Sideffects of CPAP for sleep apnea? And moneysaving treatments for side-effects?

kittykirsty · 26 August 2007 at 6:46PM

Hey everyone!

I'm not looking for medical advice as i already know that i have obstructive sleep apnea (due to the shape of my jaw). Just wondering if others have similar and are being treated with CPAP? Did you find you had side-effects of the CPAP (dry skin and the like)? And if so what are your most moneysaving treatements for these side-effects?

I've had my CPAP machine since Wednesday and it's taking a bit of getting used to! I couldn't wear it on Thursday night for very long as I had little hives all over my face (an allergic reaction to something, not sure if it was the CPAP mask or not).

Been managing a bit better since, but i'm worried about dry skin (as my skin is already really dry), dry mouth and the like. Just wondering if anyone else is in a similar position, or maybe have been using CPAP for a while?

BigMummaF · 26 August 2007 at 7:05PM

Hi Kk. I have a nasal mask, where two little pillows block my nostrils. The nurse at the Sleep Clinic advised putting a really thin strip of wadding--like you get in foam pillows--into the 'mask' bit to prevent the breeze that comes out of the holes. I got the thinnest possible in the smallest amount possible, from our local haberdashers for 50p & there's enough to last for years!
The only side effect was the air from the mask, blowing up onto my eyes, but the wadding has cured that.
Stick with it tho--it's amazing the difference these little gizmos make!

kittykirsty · 26 August 2007 at 10:33PM

Thanks for your reply BigMummaF, that's a really good idea with the wadding!! I have a mask that covers my mouth and nose as i mostly breathe through my mouth, and the bit at the bottom for my chin sometimes leaks air out in the middle of the night (due to my weird recessive jaw that caused this in the first place. You would think there would be a mask that would take this into account!

).

I also get sore on the bridge of my nose where it digs in so hopefully this would help soften it too!

I go back to the clinic in a week and a half so i will let them know about all the problems i'm having with the fit of the mask! I really have to keep going with it as i'm fed up as i am at the moment, i'm so glad they've diagnosed it (after quite a few months) so there's no way i'm going to give up on it! Would just like to know what I'm getting myself into!

Also, has anyone gone for surgery to remedy sleep apnea? Can you get it on NHS? Long waiting times/postcode lottery? I think the one i read about for obstructive sleep apnea was UPPP, but i'm wondering whether some jaw reconstruction might help with my particular problem (and make my face a more usual shape!). Sounds pretty painful though!! :eek::eek:

Violetta_2 · 26 August 2007 at 10:51PM

I've not had any problem's with dry skin but then I never have before (far too greasy sigh) Be carefull what you clean your mask with I use baby bubble bath which I got free when my dd was born , never used it on her skin but it's good for cleaning the mask. I used a face wipe once by mistake (usually use baby wipes in between washes) and my skin was really irritated for a few days after. Think if you suffer with dry mouth you can get prescribed a humidifier. I found the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Associationhelpful particularly the forum (but it's not as Brill as MSE) . The section on Mandibular Advancement Devices might be interesting for you re - your jaw condition. Good luck, the mask takes a while to get used to they say if it's marking your skin it's too tight.
Feel free to pm me if you want to chat.

kittykirsty · 27 August 2007 at 12:59PM

Thanks Violetta, i used a face wipe on mine the night before the hives broke out, so that might be the problem! Will invest in some baby wipes and bubble bath i think! It does mark my skin so i think i need to loosen it a bit, just worried about air escaping if i loosen it too much!! :eek:

Did you guys have as many problems as i seem to be having when you started using it?

I did have a mandibular enhancement device to begin with as i could go straight to my dentist and didn't have to tackle the waiting times for the sleep clinic. But i found i really couldn't get on with it at all, my jaw and teeth hurt so much from using it, this really does seem like the best solution!!

Will check out the web-site and also look into a humidifier as my OH is also complaining of sore throats because of the dryness of the air!

Thanks for all the help, any more comments more than welcome! Maybe we should start a clique! :rotfl:

Violetta_2 · 27 August 2007 at 3:51PM

Glad to help, try and get babywipes without alcohol I use pampers sensitive which we get for my dd when they are on offer in Asda but think there are offer's on wipes everywhere at some point. Any cheap baby wash/bubble bath should do the trick.
Yes it's a struggle at first but it's worth it, it'll get better. I still have problems now sometimes, my OH has been brill although he does find the rude:o noises the mask makes when air escapes amusing:rotfl: It's so nice not falling asleep ALL the time although it does make long car journeys more boring. Was great getting in the car OH driving and me sleeping til we got where we were going.
What could we call the clique then Oops I forget to breathe when I'm asleep:eek:

BigMummaF · 27 August 2007 at 7:33PM

Hi....forgive any gaps in posting

....we're waiting for a new modem!
It will be worth having a fiddle with the straps on the mask to get it to fit comfortably, because then it's easier to drift off to sleep.
The dentist recommended alcohol-free mouth wash too for mouth breathers...apparently alcohol dries the gums

! My machine heats up its little 'tank' of water to moisten the air blown through it just before it reaches the face mask, & during the winter I put a few drops of inhalant on the filtre to help if I've a blocked nose.
Just for fun, we call the gizmo Brenda, the Breathing Machine!:rotfl: :rotfl: HTH

kittykirsty · 29 August 2007 at 9:55PM

Thank you both once again for your great advice!! I think that's a great name for the clique!!! :rotfl:Shall we all get signatures with it?

Anyone else want to join??

I've had a couple of better nights with it, still get red marks on the bridge of my nose and on my forehead. I think it's more to do with the fact i sleep on my side and i'm pressing the mask in on that side. Will talk to the sleep clinic woman next week about getting a humidifier, don't know if that's pushing my luck on the NHS though!

Violetta_2 · 2 September 2007 at 3:10PM

Just wondered how you were getting on kittykirsty, are you feeling the benefit of CPAP yet? Has your skin calmed down at all?
The humidifier is part of the CPAP machine, think I'm going to contact my sleep clinic about it I wake up sometimes my mouth is so dry I can't move my tongue:p , a few times this week I've woken up with the bottom part of the mask in between my teeth practically chewing on it

so will contact them see if they can help esp as I think I'm feeling more tired lately.

carlos.jango71 · 3 September 2007 at 4:34AM

Well friend, i was taking ambein for the past two years, on a nightly basis. i experienced very bad withdraw, when i tried stopping. i remembered a friend of mine mentioned in passing, that melatonin had worked for him and his adult son, only negative effect was it caused bad dreams. knowing that about melatonin and it's history of causing bad dreams, the effects i felt were considerably less then the effects of being awake all night, literally, in crying pain from leg cramps, i decided to try it. i researched some pages on the computer and found an all natural regimine of vitamins to help produce a more natural sleep.

Violetta_2 · 3 September 2007 at 7:59PM

carlos.jango71 wrote: »

Well friend, i was taking ambein for the past two years, on a nightly basis. i experienced very bad withdraw, when i tried stopping. i remembered a friend of mine mentioned in passing, that melatonin had worked for him and his adult son, only negative effect was it caused bad dreams. knowing that about melatonin and it's history of causing bad dreams, the effects i felt were considerably less then the effects of being awake all night, literally, in crying pain from leg cramps, i decided to try it. i researched some pages on the computer and found an all natural regimine of vitamins to help produce a more natural sleep.

I think your talking about a different condition from the one we have been discussing. I know falling asleep is not something I need help with stopping me sleeping NOW that's a different matter.

Sideffects of CPAP for sleep apnea? And moneysaving treatments for side-effects?

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