Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike on April 18, 2009 at 9:21pm

Welcome Bee! In short, yes, you've figured it out: your conditions are very much related. At least I know for a fact that sleep apnea, high blood pressure and GERD are all very much related. Not so sure about asthma honestly.

And c'mon, the nasal pillows aren't all that much of an eye sore -- those are the Maseratis of Sleep Apnea masks ;-) Check out the Swift LT for Her. They have cute little powder blue fleece thingies that go over the side straps. My wife has it, and i think she looks great with it on. The bottom line is that if your husband loves you and wants to keep you here on the Earth with him, he's pushing at least as much as you are for you to wear your CPAP mask religiously whenever you go to sleep. It will add years to your life.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on April 18, 2009 at 9:22pm

here's a link on GERD and Sleep Apnea that might be helpful to you...

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Permalink Reply by BeeAsleep on April 18, 2009 at 9:38pm

Mike, Thanks so much for your help. I started for 2 days with the medium nasal mask then I got the nasal pillows, the one your wife has with the little blue flannel things.WAY better thana the full head gear. I felt like a hockey player. My husband thinks I am weird since we have been married for 25 years and been through some pretty rough medical times. I think I feel trapped by the machine. Tied down.

I know that 90% of doing this is getting my mind wrapped around the concept and making it work. I am a very persistent personality so I know will do this eventually.I have children and grandcchildren I want to see grow up.

I might get a Bi Pap or VPAP this coming week since it is hard to push out with my breathing. It feels scary to push so hard to exhale against the air pressure. I feel like I am standing face first into an oncoming hurricane. My setting is at 11. Can I still use the nasal pillows if I get a BiPAP or VPAP (what is the difference?) THANKS so much for your help.

Mike said:

Welcome Bee! In short, yes, you've figured it out: your conditions are very much related. At least I know for a fact that sleep apnea, high blood pressure and GERD are all very much related. Not so sure about asthma honestly.

And c'mon, the nasal pillows aren't all that much of an eye sore -- those are the Maseratis of Sleep Apnea masks ;-) Check out the Swift LT for Her. They have cute little powder blue fleece thingies that go over the side straps. My wife has it, and i think she looks great with it on. The bottom line is that if your husband loves you and wants to keep you here on the Earth with him, he's pushing at least as much as you are for you to wear your CPAP mask religiously whenever you go to sleep. It will add years to your life.

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Permalink Reply by BeeAsleep on April 18, 2009 at 9:39pm

GREAT!
Mike said:

here's a link on GERD and Sleep Apnea that might be helpful to you...

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Permalink Reply by Mike on April 18, 2009 at 10:01pm

Yes, you can still use the nasal pillows with a BiPAP/VPAP. There is no difference between a BiPAP and VPAP -- Respironics, one of the manufacturers, has a trademark on the name BiPAP, so ResMed's BiPAPs are called VPAPs. confusing, for sure.

Your problem exhaling against the high pressure can certainly be dealt with by using a BiPAP/VPAP. The BiPAP/VPAP is like a CPAP, except whereas a CPAP operates at a single pressure setting, the BiPAP/VPAP operates at 2 pressure settings -- one for inhalation (higher pressure), and a different one for exhalation (lower pressure).

You might also try a CPAP with some sort of comfort feature to relieve the pressure a bit upon exhalation. Respironics' comfort feature is called A-Flex or C-Flex; ResMed's comfort feature is called EPR, or Expiratory Relief Pressure. I'd recommend you get only an auto-adjusting CPAP with full compliance and efficacy data capability. The auto adjusting machine will allow your machine to operate at a range of pressures depending on your needs during the night; the data capability will give you the ability to download your results so you can understand if your therapy is working.

I know it's a lot to take in, and i knew zero about this when i started a year or two ago. But you will get it as long as you stay committed to yourself, and taking your therapy in your own hands/ not following advice of doctors and others blindly. Also, read all you can here and ask as many questions as you can. We're always happy to answer them. There are no dumb questions.

BeeAsleep said:

Mike, Thanks so much for your help. I started for 2 days with the medium nasal mask then I got the nasal pillows, the one your wife has with the little blue flannel things.WAY better thana the full head gear. I felt like a hockey player. My husband thinks I am weird since we have been married for 25 years and been through some pretty rough medical times. I think I feel trapped by the machine. Tied down.

I know that 90% of doing this is getting my mind wrapped around the concept and making it work. I am a very persistent personality so I know will do this eventually.I have children and grandcchildren I want to see grow up.

