hi i just found you & im new here with my cpap!!

[dkyb2008]

hiiii folks.... hi im dawn from sheffield ! Well what a pallava this cpap lark is! I got mine on friday and have got to do the oxymeter test tomorrow night and return the oxymeter monday. I tried the cpap last night....Im not a happy bunny
Im a petite gal and the mask almost covers all my face! obvously it covers my mouth and nose and blows a gale where it should, and feels like sea breeze really, but the mask hurts...it i leave it as it is, it traps my cheek bone and skin on both sides of my face,but if i loosen it, even if only a little bit,then air escapes!! they gave me the smallest mask they had..can anyone advise me please?
Any ladies on here aged 40 plus who like me finds the mask a tad un alluring and darth vader like......ok yes its a vanity thing but is there anyone out there feelin like i do? lets chat
take care & sleep well xx

[James @ Intus]

Hi Dawn, welcome to the forums!

ResMed recently launched a "Ladies Mask": http://forums.cpap.co.uk/showthread.php?t=618 Maybe it suits you!

Masks can take a while to get right and most people end up having tried 2 or 3 masks before theysettle on a favourite.

[jillybean]

Hi

Im new too but dont have my cpap yet, look forward (lol) to that in 2 weeks time just at the worrying panicking stage of reading about them and finding out about it all.
This seems like a good place to find out what you need to know.

[dkyb2008]

hi ive pm'd you,,,,,,,,,, jillybean

[magickalmum]

me too

Hi I am new too and cant get the courage to wear the cpap. its like sticking your nose on the vaccum cleaner in reverse mode. now I know how a balloon feels. I guess its take each day slowly. wish i could just put it on and breath but scares the heck out of me and having not slept more than 3-4 hours a night in years i guess it will take time to get used to

[Liz hutton]

dkyb2008

Hi Dawn, I'm new to this too.
Over forty, currently single. And looks like will be for a while, with this cpap thing attached to my face.It's just like that thing from the film 'Alien', when it gets John Hurt for the first time.
I totally get the darth vader thing. As that it is exactly what I thought, when I put mine on.
So.... I have nicknamed mine Garth Vader. So it at least sounds like I'm going to bed with a man. LOL.

[James @ Intus]

There is of course an invisible way to treat OSA and for those who really struggle to cope with the air pump and mask, it makes for a brilliant CPAP alternative.



It sure gets rid of the comments about the looks and travels easier too!

[Liz hutton]

What the hell is that?????!!!!!!!!!!!

[dkyb2008]

That looks interesting...who do i ask about it? my sleep clinic or dentist?
tho im getting sleep now. i managed 5 hours continual sleep now that ive got a nose mask , as well as a a full face one. neither of them are fantastic but im sleeping so what more could i ask?
i was having 39 apnoeas per hour so i was lacking lots of sleep. so cpap does work, its a pity theyre a little intrusive.
but yeyyyyyyy 3 cheers for cpap lol

[James @ Intus]

It's called a Mandibular (Mandible = lower jaw) Advancement (pull forward) Splint. Worn like a mouth guard over the teeth, and precision molded exactly to your teeth for a really comfortable fit, it ensures the lower jaw protrudes just a few millimeters which creates more space in the back of the throat, which avoids collapsing of the airways and therefor prevents apnoea from happening.

The UK have been a bit slow on the uptake, doctors here prefer CPAP, but in Germany and the US it's really common to be offered this instead of CPAP.

The latest models, like the SomnoDent, are comfortable and clinically proven to work very well. CPAP works for sure, oral appliances, as long as it's a custom-fit one which is titratable (adjustable) now work very well too and can be a real saviour for those not able to become friends with their CPAP.

You would indeed have to talk with your dentist about them though not every dentist knows enough about dental sleep medicine to be comfortable with fitting you one of these. That's why there is a (growing) network of specially trained dentists who do know about sleep studies, snoring and sleep apnoea.

A very small number of sleep clinics, such as the one in Haslemere, offer splints but mostly to non-compliant CPAP users (have to try CPAP first) or mild sufferers only. But if your clinic doesn't offer them, you can sure get one fitted privately.

They tend to cost only marginally more than a CPAP rig initially but you save down to line on mask replacements and accessories. And it looks better of course.

[Jan1ce]

My doctor told me that the dental device has a 60-70% success rate as opposed to 90% with CPAP. And then of course there's the cost, as you noted. Now you've made me wonder. Maybe I will see if my dentist can refer me so I can check out cost etc...

[Mr Stefan]

Did not work for me

I purchased one of these a couple of years ago but I found it did not offer me the releif I was seeking, by these comments I would not say it would not work for some.
I was having 60 apneas an hour when tested by the sleep clinic and felt really drained, the CPAP machine has given me a few nights with some relief and last night I managed a full nights sleep and did not have to visit the loo in the middle of the night, previously I was up at least four sometimes five times a night.
How would you know if the mask was leaking during the night when you adjust your position and would it make a difference if it did, would the machine compensate for the loss, I have found the gel mask acceptable but it seams to dig in to the top lip.
Mr Stefan