath, was when the pulmonologist suggested I try the bi-pap. I have energy again and sleep comfortably all night. I hope you find an answer soon.

Thank you for your reply. I have heard of Bi-Pap and my sleep apnea Dr did talk about it if sleeping on my side doesn't work. I does work and I have fewer events of apnea a night but still am tired all the time and have a head ache every morning. I do see him in July and will discuss it then.

I tried CPAP for some weeks and quit: too cumbersome and too hard to keep tight snug fit on my face. I could not sleep with it. I really tried.

I went to a custom mouthpiece that I sleep with every night. After adjusting to it, I sleep well with it. It pretty much corrects my sleep apnea.

Hope this helps.

You r not alone re: inability to get used to a cpap machine. I am sure there r thousands and thousands of us. I also tried numerous appliances and would do meditative sessions and melatonin at bedtime. Falling asleep with headgear on just increased my anxiousness about the whole headgear- air blowing in my eyes, hair pulling from my scalp etc. after 3 months on two separate occasions I just said phooey I am DONE! I bought a foam wedge from Costco and virtually now sleep sitting up. I have not tried it on my side yet( recovering from TKR) but will see if sleeping in my side and wedge will work. So don’t feel guilty or have anyone put u down. There ARE people out there who cannot get used to a cpap! BTW , I had mouth piece ( very elaborate) made and used for a year until it began to shift my jaw and cause me pain and jaw clicking. Also tried for Inspire but drs said I don't fit sleep apnea criteria for that device and Medicare payment. So crazy because My sats go into the 80’s during REM sleep. So try a wedge, accept the sleep issues and don't beat yourself up. You are not alone!

Has anyone mentioned using a oral appliance to you for treating sleep apnea? When I was first diagnosed I chose to try the appliance. It took getting use to but I didn’t have the mask and machine to deal with. My dr had me do a sleep test with the appliance and it worked great only 2-3 apneas per hour. (I have severe sleep apnea).
Due to some dental problems sadly I’ve had to resort to the C-pap machine. I struggle with it all the time. If I can manage to use it I can tell a difference in my balance, my blood pressure how I think and other things. But even though I know I need to use it I still struggle.
Maybe the oral appliance would help you.

Welcome @cooper07, Thanks for sharing your experience with the oral appliance for sleep apnea. I still struggle some with my CPAP also but keep at it because I know it is helping me and I feel much better in the morning when I wake up. My biggest struggle is due to the full face mask and what it does to my nose. I've tried several and the one I have now works fairly well but I'm still looking for a better one and have tried many. I would love to be able to use a nasal pillow mask but I would also have to have something to keep my mouth closed. I did try a chin strap but didn't like it much. I also tried some medical adhesive tape on the lips but found out it didn't come off as easy as they said it would.

What kind of CPAP mask do you use?

Does anyone have the experience of the Cpap/Apap making it harder to breathe? I wake up at times with my breathing feeling constricted or obstructed. I know it’s not my imagination because I check the o2 and that is also low. It feels better when I take the mask off. I also have GERD which the Cpap aggravates and wonder if that is irritating my airways.

Hi @kudzu, I have had issues when I first started using my CPAP when it felt harder to breathe and it woke me up. For me I think it had something to do with the pressure being too high and I was able to restart the CPAP so that it went into ramp up mode where the pressure is lower.

It always feels better when I take the CPAP mask off. I'm guessing you like yours about as much as I like mine. I tolerate it because I know it reduces the amount of events I have at night. Have you discussed your symptoms with your sleep medicine doctor or care team? Maybe they can adjust the machine or offer some suggestions.

Hi John;
I’ve had issues for the past year with the apap. Things were going well for awhile then for some reason went awry after I moved to Tennessee. Naturally I worry that the breathing difficulty is a symptom of restrictive lung disease, which it may not be.
Yes, I too have fewer events but if the machine wakes me up maybe it doesn’t matter.
I know how to adjust the settings so maybe I’ll do some experimenting.
I’ve been referred to a sleep dr/pulmonologist here, but can’t see him until August.
I hate to say it, but most progress I’ve made is due to my own tinkering and what I’ve read on cpaptalk.com or YouTube.
I did turn the pressure up after one nurse practitioner suggested it and that helped for awhile but not the last few nights.
I could try turning it down and see what happens.