Hi,
I use a cpap(with a-flex) machine with humidifier. Even though the machine says it is a-flex, my settings are
setup => AUTO => C-flex =>pressure (18cm/h20) => min(4)=>rampup=>show leakage etc.
Occasionally I keep filling up the water in the water chamber. When there is water in it, I kinda feel my nose is itching. I believe it is the tiny minute droplets of water deposited on my nose, which is causing this itchiness. The humidifier setting is at a minimum of 1(cant reduce less than that).
If I dont use the humidifier, then sometimes my mouth becomes dry, although it does not happen always. So the mouth going dry is it because of the leakage of the mask or due to not using the humidifier, I am not sure. I saw my settings in the patient data menu and I could see that the leakage is around 37.9(L/min) on a 7 day average period. Is it high/less ,not sure.  The AHI is showing as 4.9,which I believe is ok. (BTW, my sleep study showed 126 AHI and hence I am using the machine)
Can some one please share their ideas as to why the itchiness could be and why the dryness could be.
Thanks.

Hi badsnorer,

What kind of mask are you using?  Does it cover just the nose, or is it a full face mask (covering both nose and mouth)?
If it's a nose-only mask and you're getting dry mouth, might you be mouth breathing?
I'm not sure, but the leak rate may also be indication of mouth breathing, but I'm not really sure how that works.
If you are mouth breathing but using a nose-only type of mask, then your cpap may not be delivering adequate pressure.
And mouth breathing might account for the dry mouth.  

Your machine AHI is just within the normal range, but any mouth breathing might still be a factor.  But I'm more apt to guess that your dryness is from when you don't use the humidification.  My pressure is 18, and that can pose problems, especially early on, with getting used to it.  The pressure alone might cause itchiness, but I don't really know, it's only a guess.  

Wow, your study AHI was 126?  That's twice a minute!   Yes indeedy, you need your cpap!


Linda


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Linda, Thanks for the response. Yeah I also thought, the reason could be there is a leakage or I am mouth breathing. These days I am checking the statistics on the machine every day,which gives 7 day averages. Interestingly in the last couple of days, I am noticing the leakage is increasing and the AHI seems to be dropping. The leakage was 37 initially and now it is 42. The AHI was initially 4.7 and it has now gone to 4.2.
In the last couple of days, I have stopped using the humidifier,and I am not feeling the itchiness.,but I do feel a little bit gassiness,could be because of the leakage.
As I said machine gives 7 day averages. I am not sure if the statistics can be seen on a daily basis, that is for that particular night,which gives a better chance to analyze the facts.
Please share you thoughts.

Possibly the increased leak rate is creating the illusion of a lower AHI.  It has to be using back-pressure in the system to detect AHI and leaking air reduces the back pressure.  This could be especially true if mouth leaking is part of the leakage data.

so how to correct the problem?