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I had similar symptoms. Fortunately, the whole effect disappeared when I decided to sleep strictly on my right side, which is advisable for heart and brain health.
I would suggest you increase your minimum pressure to 7.6 cm.
Keep an eye on your mask leaks. This will force higher CPAP pressures in the attempt to compensate.
When I was on ResMed AirCurve ASV, I had some tightness in the lungs. It went away in about a week. Note that I also deal with COPD, which in my case has less flexible lungs.
I am not saying you have COPD. I'm just saying that with my extraordinary case, the tightness reduced in a week.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEBSITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
If the pain is new since starting CPAP, it may be you have some aerophagia (air swallowing). It often tends to occur on the right side and chest due to location of the stomach. CPAP pressure can cause air to leak around the lower esophageal sphincter and divert to the stomach. This air becomes uncomfortable causing a feeling of pressure or pain in the location you are feeling it. Looking at your chart, I think you might do better at minimum pressure 7.0, maximum pressure 11.0 and EPR at setting 3. This will actually lower the pressure you feel with a range of 7/4 to 11/8 (inhale/exhale) rather than your current 7/6 to 15/14. It will also help reduce flow limitations that are causing pressure to rise. I think it will be more comfortable and may help relieve aerophagia if that is an issue. After seeing results and getting some feedback on how you feel, we can maybe decide if this approach is better for you.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
I will definitely do the changes that you mentioned.
I did not put ERP that high before because I did not want to increase the Central sleep apnea....
So you mentioned the pain is usually on the right side. I feel it near heart on left side....
I also feel some pressure on that side and hear gurgling every once in a while.. Two years ago, it used to happen more often and I thought it was heart related. I did echo stress test and my heart was good..
But many nights lately I wake up suffocating out of breath and that area hurts while on CPAP.....
Machine: Resmed 10 auto set Mask Type: Full face mask Mask Make & Model: Resmed Quattro FX Humidifier: Built in CPAP Pressure: 16 - 13 CPAP Software: OSCAR
myAir
Machine: Lowenstein Luisa Mask Type: Full face mask Mask Make & Model: Resmed Quattro FX Humidifier: separate F&P humidifier CPAP Pressure: Epap 4-20 PS 4-20; "auto" rate CPAP Software: Not using software
Other Comments: Using 45 degree angle upper body wedge (36"x36") and 4.5"soft cervical collar; 500 assured tidal vol
1 hour ago (This post was last modified: 56 minutes ago by Jay51. Edited 1 time in total.)
RE: Left side chest hurts
Before I would fall asleep when I first started therapy, I could hear aerophagia. It made a "gurgling" sound. Interesting that you chose the word "gurgling". I felt it a little bit above my heart, but below my adam's apple. Not painful at all here in this area, just a strange sensation and noise.
Please follow through with all of the suggestions provided so far so as to rule out anything that could be serious.
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Membership in the Advisory Members group does not imply medical expertise or qualification for advising Sleep Apnea patients concerning their treatment.
