Struggling

[djeiom]

Hi Guys. After several years of complaining of constant tiredness and general ill health my GP finally, after several attempts to get me to take sleeping tablets which made me feel 10 x worse, refered me to my local hospital's ENT for investigation. When my appointment came around i spent literally 5 minutes with the specialist who stuck a lolly pop stick down my throat and promptly said there was nothing he could do except refer me for a sleep study.Because i live on a relaivly small island the NHS do not have the facilities to perform overnight sleep studies in the hospital, although until recently they sent patients to the uk mainland for studies. The hospitals Cardio Respitory department have been great and after the first home study involving a small oxogen / heart rate monitor didnt show very much they fitted me with a more advanced monitor which did show up apnea symptoms.I had another appointment last week where i was given a CPAP machine and nasal mask to try.After a couple of nights of feeling panic and breathlessness i managed to relax enough to breath all the time through the mask. The problem is i cant actually get off to sleep at all. I just lie there awake all night. I usually breath through my nose and mouth when i sleep. It seems when i do become relaxed enough to actual go off to sleep i start trying to breath through my mouth. Do you think i should try a full face mask ? or is this something to do with pressures ?
The machine the hospital supplied me with is a Remstar Auto and the mask is a Fisher & Paykel Flexifit 407.
Any ideas welcome
Thanks

[gvader]

Hi dje,

If you normally breathe through your mouth and nose then you should be using a full face mask, that way you will be breathing the way that you are used to.

When I was set up by my sleep clinic in January I told them that I was a mouth breather and they went straight to a full face mask, didn't bother with trying a nasal one.

I've had no problems at all and the mask even stays on if I need to get up for a leak durung the night.

Give them a call first thing on Monday morning and see about getting a full face mask as soon as possible, you'll feel a lot better.

[chelseauk]

I'd echo that - as a mouth breather - i wouldn't want to even try anthing other than a full face mask to start with - you've got enough on your plate learning to sleep with mask on - let alone trying to sleep in another way entirely.

[puffin]

Hi Djeiom
Welcome to the forum and society of hose heads, as the others have said get yourself to the clinic and ask for a full face mask. It will help you from the start.

[SteveP]

The chin strap suggestion might be useful until you can get a full face mask...

I have heard of people using all sorts of home made straps. One I remember was using a panty hose. Sorry if it doesn't sound serious, but it is!

Good luck anyway. I am sure when you get the right mask, you will sleep like a baby.

All the best.
__________________

[djeiom]

Thanks Guys
Feel much better after getting some advice. As i said my hospital are very good so i will give them a call on Monday morning and hopefully give the full face mask a go. Will let you know how i get on
Thanks Again.

[acebass]

Keep Positive

Please don't feel put off by the initial problems you are having, everyone has problems at first although they may not be necessarily the same as yours. It is totally alien to all of us to have a mask strapped on our faces, but we gradually adjust, and the benefits will outweigh the niggles......

[djeiom]

HI Guys

Got a new full face mask yesterday. Spent most of last night fiddling to get it to sit right.Started out leaking like a pressure cooker. Definatly felt better being able to breath through my mouth. Having the dry mouth problem but hopefull will get used to it. Will keep you posted.

Thanks

[djeiom]

Think im starting to get used to the mask. Although i didnt actual get off to sleep I felt my self starting to nod the other night. Managing 2 or 3 hours with the mask on , not getting to sleep yet but not feeling im gasping for breath the same as before. Having to use the ramp button on the machine to reduce the flow as i dont feel i could drop off to sleep when the machine starts to crank up.Still having the dry mouth problem so am going to call the hospital next week to ask if a humidifier is avaliable, nothing was mentioned when i told them about the dry mouth so not sure if they issue them or not.
Thanks for you comments

[Andysee]

Stick with it djeiom. It may take a while to get used to the mask, pressures and finding a comfortable position to sleep in but you will get there. You will be amazed how great you feel when it all comes good and you get your 7 hours a night of undisturbed sleep.

Best regards
Andy

[djeiom]

HI Guys
Have been trying to get on with my new full face mask for a week now. Not having much luck.The mask the hospital supplied me with is a Fisher & Paykel 432. The nurse checked the size when she gave it to me but im sure its too small. Looking at the mask , and checking on the manufacturers website site, it shows it should fit under your chin. The one i have been given is a size small which sits just under my bottom lip.Its really not very comfortable, and once the pressure starts to ramp up, leaks like a goodun. I went back to the hospital today and spoke to the nurse, but she told me that the mask should not go under my chin as this would restrict it.I am very confused.I dont really want to argue with the nurse as she is trained in these things and i feel like im being a pain in the ar*e pestering them all the time, but im never going to get used to the treatment using a mask that doesnt fit.What should i do ?

[puffin]

Afraid the nurse is talking out her bum. My clinic tried to give me one of these fisher masks, did not last the night. I think that the fisher sales rep has been around to sell um the cheaper masks, which in turn they palm off on us with out checking how they are fitted.

[chelseauk]

Hi,

I can't see a sizing guide on the F&P website - you could email them and ask them for one (Respironics and resmed have PDF ones you can print out) - you could try the one from at CPAP.com - you measure you face and then that should tell you the correct size.

http://www.cpap.com/cpap-mask-sizing.php

[djeiom]

Hi Guys

Finally got to speak to someone at my hospital who knew what they were talking about. They have now given me the medium and the large inserts for the mask, which is what i had asked for, so hopefull i can start trying to get used to it again. I just feel like the past few weeks of struggling have been a waste of time. Im still very concerned that the information being given to patients is incorrect so may need to take this further with the hospital.Will keep you up to date. Thanks again for all your comments it has really made all the difference.