Cpap Adventure Continues
I’ve been on the new full face mask for a week now, with one extremely good night’s sleep, night before last. I’ve been awake since 12:30AM today, though. I woke up with air just jetting out from under the bottom of the mask, where the silicon soft part had come out of the plastic part of the mask. By the time I woke up enough to realize what the problem was, and then fixed it, I was wide awake. I’m also continuing to have problems with my skin. I’m ready to try the all over the face kind. That’s not supposed to irritate skin, as it fits at the hairline and all around the face completely. This is the last style there is, basically, so I’m about to run out of options, other than not use it at all. That 8 hours of sleep on Sunday night gave me such high hopes, too.
I continue to struggle with terrible gas, and I’ll be calling my Gastro’s nurse today to report in. Stopping the Amitiza just didn’t help any. Nothing has really changed as far as feeling like something is wrong with my elimination process, either.
We walked at the track again yesterday morning, after several days off. This time it was due to DH having some pains, as I think he over did it when we started back walking the other day. Hopefully, he’ll be OK this morning, and we can get our walk in. I also worked in the yard early yesterday morning, putting another pile in the Lasagna Compost area and digging around the foundation of our new garage. We need to get a drainage ditch around the front edge, so I’m hoeing just a little bit each day. I’m also trying to sweep off the driveway every day or so, as that is good exercise for my shoulders. It sure does feel funny, though, trying to sweep left handed. But I need to exercise both shoulders, so I do it, funny feeling or not. And boy, am I right sided. I’m pitiful trying to sweep “backwards”. LOL
I’ve been doing more research, trying to see if there is anything I’ve missed about CPAP. I did find that I’m supposed to have the machine below head level, a fact that escaped me somehow. I didn’t keep it on long enough last night to know if that would stop the “rain out”, as it is called. That’s when the humidifier in the machine causes condensation in the tubing, because the air in the room is cooler. I can’t do without the moistened air, so I will need to deal with the condensation. It got so bad one night that it sounded like the thing was gargling!
I was also trying to find out of the machine is aggravating the gas I’m having, and yes, CPAP does often cause that, as many people swallow the air. It’s supposed to be something you grow out of, and can be lessened by using the Ramp Up switch, which starts the pressure lower so you can go to sleep easier. I hadn’t been using it, since going to sleep has never been my problem. But I did use it last night, and will from now on.
For all that I’m discouraged this morning, after so little sleep last night, I am still hopeful that I will adjust to the CPAP. I’m not so optimistic about my digestive system problem, though, and I am still wanting the colonoscopy. My legs and hands continue to be swollen with fluid, too. We’ll see what the doctor has to say today.
Sorry to hear about the C-PAP issues you are having. You may be able to solve some of the skin issues – the itching – by applying a very small amount of “vaseline intensive care” to the skin where the mask rubs. (Don’t use just straight vaseline because that will cause one huge greasy mess. The intensive care lotion in small amounts will be absorbed by your skin) I stress small amount because too much will make the mask slide all over. The vaseline provides a protective barrier in case the mask is composed of something that is causing you to itch. Also, if you are itching because of the friction from the mask – the vaseline will decrease that also – (A&D ointment will do the same thing if you prefer)
Also, if you continue to have issues with too much moisture in the tubing, ask your supplier if you can get a “condensation trap” like people with tracheostomys use for their oxygen tubing. The tubing on the c-pap is pretty close to the same size as trach tubing, so the trap will probably fit without too much difficulty. The trap itself is just a little tiny bottle that is connected to the tubing about half way between the machine and the mask. It can be unscrewed and emptied whenever needed. Again, I am not sure if it will fit – I would be surprised if it does not, the tubing is so close in size to trach tubing. The other possible draw back would be that it might decrease the amount of constant pressure the machine is putting out, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Thanks for the suggestions, Joe. I have been using an Aloe lotion, trying to use just enough to protect my skin, without keeping the mask from sealing. I found a heated tube on the net, but it’s quite expensive. There are also insulated covers for the tubes, that are relatively cheap. I’ll certainly check into the condensation trap thingy.
DB,
I’m sorry to hear these problems continue. It all sounds so complicated that I’ll bet a lot of people just give up trying to make it work. I hope you can figure out a way to get more good nights of sleep.
Thanks goodness, Shelia, many people tolerate the cpap mask from the very first, with no problems. I did get about 4 or 5 hours on it last night, and then slept another 2 hours on my side. So that’s better than I was doing before the cpap.
These other problems, however, are not showing any signs of improving, and that is very depressing.
DB,
I’m so glad to hear, even with all the continuing problems, that you are able to garden a little bit. When I get my hands in the dirt, it immediately balances me, and I feel so much more stable.
That Lasagna Garden sounds as if it’s coming along really well.
Working in the yard early in the morning has been good for me, Marion. I tend to work a lot longer than I would just doing exercises, and I have the satisfaction of seeing I’m accomplishing something. I’m guessing I have about a 10 to 15 foot long row of compost now, about 2 feet high and probably 2 or 3 feet wide. And I still haven’t used up all the chips that were left where the stumps were ground. There’s still a huge pile of chips at the back of our yard from the branches. I figure I’ll be working on it all winter!