Just started using oxygen to treat sleep apnea… HELP!?
So I only have to wear the tube that goes around your ears and slightly into the nose when I sleep at night, but I’m finding that the oxygen is uncomfortable and almost impossible to sleep with. I keep taking it off right before I fall asleep.
Is the oxygen machine too high for me? It’s at 2 liters an hour. I guess really what I need to know is if it’s always uncomfortable and I’ll just have to get used to it, or if I can get it tweaked a little bit.
Mary – Yes, I had two sleep studies. The Dr. told me they needed me to go back for a third one, with a cpap, to see how it goes… but they never gave me an appointment date or anything.
Also what I’m specifically talking about is the feeling of the oxygen tube ends in my nose. They are just super uncomfortable. I was wondering if I could trim them down a little? I’ve been on it for almost a week now and I’m getting used to the actual oxygen, it’s just the tubes in my nose that drive me nuts!
Tagged with: 2 liters • appointment • cpap • ears • little bit • nuts • oxygen machine • oxygen tube • sleep • sleep studies • tube ends • tubes
Filed under: Sleep Apnea Machine Questions
oxygen does not treat sleep apnea. Cpap or bipap does. People may also have oxygen as well.
2 liters is an average oxygen flow in an adult.
Did you have a sleep study. ARe you seeing a pulmonologist or sleep specialist.
Speak to the RRT who comes to the house about the O2
you might see if the unit your using can use humidification,that will help so itsnot so dry,but if the doc ordered 2 liters thats probably cuz you need that amount. im sure it does take time,but ask your homecare about humidification
I have sleep apnea was using a breathing machine,started with a C-pap then to a Bi-pap machine, which keeps the airway open during sleep. Wore a full mask. My machines had a water tank that’s heated for humidity. Do you mean a nasal cannula? You can place "doe skin" , that is soft on one side and has an adhesive side, might cut pieces of "doe skin" on the tubing placing it where it goes around ears. Do you have a water bottle attached to the oxygen, so humidity is provided.
It depends on what kind of discomfort your talking about. It used to tickle my nose hairs and it drove me crazy. I got used to that and trimmed the hairs. If your refering to the chafing that occurs on the skin just outside your nose than the best thing I’ve found for that is skin lotion. If the truth be known and I know there will be people who will say OMG don’t do that!!!,i use a vaseline based ointment. It works like magic. And to the naysayers, please, common sense has to rule at some time. What are the real chances of a fire coming that close to your nose and igniting the petroleum in the ointment. Come on.Also, oxygen is not exposive it simply supports combustion. If you point O2 at afire it will make it burn much faster but explode, ridiculous.
And as to the drying just snort some tap water in the morning. Or you could ask for a humidifier which I fould found to be more of a pain in the neck than helpful.
Oh yeah don’t adjust the 2 liters per minute. There’s a reason the doctor ordered it that way.
God bless.
Btw I’m a Respiratory Therapist who worked with O2 for 40 years. I know whereof I speak.