I began on cpap in June.  I felt GREAT at first, lots of energy, weight loss, clearer focus on tasks.    but over the last moth or so, I have noticed I am feeling worse again and have had bronchitis (severe) on two occasions.  has anyone else had these problems?  Any suggestions?
 
I wake up with a dry mouth every morning, I have the nasal mask, and wonder if I am sleeping with my mouth open.  

I moved my BIPAP to the bedside table (up higher than it was before) and wondered if it is an issue if it above or below bed level.

Hello ,   I'm writing from france where I have been using an air pressure mask since june /05   with very dry mouth waking me up after 2-3 hours.  Now with an added humidifyer  I can sleep longer but still often have dry mouth.  Your question about this tool and repeated bronchitis?   Since I have just had a very bad bout?cant recall last time was this sick/  I asked myself if there was a connection.  It only makes sense to me that forced air into the throat/lungs/bronchii would cause them to be vulnerable,  suscepible to respeeratory disease.   Like  being on a fast speed bike with your mouth open to the wind, no?over a sustained period  daily,  for months? would any doctor reccommend this?  I doubt it.  Yet it is the only real form of treatment besides surgery it seems.    

I am looking into yoga and sleep apnea. As well as the physical aspect of the problem;   relaxation of the muscles, a narrow pharanx etc, there is also the link for some sufferers with early chiildhood trauma/breath holding.  

I am using a nasal mask and with it, it is not possible to breathe for more than a few seconds with the mouth open without waking up.

I would recommend heated humidification and a full face mask, that covers the nose and mouth.
Prior to cpap, I had bronchitis constantly.  Since starting cpap five years ago, I seldom get sick, and when I occassionally do...I'm over it very quickly.....no longer hangs on for months at a time!!
Well treated apnea, and good healthy sleep improves the body's ability to resist and fight infections.

I can add that I used to get bronchitis all the time.  I ended up talking to the doc and he prescribed antibiotics for a long term (about month and a half) and since then, I don't get it but once a year now ( I have asthma and Vocal Cord Disfunction, so it adds to the respiratory situation)  IF you are getting more then a couple of bouts of bronchitis a year, you might want to ask him about a different approach...  

Rested Gal will tell you to keep a Full Face mask around to make sure that you can do CPAP during those times when you can't nose breathe.

Vicki's Suggestions are great also, by using heated humidification, you won't irritate your airway as much and for asthma patients its almost a must.


Feel better, and let us know what you find out.

Radchick wrote:

I moved my BIPAP to the bedside table (up higher than it was before) and wondered if it is an issue if it above or below bed level.

I think this can be an issue, since you may aspirate some of the humidifier water. I was told to keep the machine well below the level of the mask.

(this is ony my second night on cpap, so don't really know much, just what I was told by the tech.)

Totally out of left field here, but do you happen to have asthma?  

I used to get bronchitis 2-4 times per year, and it would often spiral down into pneumonia.  After years of suffering, I finally switched doctors and the new one immediately suspected asthma.  I started getting treated for that (Singulair, inhaler as needed), and now I've only had bronchitis once in the last 3 years.

Seems what was happening is that I'd have a relatively mild asthma attack, I'd think it was a cold, and it would linger on - and the fluid in my lungs from the asthma would cause me to get bronchitis/pneumonia.


Allergies, Asthma, Apnea - if it's respiratory and starts with an "A", I have it!


_________________
--Frank (FJC)