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Permalink Reply by jim flynn on January 21, 2011 at 7:53am

I did try the nasal pillows choked me out,I am a mouth breather,back to the full face mask ,sometimes I do not realize I rip the mask off.I want this machine to work,but very frustrating at15 the doc is going to lower the preasure to12 see what happens.going to work know tired, talk to you guys soon

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Permalink Reply by gordon on January 21, 2011 at 11:14am

You need a chinstrap w/ nasal pillows mask then. Or, a full-face like you have decided. The Resmed Swift Mirage I, II, or LT are all comfortable, I use all 3, have not tried the new one yet. The nasal pillows should not choke you if a chinstrap is keeping your jaw from dropping as you sleep. The LT is super comfortable duel-walled pillows, although they tend to collect moisture, I just blow it out before putting on. Mirage I (one)still my favorite. Good luck Jim.

jim flynn said:

I did try the nasal pillows choked me out,I am a mouth breather,back to the full face mask ,sometimes I do not realize I rip the mask off.I want this machine to work,but very frustrating at15 the doc is going to lower the preasure to12 see what happens.going to work know tired, talk to you guys soon

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Permalink Reply by Terry on January 21, 2011 at 2:14pm

I struggled for a very long time and have about 3 shoeboxes full of masks. For me it was about getting a bipap and then the right mask (one I had tried before on cpap). A doctor described CPAP as going down the street at 40MPH with your head out the window and bipap lets you bring your head in when you exhale. It works for me with a full face mask as loose as it can be without leaking. I'm at a pressure of 20 (pretty high) so I use the ramp button to get to sleep and again if I wake up during the night. Hope this helps. Hang in there till you get it right. I hope it makes a huge difference in your life like it did for me.

Terry

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Permalink Reply by jim flynn on January 29, 2011 at 2:24pm

I think, my bed might be the problem! cant not get comfortable

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Permalink Reply by Chris H on January 30, 2011 at 4:09pm

Do You have epr (expiratory pressure relief ) settings on your machine ? My s8 has 3 settings .I found #3 to be most helpful.

I also got a memory foam mattress topper from K mart its helpfull. 

     Good Sleep,Chris

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Permalink Reply by Glenn Watson on February 3, 2011 at 1:33pm

Thanks everyone for your input.   I went back to my sleep MD this week.   I am having another sleep study done.  MD also said I need new machine, tubing masks, etc., and that we needed to work on it until I can use it throughout the night every night.  Also has me going to a psychologist in their office for help with insomnia and desensitization to the mask and pressure.  I will get one of the machines you all have recommeded.  I hope I am on the right path now, but need to stick with it.  MD also said he wanted me to wear mask with cpap running during the evening as much as I possibly can, and do that for 1-2 weeks BEFORE I even try to sleep with it.  He is thinking that I will have better shot of getting used to it and accepting it.  If went straight to trying to sleep with it from the start, he was afraid I would reject it again.  I am going to get this done.  Thanks

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Permalink Reply by gordon on February 3, 2011 at 9:53pm

Thanks, Glen, for letting us know! Bear in mind, some here, many use Ambien, to sleep, I bring this up because my Dad uses it, and I think it probably relaxes the throat, so maybe complicates the sleep apnea, but I'm no expert, but I hope you get a machine and mask that seals well, if it's does not leak, you should have continuous pressure, and is worth the time you are spending, if it's 3-6 months, if you get your gear right, I can tell you, it's heaven, after 3 months, with the right oxygen in your system. Please keep us informed, ok?

