Mouth breather

[silvercarper]

I have been to my local hospital to collect my trial CPAP but they dont supply a full face mask . I tried a nasal one which I could only use for seconds and its left me in pain still 4 hours later.
What do I do now. Possibly waste my money buying a mask only to find I dont get on with CPAP.
Surely the hospital should have a selection of masks.

[Tigers Fan]

If you live ...

Hi Mouth breather

If you really, really can't get a full face mask from your Clinic then you have no option but to go private, I'm afraid.

If you live near enough to one of the mask manufacturer's sleep clinics, they offer a mask fitting service. I don't know how many masks they'd let you try but probably till they get a sale.

Short of that, you have to do what we all do - trial and error. This is potentially very expensive, of course, but with luck you find one within a mask or three. I have two private and two NHS masks, each of which I can use to one extent or another but one all the time.

Tigers Fan

[silvercarper]

I dont want to pay for a mask just for a one week trial. I might not get on with a machine

[Mr Stefan]

Masks

I do not know which area of the country you live but my local clinic in Cleveland has given me three masks, over a two month period, to get a mask which suits me and fits my facial features, it would seem like another post code lottery as to the health care received.
You must get the right size mask for a facial fit or you will experience leaks, which can be unpleasant but can also cause eye complaints, I say this not to alarm you but to point out that the clinic should be your first point of contact for help, they are supposed to be the local experts, and clearly in your case this would seem woefully lacking, as you have described.
Stefan

[leswaller]

Your local clinic has an obligation to provide you with a mask that fits and works for you, otherwise there is no point in carrying on with the treatment and they are just wasting money (tax payers!!). If you cant get any joy from them I suggest you tell your GP to get you a referral back to the consultant on the basis that the treatment isnt working. Dont let them get away with the easy option

[silvercarper]

I think I will try to get referred to a sleep clinic so have made an appointment to see my GP next week.

[leswaller]

great !
lets us know how you get on

[silvercarper]

Its now a month after I was diagnosed and I am still waiting for cpap and full mask.
I was told I could not drive so I informed the DVLC hoping that I would be on a machine by now.
I also found out that the sleep clinic I could be referred to has a long waiting list so I just hope that my local hospital gets its act together.
The only good thing is that its the fishing close season.
Back to the spring cleaning.

[James @ Intus]

You can also try a chin strap to help keep the mouth closed. At around £25 they are cheaper than a full face mask. Or, as quite a few people do, tape your mouth shut with gaffer tape for the night. Sounds extreme but works.

[silvercarper]

Thats not for me. I can only take a couple of breaths through my nose before I have to take a deep breath through my mouth.
Basically the pipe work in my nose aint big enough!

[James @ Intus]

Would you say that's structurally or could it be blocked chronically?

[silvercarper]

I have always breathed through my mouth. I do have bad memories of having nasal surgery when I was a kid which still did not help.

[Mr Stefan]

Surgery

About twenty years ago I had surgery to realign the septum, and I have had the sinuses drained acouple of times, during an examination last week the consultant advised that although the septum is still straight, there was some restriction to the left side which they will attempt to relieve with drugs and nasal washing, as they are reluctant to operate on anyone with OSA.
It may be advisable to get a referal to have your problem examined by a proffessional who can advise the extent of any restriction within the nasal cavity, and a suitable method of releiving, any such problem.
Best of luck
Mr Stefan

[PIPKIN]

Yes Just Go Fishing Thats Kool

[silvercarper]

I'm still waiting for a CPAP with a full face mask to be supplied.
The daft thing is that I probably don't want one anyway as after loosing 20 lbs I don't wake up in the middle of the night unable to breath.
As far as I'm concerned now all I need a CPAP for is so I can start driving again not to cure any other condition.