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Hello and question about hole in septum
Hi,
My name is Irma Hudson and I live in Kansas City, Missouri. Three months ago I went for a routine checkup and had high blood pressure and the doctor heard something in my heart. So she sent me for an echocaridiogram and that showed I had a problem with one of the valves in my heart. One of the tests they did to find the cause was a sleep study and it showed that I have severe sleep apnea. So I got fitted with a remstar plus (m series) and first they gave me a pillow mask and that didn't work so now I have a Mirage Quattro mask. I sometimes feel like I am not getting any air at all and waking up hot and flushed. Trying to figure out what is happening. I have a pretty large hole in my septum that I have had since childhood and am wondering if that could interfere with the airflow or anything.
Thanks for any help you can give me! Irma
My name is Irma Hudson and I live in Kansas City, Missouri. Three months ago I went for a routine checkup and had high blood pressure and the doctor heard something in my heart. So she sent me for an echocaridiogram and that showed I had a problem with one of the valves in my heart. One of the tests they did to find the cause was a sleep study and it showed that I have severe sleep apnea. So I got fitted with a remstar plus (m series) and first they gave me a pillow mask and that didn't work so now I have a Mirage Quattro mask. I sometimes feel like I am not getting any air at all and waking up hot and flushed. Trying to figure out what is happening. I have a pretty large hole in my septum that I have had since childhood and am wondering if that could interfere with the airflow or anything.
Thanks for any help you can give me! Irma
Views: 1307
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Saz RPSGT on
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I don't see why a hole in your septum would cause any problems with CPAP.
Saz
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Permalink Reply by Steven Y. Park, MD on
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If your nose is stuffy, then that can prevent proper CPAP use.
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Permalink Reply by Irma Hudson on
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Saz RPSGT said:I don't see why a hole in your septum would cause any problems with CPAP.
Saz
Saz, thanks for your reply. It's a pretty big hole so I wonder if the air could get turbulent and not go into the smaller nasal passage. I am not sure that that is valid reasoning, but I am struggling to understand why I have so much difficulty. I am really motivated to make this work and get my blood pressure down.
Irma
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Thank you for the reply Steven. I do have stuffiness problems and am struggling to deal with them, but sometimes my nose feels quite clear before I put the mask on and then I still have this feeling that the airflow is blocked. Is it possible to be stuffy and not know it? Also, I would certainly appreciate any suggestions for dealing with the stuffiness. I am using Sinusin nasal spray as well as saline sprays and Claritin.
Thanks, Irma
Steven Y. Park, MD said:If your nose is stuffy, then that can prevent proper CPAP use.
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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If you haven't had your machine for 30 days (hoping you haven't but if your sleep study was three months ago it probably is over 30 days) trade it in for a data capable machine. If you are over the 30 day mark you are probably stuck with that particular machine.
The machine you have doesn't provide any useful data, except how many hours/days you have used it. A data capable machine provides additional information that can help the doctor pinpoint any problems.
Do you know your pressure?
Do you have major leaks?
Have you contacted an ent to see about getting the hole repaired?
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Hi, Sleepycarol,
Yes, I had it over 30 days... my pressure is set at 6 and I don't think I have any major leaks. No, I haven't seen an ENT about the hole. I am just trying to figure out if it is doing anything significant. I have had it for about 62 years now and at one time, a long time ago, a doctor told me it was so big it would be very difficult to fix. Right now I am really just trying to figure out if it has any impact in my current problems. I need to get a handle on what is going on.
Irma
sleepycarol said:If you haven't had your machine for 30 days (hoping you haven't but if your sleep study was three months ago it probably is over 30 days) trade it in for a data capable machine. If you are over the 30 day mark you are probably stuck with that particular machine.
The machine you have doesn't provide any useful data, except how many hours/days you have used it. A data capable machine provides additional information that can help the doctor pinpoint any problems.
Do you know your pressure?
Do you have major leaks?
Have you contacted an ent to see about getting the hole repaired?
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There have been major advances in surgery techniques in the last few years so might be beneficial to have it checked by an ENT.
Do you use the ramp feature? With a pressure of 6, you shouldn't need the ramp and if you are using it, that might be the source of feeling like you aren't getting enough air. For awhile I was at a pressure of 8 and had some of the same complaints you voiced. I nudged my pressure up to 9 and haven't had any problems.
It is a shame your machine isn't data capable so that one could tell by your numbers if you were having large leaks, apneas, etc. that could, also, be the source of your complaints.
Have you talked to your doctor about your symptoms? I would start there and see if they have any suggestions.
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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on
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I may a be a bit dense here.. is it a hole in the nasal septum or ventricular septum? It is not believed that either of these should be causing an issue with CPAP.
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Thanks, Carol,
Yes, I use the ramp... maybe I'll go ahead and try without it. I will check into an appointment with an ENT, that really does seem to be the next step. I have severe hearing problems and will see my Otologist next month. I asked if 6 wasn't too low, they said that's what I tested at... it has to be there! Do I need another sleep test to get that changed?
I am just getting to the point of trying to figure out what is going on. I really assumed for too long that if I just did everything right, I would put on the machine and everything would be wonderful again.Live and learn! :-)
Irma
sleepycarol said:There have been major advances in surgery techniques in the last few years so might be beneficial to have it checked by an ENT.
Do you use the ramp feature? With a pressure of 6, you shouldn't need the ramp and if you are using it, that might be the source of feeling like you aren't getting enough air. For awhile I was at a pressure of 8 and had some of the same complaints you voiced. I nudged my pressure up to 9 and haven't had any problems.
It is a shame your machine isn't data capable so that one could tell by your numbers if you were having large leaks, apneas, etc. that could, also, be the source of your complaints.
Have you talked to your doctor about your symptoms? I would start there and see if they have any suggestions.
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Thanks, Rock,
Is there any way they can tell that without another sleep study? I really wouldn't want to do another one so soon.
Irma
Rock Hinkle said:6 is a pretty low pressure. Your pressure needs may be higher.
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It is a hole in the nasal septum. It feels like the flow in my nose is very turbulent, and I was wondering if that would keep the air from flowing up my nasal tubes, Like it blows in one side and out the other and little air goes into my system. Those are my subjective sensations, and I am trying to both express them clearly and if possible get an explanation. I need to prepare as well as I can for conversations with my medical people because I get very tense and nervous with doctors. Always have.
Irma
D. W. Conn said:I may a be a bit dense here.. is it a hole in the nasal septum or ventricular septum? It is not believed that either of these should be causing an issue with CPAP.
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