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So, I have been using CPAP now for just over a month and I am over the moon with the results. From the very first night I woke up feeling so much better - it sounds like a cliche but I really do feel like a new person.
Having said that - it is not easy but I am determined to get as much improvement as I possibly can.
My equipment is a Resmed Escape S8 (as I understand it, a pretty basic machine) and I was initially given a Quattro Mirage Fullface mask. The first few nights seemed fine apart from taking a very long time to get off to sleep - over an hour. However, after a few nights I found myself being woken up by mask leakage. I responded to this by tightening the mask.
I gave it a few more days and went back to the hospital for some help. They gave me another mask to try - an Ultra Mirage. As far as I can tell this is an older model - but it is a tad broader across the bridge of the nose and for me worked a lot better.
After about a week though I was still getting leakage issues - not as bad as with the Quattro. So I called Resmed and after a very useful discussion with the lady on the phone made an appointment to see one of their clinicians.
I just got back from their Sleep Centre near Coleshill, Birmingham and had a half hour appointment with a very nice lady who really showed me carefully how to put both my masks on. She noticed that I was putting the mask on too high on my face. She also advised me on some beard trimming!! She advised me on care of the masks - i.e. wash the mask every couple of days in warm water with green fairy liquid and allow to air dry - harness too. No need for wipes she said.
Finally, she had me lie down on their bed and hooked me up with both masks on a more sophisicated CPAP machine to mine (no idea which). She ran mask leakage tests on both masks and both reported "excellent" fit. She did point out that some minor leakage is to be expected and that the Resmed machines are calibrated to deal with it.
I use quite a firm latex pillow at the moment - she suggested that a softer pillow might be better because it would be less likely to disturb the mask. I'll try it.
The key thing I learned was my surprise at how loose the mask felt on my face compare the strapped down limpet approach I had been using.
I was there for a good 30-35 minutes and I have to say that at £25 it felt like very good value for money. I've come away with a much better understanding of how to put on my mask and what to realistically expect from it.
I'm still tempted to try Remzzzs - before I realised that James was getting some in I ordered some from the USA. So this afternoon I am off to pay the 12 quid customs charge to get them :-)
Take care folks
Simon
Having said that - it is not easy but I am determined to get as much improvement as I possibly can.
My equipment is a Resmed Escape S8 (as I understand it, a pretty basic machine) and I was initially given a Quattro Mirage Fullface mask. The first few nights seemed fine apart from taking a very long time to get off to sleep - over an hour. However, after a few nights I found myself being woken up by mask leakage. I responded to this by tightening the mask.
I gave it a few more days and went back to the hospital for some help. They gave me another mask to try - an Ultra Mirage. As far as I can tell this is an older model - but it is a tad broader across the bridge of the nose and for me worked a lot better.
After about a week though I was still getting leakage issues - not as bad as with the Quattro. So I called Resmed and after a very useful discussion with the lady on the phone made an appointment to see one of their clinicians.
I just got back from their Sleep Centre near Coleshill, Birmingham and had a half hour appointment with a very nice lady who really showed me carefully how to put both my masks on. She noticed that I was putting the mask on too high on my face. She also advised me on some beard trimming!! She advised me on care of the masks - i.e. wash the mask every couple of days in warm water with green fairy liquid and allow to air dry - harness too. No need for wipes she said.
Finally, she had me lie down on their bed and hooked me up with both masks on a more sophisicated CPAP machine to mine (no idea which). She ran mask leakage tests on both masks and both reported "excellent" fit. She did point out that some minor leakage is to be expected and that the Resmed machines are calibrated to deal with it.
I use quite a firm latex pillow at the moment - she suggested that a softer pillow might be better because it would be less likely to disturb the mask. I'll try it.
The key thing I learned was my surprise at how loose the mask felt on my face compare the strapped down limpet approach I had been using.
I was there for a good 30-35 minutes and I have to say that at £25 it felt like very good value for money. I've come away with a much better understanding of how to put on my mask and what to realistically expect from it.
I'm still tempted to try Remzzzs - before I realised that James was getting some in I ordered some from the USA. So this afternoon I am off to pay the 12 quid customs charge to get them :-)
Take care folks
Simon
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