Given an APAP

[Mr Stefan]

Nasal Washing

I have to agree with James although I have yet to commence nasal washing, I saw a consultant last week who advised this form of treatment.
Also found I was over tightening the straps on my mask, which was causing leaks, since I been issued with a new mask and having it fitted correctly, I have had three nights of great sleep of over 8 hours, and I look forward to going to bed knowing I can get through the night.
One other point, that may be coincidence, I have changed from boiled water in the humidifier to Britta filtered water
My CPAP is now at last becoming a friend instead of a blue eyed beastie sitting at the side of the bed waiting to entangle me in its tentacle and splash me with sp...le, (the beast has been tamed).
I only hope it does last.
Stefan

[Lillie]

Cheers guys!

I got to sleep quite quickly last night. Probably a combination of having a day of physical hard work and the lorazepam. The catarrh didn't seem so bad either which must have helped.

Not sure how much sleep I got with the mask on as when I woke up several hours later I found I had taken it off. I was wondering how that would have registered on the memory in view of the readings being used for setting up my CPAP pressure?

I do try to watch what I eat and have tried going dairy free in the past with little or no effect. Have tried saline nose drops but as the problem seems to be at the back of my nose they just seem to run underneath it. Hard to describe but it feels to me to be the root of the problem. I wasn't overweight when I was first diagnosed and have lost another stone since then in my attempt to sort out myself out.

I'll be given a humidifier when I go on Wednesday so it will be interesting to see if that helps.

I loosened the forehead pads last night and my head doesn't seem so painful.
What kind of mask have you got now Mr Stefan and who fitted it for you?
It's good to hear your success story. Well done you!

Off to watch the Wire so bye for now

Lillie

[Mr Stefan]

Mask

I have a Resmed Comfort Gel Mask, which was fitted by the senior nurse at the sleep clinic, he advised that over-tightening can be a major cause of mask leakage.
The natural tendancy would be keep tightening, thinking you were going to achieve a seal, he said try and slacken off the mask and ensure the forehead adjustment, between the mask and the forehead cushion is set correctly.
Stefan

[leswaller]

your senior nurse is spot on. The mask should only be tight enough to stop it falling off your face, the seal is maintained by the soft membrane, not by the straps.

[Lillie]

Now I have an APAP

Hi All

Sleep clinic have now given me my own CPAP and humidifier. The reading from the APAP showed that I still only have mild sleep aponea.

Started off with the new machines OK but last night the catarrh was awful so I couldn't relax. I was determined not to give up but it took hours until I finally dropped off and then I woke again after a couple of hours with the mask feeling really uncomfortable. I did give up at that point!

So, after thinking it through today, my plan is to explore nasal cleansing and when I get time, to get a mask fitted.

Off to do my research. Wish me luck!

Lillie

[Tigers Fan]

Good luck, Lillie!!!!!

Hi Lillie

Go for it, girl!

Your positive attitude and pro-active approach is going to bear rich gifts!

Go, girl, go!

Tigers Fan

[Lillie]

Getting to grips!

Saturday night felt claustrophobic with the mask so decided I couldn't cope with another poor night and took it off.

Was OK with the APAP so what had changed? It didn't come witha humidifier! Used it without last night and it was much better. Bingo!

But leakage from the mask woke me 2 or 3 times and nothing I did helped. Had to take it off eventually as it was driving me mad! I think it may be too big. I am going to call the clinic tomorrow to see what they have to say.

Still trying to bite the bullet and get a SinuPlus! If it helps it would be worth every penny, if not I'm stuck with another piece of useless kit that I've wasted my precious pennies on .... e.g. ionisers, air filters etc.

Well lets see how I get on tonight!

Lil

[James @ Intus]

Ionisers and air filters actually aren't bad additions for CPAP therapy, even if your lungs are otherwise healthy. The cleaner the air, the easier it will be to breathe. It may not have dramatic effects but I'd categorise those in the section "every little bit helps".

[Lillie]

Did I waste my money?

Hi All

Well I splashed out on a SinuPlus, full of hope but so far it doesn't seem to have made any difference.

Have people found that they feel the effect immediately or does it gradually improve with use? I don't get the delayed "fallout" that Tigers described so I hope it's working properly.

I'm still having a lot of trouble trying to get to sleep with the mask on. Every night it seems to feel heavier and more cumbersome. Anyway I have been in touch with the clinic and I'm going in later next week to try a nasal mask. Finger crossed!

Hope everyone has a good weekend

Lil

[Tigers Fan]

Turn it up!

Hi Lillie

Back from my travels again.

I wonder what setting you are using for the SinuPulse? They say an inch high jet but on setting 5 I get a higher column. At that, there is no way my sinuses aren't going to get washed out!!

Tigers Fan

[James @ Intus]

Depending on the cause of the blockage, it can indeed take a few sessions before it dislodges enough to start coming out.

If you ahve a dairy-heavy diet, try and cut that out too to further speed up freeing up your upper airway passages.

[Tigers Fan]

Instant relief

Hi Lillie

After a week away and not using the SinuPulse, I was all blocked up again. One use of the SinuPulse cleared all the muck out and after three goes I'm breathing easily again.

So, in answer to your earlier question, yes - I get instant results.

Are you doing any better with a slightly increased setting, if you've tried?

Tigers Fan

[Lillie]

Blast! Just managed to lose my long reply as I was finishing it!

Thanks for responses. Only just replying as been away and now I'm too tired to type it all again!

Feeling very fed up as the catarrh seems to be making using the CPAP very difficult and I don't know what else to try! SinuPlus still not making any difference. Using it on 6. by the way

Cutting out dairy hasn't helped in the past. I have given up cheese, only have milk on my muesli and restrict myself to one tea and one coffee.

Lillie

[Lillie]

Quick update

Went to the clinic for a different mask today. Talked to the sleep tech about my worsening problem re: getting to sleep with the CPAP as something seems to close down behind my nose + the catarrh/rhinitis.

He asked the doctor to see me. Up to now I have only seen techs. He asked me what I was doing there meaning I don't fit the profile for a typical OSA sufferer. He checked me over, I have one narrow nostril, but more importantly he said my underbite is my main problem. That made sense as if I reverse my bite and breath in I can feel that my airway is open wider.

Ideally, what I need to use is a mandibular device and I have a very nice one sitting in it's box in my bedside cupboard! Unfortunately it changed my bite to such a degree that I could barely eat, chomped like a horse and nearly choked on the inadequatetly chewed food that escaped into my throat! It improved greatly when I stopped using it but has left some residual damage which appears to be permanant.

He has given me a steroid nasal spray to try to calm the inflammation in my wotsits ( can't remember the name!) to see if that will calm things down enough for me to be able to get to sleep with the machine on. Also will try the humidifier again but on it's lowest setting.

I wish I'd known all this 2 weeks ago before I forked out for the SinuPlus!
If anyone wants to make me an offer pm me. I'll make sure it's sterilised.

Cheers
Lil

[Tigers Fan]

You sure?

Hi Lillie

Good news that you have an idea what is happening for you now.

As I didn't have any of your troubles and the SinuPulse works wonders for me, I'm left wondering if yours might not be on benefit to you even though you have solved the problem you bought the machine to cure.

A both/and approach rather than an either/or.

Tigers Fan