Newbie with mask problems

[OldCrow]

Keep at it Kaele

It did take me quite a while before I got used to the whole performance of putting on the mask and settling down. I have found that it renders you so deeply unconscious that you do indeed wake stiff from not moving much. I changed my sleeping position to lying on my side with the "device" hanging over the edge of the pillow - that helps me. It was a while before I could appreciate the benefits of CPAP but I do feel much better during the day and that in itself has given me the impetus to tackle things like my weight problem - lost over 2 stone dieting in the months since starting. Also noticed I've not had all the congestion trouble I used to - and I can only put that down to deep breathing during sleep.
Six months on and only now can I begin to see the process as any way normal so it does take time. As for negativity - well it's what we all felt - just look back at my old posts. Best of luck - it will irritate for some time but eventually it will begin to make sense.

[TiredBoy]

Full nights!

I've now had about 5 nights with little problems, which is great news! I wake once after about 4 hrs, go to loo and then back to bed and sleep. However, I'm now not sure that it's stopping the apneas, as I don't feel particularly refreshed. I hope I'm wrong and it's all doing what it should.

I'm going to post a question about my machine on the machine forum.

Thanks again for all your support.

TB

[OldCrow]

It takes a while

At first. I too thought - this CPAP isn't having much effect; though I noticed I was going into much deeper sleep and waking having hardly moved. I'd guess it does take a while though for your body to adapt to any medication. 6 months on and I really feel much more alert during the day. One important aspect is that I now feel able to tackle other problems that I just couldn't be bothered with - like I've lost two-and-a-half stone with being able to concentrate and accept a strict diet regime. Before I'd just be too tired to bother; just want to lie down...and eat!
Keep positive but don't expect it to come good too soon - I honestly never thought I'd be able to stand the mask in the beginning and couldn't see any effects ...different now.

[TiredBoy]

Thanks Kaele74

I know what you mean about your back. Now I'm sleeping better, my back is much worse in the morning. I think that's partly why I haven't felt refreshed. As I get more used to CPAP, I'm beginning to move around a little more. So I hope that continues and my back gets better.

TB

[TiredBoy]

Thanks OldCrow for all your support.

TB

[TiredBoy]

The ups and downs.

July was an interesting month.

After the initial blast from the Opus nasal pillow (with chin strap), I quickly found this to be a very comfortable solution. It has had some windy side effects, but I easily found I forgot it was there. I also had to check the machine was on if I woke (but half asleep) in the night, as I couldn't tell. I was able to visit friends and go camping with my CPAP, managing 7 hours uninterrupted!

However, as the month progressed through the later half, I started to open my mouth occasionally and to apnea. I also didn't feel I was getting enough pressure and began to feel more tired in the day.
I began to think that I might need to try a full face mask with an increased pressure, so I re-tried the nasal mask I was using prior to the nasal pillows. It was horrible, so I felt that the only full face mask that was worth trying was a hybrid mask.

I've now had the Resmed Mirage Liberty hybrid mask for 3 nights, which has given mixed results. Most times I put the mask on, it is taking some time to get it to sit properly. Unlike the Opus nasal pillows, I am rarely able to just pop the mask back on after a night time "water out / water in" bathroom visit. Last night I left it on, so no sip of water, and it didn't work anyway. Sometimes it can take 30mins of fiddling to get rid of leaks. If this happens, I can't get back to sleep as the process has woken me too much. It's early days with this mask and I'm going to ask for larger size nasal pillows for the mask and see if that helps. I just don't understand how a mask can fit so well one moment, and then not seem to fit at all!

The Opus nasal pillow is a dream from a fit and comfort perspective. It is so easy to pop on! If I can't get the hybrid to work, I'll have to gaffer tape my mouth shut and fit it with a valve to take a straw for night time water intake!

TB

[OldCrow]

Gaffa Tape?

Gaffa taping your mouth????
Well I dunno about that but...whatever works. I went through all sorts of homemade leakbusters before discovering that there is a sweet-spot of adjustment that makes my Mirage fit as it was supposed, more or less, to without them. "Miss Silicon Lips" - or "Lamia" (half woman-half snake) and I get on reasonably well now but I daresay there are always going to be leaks and dry mouth issues of some sort - I mean it's "unnatural" innit?
But perseverence is the answer, I'd say. What you might find, as I do now, is that you aren't focussing upon the negatives but coming to terms with them and taking the good as it comes. I still reckon 4-5 hours is a good session for me but it is very deep sleep. It hasn't answered all my tiredness issues but it all helps and is probably the best breathing I do all day. I know she's going to leak sometimes or she's going to try and strangle me but..that's just what she does; I don't try and fight her now, or expect miracles and our relationship is much improved.
Take the positives; eventually these will come to be more than the negatives.
Best of luck.

[Grumpy]

Nasal prongs (ResMed Liberty)

Mine came with 3 sets of prongs S/M/L and for some reason the small ones work best for me. I think its because although I have a large(ish) nose I have a small septum and so the larger prongs push against each other.

I know what you mean about it being tricky to get a good fit; I can usually manage to maneouvre the skirts around using my mouth to improve it! I think the bottom part of the mask is supposed to operate like a hovercraft; using the air pressure to create the seal against your face.

Sods law says that when you have got it to fit properly you need to get a drink...

[OldCrow]

Fitting problems

I'm quite interested in trying one with "nose plugs" sometime. Currently I've got my supplied Mirage Quattro which has a range of adjustments. The whole "silicon lips" thing is supposed to seal itself, by air pressure - as you said like a hovercraft but it's not perfect and I'm definitely a non-standard shape!
I've got a resonable fit now with the help from my centre but I was definitely pulling it on too tight so the floating part was crushed. There's an adjustment that is just about right so I don't get either leaks into the eyes past my nose or a blast down my chin. Even so it depends on how I'm going to lie and it can - and will - slip if I move about much though generally I'm so unconscious that I hardly do. Also I find the velcro fastenings tend to slip and need adjusting like a ship's rigging.
But these you can see as just niggles - my centre nurse was honest and admitted only a lucky few find the devices almost unnoticeable. Lamia has her moods and foibles but we're more or less compatible now.