Difficulty Breathing

[GoneFission]

I had great success over the first 3 weeks of CPAP use but then most recently I have found the unit is difficult to breath in and out of.  I find myself all of a sudden working harder than normal to inhale & exhale.  Nothing in my settings changed.  This has also resulted in moisture/condensate accumulating in the tubing...

I have resorted to my portable CPAP for now and have ben unable to determine whats wrong with the main CPAP....

Thoughts?

[OpalRose]

It could be something simple. Do you use a P10 mask? Be sure you are cleaning the mask at least once a week, especially the mesh. Also, change out the filters on the machine.

If you want someone to take a look at your data, then download #SleepyHead software. Follow the tutorials in my signature line.

[Gary1of2]

You could wrap a snuggle around the tube , or raise above you at nite.

[Josephdfco]

Hey Gone Fission! I was just curious; are you a nuclear engineer, by any chance?

[SarcasticDave94]

Hi GoneFission,

Welcome to Apnea Board. Unless I missed it, I didn't note if you have the heated hose or not. If you do not have one, that can cause increased moisture in the hose and mask, dependent somewhat on your room humidity and temperature.

I've noticed in the past, before I obtained a headed hose, that my mask and non-heated hose would accumulate water. It did affect me, as in it made it more difficult to breathe through the water in the hose.

A few things to consider doing/checking:

1. Try varying the humidity controls, the goal to have enough humidity for your comfort but low enough to prevent or lessen hose moisture (myself, I almost always have humidity on 8 and heated hose on 86°F AKA full blast, no hose moisture for me, my room temp is 72° BTW)

2. Check and replace filter if needed, clogged filter restricts incoming air

3. Route the hose so it goes uphill to you and the mask, moisture should run back into humidifier OK

4. If you don't have one, consider a heated hose, prevents moisture condensing because it's kept warmer all the way to your mask

5. Check into a hose cover, insulating and cushioning properties, may be enough to prevent moisture condensing without heated hose

Best wishes on success,
Dave B

[Reznik]

I had great success over the first 3 weeks of CPAP use but then most recently I have found the unit is difficult to breath in and out of.  I find myself all of a sudden working harder than normal to inhale & exhale.  Nothing in my settings changed.  This has also resulted in moisture/condensate accumulating in the tubing...

I have resorted to my portable CPAP for now and have ben unable to determine whats wrong with the main CPAP....

Thoughts?

What I wrote in the post below may also be applicable to you.  Try replacing the filters.

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...#pid233895

[GoneFission]

Radiation & Health Physicist

[Josephdfco]

Interesting! What sort of educational background does that require? I'm guessing at least a B.S. in theoretical physics, followed by grad work in medical physics ? I did university physics I & II and physical chemistry for pre-med. I've wanted to do QM, but never found the time. (Sorry; I'll stop posting non-apnea stuff now).

[Sleep2Snore]

Strange why it is difficult to breathe out and in?

Filters or motor might have explained it for breathing in, water in the hose later might have explained breathing in, but breathing out!  Only thing could be the vents in the mask, but if you are using the same mask, that would not explain anything!
I did have a problem breathing out, but only one night, it never happened again and I still can't understand it.
Are you using a different gauge of hose i.e. narrower hose and is it filling with condensate.

It may be the machine has gone faulty and increased the pressure, but thet would not explain why you find it hard to breathe in.
This is all a bit odd.