I might get a Bi Pap or VPAP this coming week since it is hard to push out with my breathing. It feels scary to push so hard to exhale against the air pressure. I feel like I am standing face first into an oncoming hurricane. My setting is at 11. Can I still use the nasal pillows if I get a BiPAP or VPAP (what is the difference?) THANKS so much for your help.

Mike said:

Welcome Bee! In short, yes, you've figured it out: your conditions are very much related. At least I know for a fact that sleep apnea, high blood pressure and GERD are all very much related. Not so sure about asthma honestly.

And c'mon, the nasal pillows aren't all that much of an eye sore -- those are the Maseratis of Sleep Apnea masks ;-) Check out the Swift LT for Her. They have cute little powder blue fleece thingies that go over the side straps. My wife has it, and i think she looks great with it on. The bottom line is that if your husband loves you and wants to keep you here on the Earth with him, he's pushing at least as much as you are for you to wear your CPAP mask religiously whenever you go to sleep. It will add years to your life.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on April 18, 2009 at 10:13pm

by the way, an auto adjusting CPAP is still a CPAP -- it will operate a single pressure at any given time; the thing that is different about it is that it can adjust that single pressure within a prescribed range to optimize treatment depending on how you're breathing throughout the night.

Mike said:

Yes, you can still use the nasal pillows with a BiPAP/VPAP. There is no difference between a BiPAP and VPAP -- Respironics, one of the manufacturers, has a trademark on the name BiPAP, so ResMed's BiPAPs are called VPAPs. confusing, for sure.

Your problem exhaling against the high pressure can certainly be dealt with by using a BiPAP/VPAP. The BiPAP/VPAP is like a CPAP, except whereas a CPAP operates at a single pressure setting, the BiPAP/VPAP operates at 2 pressure settings -- one for inhalation (higher pressure), and a different one for exhalation (lower pressure).

You might also try a CPAP with some sort of comfort feature to relieve the pressure a bit upon exhalation. Respironics' comfort feature is called A-Flex or C-Flex; ResMed's comfort feature is called EPR, or Expiratory Relief Pressure. I'd recommend you get only an auto-adjusting CPAP with full compliance and efficacy data capability. The auto adjusting machine will allow your machine to operate at a range of pressures depending on your needs during the night; the data capability will give you the ability to download your results so you can understand if your therapy is working.

I know it's a lot to take in, and i knew zero about this when i started a year or two ago. But you will get it as long as you stay committed to yourself, and taking your therapy in your own hands/ not following advice of doctors and others blindly. Also, read all you can here and ask as many questions as you can. We're always happy to answer them. There are no dumb questions.

BeeAsleep said:

Mike, Thanks so much for your help. I started for 2 days with the medium nasal mask then I got the nasal pillows, the one your wife has with the little blue flannel things.WAY better thana the full head gear. I felt like a hockey player. My husband thinks I am weird since we have been married for 25 years and been through some pretty rough medical times. I think I feel trapped by the machine. Tied down.

I know that 90% of doing this is getting my mind wrapped around the concept and making it work. I am a very persistent personality so I know will do this eventually.I have children and grandcchildren I want to see grow up.

I might get a Bi Pap or VPAP this coming week since it is hard to push out with my breathing. It feels scary to push so hard to exhale against the air pressure. I feel like I am standing face first into an oncoming hurricane. My setting is at 11. Can I still use the nasal pillows if I get a BiPAP or VPAP (what is the difference?) THANKS so much for your help.

Mike said:

Welcome Bee! In short, yes, you've figured it out: your conditions are very much related. At least I know for a fact that sleep apnea, high blood pressure and GERD are all very much related. Not so sure about asthma honestly.

And c'mon, the nasal pillows aren't all that much of an eye sore -- those are the Maseratis of Sleep Apnea masks ;-) Check out the Swift LT for Her. They have cute little powder blue fleece thingies that go over the side straps. My wife has it, and i think she looks great with it on. The bottom line is that if your husband loves you and wants to keep you here on the Earth with him, he's pushing at least as much as you are for you to wear your CPAP mask religiously whenever you go to sleep. It will add years to your life.

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Permalink Reply by Judy Sharp on April 19, 2009 at 4:05am

I had the same thing looked like I was in a bar, Thanks for the tip, I do have High Blood Pressure since 2003,
I also have Gerd since 1976, and Asthma since 2006, I don't know if this is true or not my sleep Dr. is also
my pulmanary Dr, he told me my asthma is from my hubby smoking before my hubby died in 2003 he smoked
two cartons a week, we got married in 1974, so just thing being around someone who smoked all that time, also
I didn't smoke. Good luck to you.

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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on April 19, 2009 at 11:47am

Judy I share many of your symptoms.

