+- Apnea Board Forum - CPAP | Sleep Apnea (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums)
+-- Forum: Public Area (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Public-Area)
+--- Forum: Main Apnea Board Forum (https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Main-Apnea-Board-Forum)
+--- Thread: Can't sleep...my cheeks blow up like a balloon after a few minutes! (/Thread-Can-t-sleep-my-cheeks-blow-up-like-a-balloon-after-a-few-minutes)
Can't sleep...my cheeks blow up like a balloon after a few minutes! - nukerx - 09-03-2012
Has anyone experienced this annoying problem? Its not because I am opening my mouth...even with a chin strap it happens. It feels like it starts inside my nose and then all of a sudden I get air in my mouth, my cheeks blow up, and then the air forces its way out of my mouth.
I can't sleep with this thing. I have had it for three weeks now and every time I get close to falling asleep....its balloon mouth.
What can I do?
RE: Can't sleep...my cheeks blow up like a balloon after a few minutes! - trish6hundred - 09-03-2012
Hi nukerx, First of all, WELCOME! to the forum.! Do you have ramp turned on on your machine? Sometimes I heard people say that makes it easier to deal with if you have ramp on. Just hang in there for more suggestions and don't give up, you have only been using CPAP for a short time. CPAP therapy can take LOTS of TIME and PATIENCE.! Best of luck to you.
RE: Can't sleep...my cheeks blow up like a balloon after a few minutes! - nukerx - 09-03-2012
Yes, I have a ramp, and I set it for 30 minutes. Sometimes this happens before I even reach the pressure that was prescribed for me. Very frustrating.....Thanks for your reply
RE: Can't sleep...my cheeks blow up like a balloon after a few minutes! - PaulaO2 - 09-03-2012
You need to sit up during the day with it on. Practice keeping your tongue on the roof of your mouth, blocking air from coming into your mouth. You can even practice without the mask on. Open your mouth, breathe through it, then move your tongue so you are then only breathing through your nose. Find a comfortable, natural tongue position. Practicing with the mask and machine on will help you adjust to the air flow until it becomes natural, too.
It takes practice! You'd think it wouldn't since it should be instinct. I did the same thing and it was annoying as heck.
RE: Can't sleep...my cheeks blow up like a balloon after a few minutes! - TomR1 - 09-07-2012
My solution to this problem was a full face mask.
RE: Can't sleep...my cheeks blow up like a balloon after a few minutes! - kitley - 09-07-2012
Welcome to the forum. I have been on CPAP for about 4 months. This happens to me once in a while, but I place my tongue as Paula suggested, and it works for me. It happens wearing my nasal mask, and did not happen with nasal pillows??? Don't give up...frustrating as all heck to begin with, but it does get easier.
RE: Can't sleep...my cheeks blow up like a balloon after a few minutes! - Sleepster - 09-07-2012
It happened to me when I started. Take Paula's advice about the tongue placement. If that doesn't work, and a chinstrap doesn't help, see your doctor or provider about switching to either a full face mask or a hybrid mask.
You don't state in your profile which ResMed machine you have, but if it's a data-capable machine you really should use the free software or the on-screen display to check your leak rate. If your leak rate is under control this problem is only an annoyance. If not, then it's a problem that's affecting the quality of your CPAP therapy.
If your ResMed machine is not fully data-capable you should call your provider and insist on getting one.
Tell us which model you have and we can figure it out from there.