Help please new user of CPAP

[Zogmeister]

Hello all,

I am having a tough time at the moment with my new found "relief"!

I suffer from (rather my wife does) my snoring or as the Doctors put it Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

After 7 months of waiting on the NHS to give me a CPAP device & mask, I finally saw a consultant at London Chest Hospital who duly agreed that this was right for me. GREAT, I thought... He referred me to the Physio Dept for issue of a loan machine and fittting.

I was issued a ResMed device and a Activa mask, and in the usual way that a number of NHS staff treat you I was pushed out of the door with no explaination of how to fit it, what were the kind of issues I may facce it its use or generally any helpful tips and tricks to the use of such specific equipment.

The first night was great, but I woke up with what I thought were zits around the area where the mask had been. I thought nothing of it.

The following night went less comfortably. The next morning I woke to find that the zits had become even more pussey and weaping. of course the skin had broken and starting forming blisters/scabs.

I stopped using and returned to the unhelpful or disinterested physio dept, who issued a new mask, which was the resmed one that fits up the nostrels. I had contact snores from this too and found it very uncomfortabl to use. Again no help or explaination was given to the proper fitting of this mask.

I perserved for two weeks with this mask, but grew tired of being woken up with a jet of air in my eye, so I went back to LCH and they issued me a thrid mask claiming that this one had great comfort cushions around the seal. It is the Comfort Classic, not a Res Med mask.

This has in one week broken my face out again as was the case with the first mask - zits/contact sores that start weaping and scrring my nose area where that mask makes contact.

Somebody help me please. Without the device I snore and without the device I make my wife's life hell...

Can someone give me some help, advice, tips as I am coming to the end of my teather

[Tigers Fan]

Straight off

Hi Zogmeister

Sounds like an allergy/intolerance problem. James and Intus (run this forum) sell gizmos called RemZzzs - a high quality cotton layer between your face and the full face mask. I don't know if they sell RemZzzs for your particular model.

I suggest you call them on 0844 504 9999 and discuss your issues. Have the mask model names and sizes to hand.

Good luck

TF

[Biggles]

Hello Zogmeister,

I had similar difficulties to yourself in my early days and didn't feel I was getting the support that I felt I needed, in the flesh, a visit. Having said that I did receive amazing support from the people who were on the end of the phone. I have a serious problem with the blue silicon stuff and my skin sort of causes it to melt but that is after it has caused me similar problems to yours. I have had the Respironics Comfort Curve for quite some time now and it is my favourite mask. From what I have read hear the RemZzz's sounds an excellent product, if it suits your mask.

Here's wishing you a good resolution very soon.

[Tricia]

I had a slight skin break out for the first 3 days of use, but with adjusting the mask not to be so tight fitting the problem has been resolved. I still have a line on my cheeks where the mask goes, but that fades within an hour or two.
Did you get an instruction manual with your mask? I did, and that's where I found the methods of adjusting.
I hope you find a resolution soon.

[Zogmeister]

Hi Zogmeister

Sounds like an allergy/intolerance problem. James and Intus (run this forum) sell gizmos called RemZzzs - a high quality cotton layer between your face and the full face mask. I don't know if they sell RemZzzs for your particular model.

I suggest you call them on 0844 504 9999 and discuss your issues. Have the mask model names and sizes to hand.

Good luck

TF

Thanks TF, I will give them a call. I appreciate the response..

[Zogmeister]

Hello Zogmeister,

I had similar difficulties to yourself in my early days and didn't feel I was getting the support that I felt I needed, in the flesh, a visit. Having said that I did receive amazing support from the people who were on the end of the phone. I have a serious problem with the blue silicon stuff and my skin sort of causes it to melt but that is after it has caused me similar problems to yours. I have had the Respironics Comfort Curve for quite some time now and it is my favourite mask. From what I have read hear the RemZzz's sounds an excellent product, if it suits your mask.

Here's wishing you a good resolution very soon.

Again, thanks for the respose. I am worried that if I ask for another mask i am going to get the elbow. If that happens hell will break loose as I work for the NHS and I wil write to the Cheif executive, but I don't want to go there. It frsutrates me the lack of care by some people in the service!

[Zogmeister]

I had a slight skin break out for the first 3 days of use, but with adjusting the mask not to be so tight fitting the problem has been resolved. I still have a line on my cheeks where the mask goes, but that fades within an hour or two.
Did you get an instruction manual with your mask? I did, and that's where I found the methods of adjusting.
I hope you find a resolution soon.

Half the problem is they dont give me instructions and dont educate you how to fit correctly at the hospital..

I have gone on the wensite of the manufacturers and try to follow their instructions, but loosen the mask have left me with a jet of air in the eye at some point in the night. Not quiet sure at the moment whether to push for the Nostrel Pillows type mask as that hadf the least contact points on the face, but I just did not get on with it...

Anyway, thank you for taking time to respond

[Biggles]

Hi Zogmeister, I don't think it was a true revelation when I said I could not get on with my origianal mask; when I persisted an acknowledgement was made that some people DO have a reaction.

Do persevere, I've now had CPAP for over 5 years and I do now have a life as does Hubby. I was one of those people who jumped and thrashed around during the night, let alone the snoring. All now is, mostly, peace and tranquility. Always the occasional problem, power outages, really bad colds..... Would not be without my CPAP.

Do have to say I now live in France and the treatment is totally different. In less than 3 months I have made a visit to the consultant (to sign onto the French system) and had 2 home visits by the technicians and I fully expect to see my consultant within a few weeks. The only time I saw my consultant in the UK was of the day of the diagnosis. Everything else was dealt with via phone calls. Did sort of make me feel like a bit of a leper (no disrespect to lepers - it's a phrase).