I have had high blood pressure now for over ten years. I have GERD and have been treating it for the last four years. Have had asthma since the mid 80's (grew up in a household where both parents smoked -- mother a chain smoker and hubby of 37 years smokes like a smokestack as well). Was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2007. Have never smoked either (figured why bother when I was getting all that second hand smoke).

I think many conditions are linked to sleep apnea. Although, I honestly don't think asthma is one of them (although who knows).

BeeAsleep are you using a machine that provides flex relief or epr relief? Depending upon your machine you may have the option of using it (Respironics machines have flex and the Resmeds have epr). This is where you pressure is lowered somewhat on exhale. A pressure of 11 isn't high and so a machine with flex or epr maybe all that you need. Also an apap may make all the difference especially if you can get by with a lower setting and only have to go to 11 at times. Bipaps and Vpaps are more expensive and some insurance companies balk at providing them if cpaps will work.

Let us know which machine you are using (the name should be on it somewhere) and we can let you know if it has an exhale relief feature.

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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on April 19, 2009 at 11:49am

One of the Resmed experts hopefully will be able to help.

In your profile you indicate that you are using a Resmed S8 Escape. I know that is one of the lower end Resmed machines but don't know if it has epr relief. Hopefully Judy, JNK, or one of the pros can tell you how to check to see if it is turned on.

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Permalink Reply by BeeAsleep on April 19, 2009 at 1:12pm

Thanks so much for helping! I can't believe how much better I feel having this forum to ask questions and get answers. I am using a ResMed S8 Escape System. My RT is checking with my doctor to get his approval to get a VPAP machine. I go to National Jewish in Denver, the doctor is excellent. I had my sleep study done there as well. I am a 29 on the AHI scale and I have MIXED apnea. I don't know much about that. I have only been using the machine for about 2 weeks.

sleepycarol said:

Judy I share many of your symptoms.

I have had high blood pressure now for over ten years. I have GERD and have been treating it for the last four years. Have had asthma since the mid 80's (grew up in a household where both parents smoked -- mother a chain smoker and hubby of 37 years smokes like a smokestack as well). Was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2007. Have never smoked either (figured why bother when I was getting all that second hand smoke).

I think many conditions are linked to sleep apnea. Although, I honestly don't think asthma is one of them (although who knows).

BeeAsleep are you using a machine that provides flex relief or epr relief? Depending upon your machine you may have the option of using it (Respironics machines have flex and the Resmeds have epr). This is where you pressure is lowered somewhat on exhale. A pressure of 11 isn't high and so a machine with flex or epr maybe all that you need. Also an apap may make all the difference especially if you can get by with a lower setting and only have to go to 11 at times. Bipaps and Vpaps are more expensive and some insurance companies balk at providing them if cpaps will work.

Let us know which machine you are using (the name should be on it somewhere) and we can let you know if it has an exhale relief feature.

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Permalink Reply by BeeAsleep on April 19, 2009 at 1:14pm

My Dad smoked when I was growing up. I really can not tolerate smoke of any kind. I have never smoked. I feel grateful that I went to National Jewish hospital which is rated in the top 10 in the nation for asthma and allergies. I am trying to get things figured out with my health so I can get better and have a long life. This forum helps so much, because it is nice to know I am not alone with my questions. Thanks!

Judy Sharp said:

I had the same thing looked like I was in a bar, Thanks for the tip, I do have High Blood Pressure since 2003,
I also have Gerd since 1976, and Asthma since 2006, I don't know if this is true or not my sleep Dr. is also
my pulmanary Dr, he told me my asthma is from my hubby smoking before my hubby died in 2003 he smoked
two cartons a week, we got married in 1974, so just thing being around someone who smoked all that time, also
I didn't smoke. Good luck to you.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Judy on April 19, 2009 at 1:23pm

GERD and Reflux ARE related to and CAN CAUSE asthma over a prolonged period of time.

Whether you are put on a Bi-PAP or not I would return that Escape and INSIST on at the very least the Resmed S8 Elite or S8 Elite II, both of which have EPR and are fully data capable.

If you have Mixed Apnea you may well end up on a VPAP or BiPAP ASV. Resmed's ASV was specifically developed for Central Apnea/Cheyn-Stokes Syndrome. I'd ask what brand and model they intended to provide, tell them to wait a minute, run home and check that model out online - and similar models - then go back and tell them whether I would accept it - or wouldn't accept it because it wasn't fully data capable. Just because a device has a data card does NOT mean it is fully data capable.

Also, just a prolonged coughing spree or hard cough can rupture blood vessels in the eye. I don' t know if that holds true for sneezing or not.

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