Glenn Watson said:

Thanks everyone for your input.   I went back to my sleep MD this week.   I am having another sleep study done.  MD also said I need new machine, tubing masks, etc., and that we needed to work on it until I can use it throughout the night every night.  Also has me going to a psychologist in their office for help with insomnia and desensitization to the mask and pressure.  I will get one of the machines you all have recommeded.  I hope I am on the right path now, but need to stick with it.  MD also said he wanted me to wear mask with cpap running during the evening as much as I possibly can, and do that for 1-2 weeks BEFORE I even try to sleep with it.  He is thinking that I will have better shot of getting used to it and accepting it.  If went straight to trying to sleep with it from the start, he was afraid I would reject it again.  I am going to get this done.  Thanks

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Permalink Reply by C Teeters on February 16, 2011 at 7:23pm

Same here, but I don't know why I am taking it off.  Any thoughts?

jim flynn said:

I have a problem ,i fall a sleep quickly,but do not stay a sleep get up about 2 and rip the mask off!

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer on February 17, 2011 at 11:24am

How long ago was your sleep study?  My thoughts are that you need a new sleep study to determine if the pressures you are at are properly treating you.

 

Jennifer

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Permalink Reply by Mary Regan on February 17, 2011 at 11:28am

I encourage everyone to keep trying to make the CPAP work better - talk with doctors, make adjustments, get new machine - whatever it takes.  This is life saving treatment, but it only works if you use it. 

I snore so badly my nephew thought a bear was in my bedroom. I tried a CPAP, but for me, because my jaw is in the wrong place, air was forced into my stomach.  I have been fighting for 2 years to get surgery to reset my jaw, and after lots of struggle, it looks like it will happen this year, with braces before and after.  This surgery will help my sleep apnea, and if it doesn't completely cure me, at least I will be able to use the CPAP and have a normal life again.  I can't wait!

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Permalink Reply by Claude on February 17, 2011 at 11:51am

I too, thought I would never get used to the CPAP, but here I am 7 years later, and now can't sleep without it.  I am a stubborn person, and kept on trying until I found the right mask and pillow to get a good nights sleep.

I just recently had a brainstorm too: I wonder if the nasal pillows would work for me.  So I bought a Hybrid Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows, and guess what--nope, I can't stand it.  I feel claustrophobic with it on, and yet, I love my resmed full face mask which covers just about everything. lol. So if anybody would like to buy a hybrid at a good price, I have one :).

Hang in there, try some different masks, and make those Dr's and DME people help you out. That was my mistake up front, I didn't get good counseling and follow up on things like I should have.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

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Permalink Reply by GUY T on February 17, 2011 at 11:53am

Hi Glenn,

I certainly hope the doctor visit helps to sort your issues. I absolutely could not be without my cpap machine. I use the FP machine set on 12. I am a completely different person since starting the therapy.  I did struggle for a while getting the face mask adjusted and had all kinds of fears which were irrational. My mask is the FP (Fisher and Paykel) 405. A nasal mask seems to work for me. It does take adjusting so you can get a good seal. Like someone else in the discussion I have to have a fan blowing on me to keep me from getting too hot. Where I live you don't use blankets much because it is in the tropics. (Queensland Australia). Because the mask has a relief value with a filter I was really scared that I would die because of breathing in my own C02. But turns out you would have to be locked in a plastic bag for that to happen. But hey when you don't really have a support friend, your mind goes crazy. Mine does itch as yours seems to, but it is mostly the Velcro scratching my skin if I haven't adjusted it properly.  I fixed that mostly by putting on the mask while sitting on my bed and checking it in the mirror across from my bed to see if fitting correctly. I used to only get less than an hour of continuous sleep before the cpap started. I now still don't sleep eight hours, but most of the time get 3 or 4 hours at a time. For me this is fabulous!!  I am now with so much energy that I am getting so much more done in my day.  I used to have to stay in bed for 10 or 12 hrs to feel rested. Now I can do 6 hours, ideally 7, and I feel like a tiger!. Roar! I have lost 9kgs (nearly 20lbs). Yeow! And feel so much better generally. My employer asked me before I started CPAP whether I was taking drugs. I was so insulted at the time, because I never had taken drugs  and don't drink or smoke. Now I can understand why she must have felt something was wrong (sleep deprivation does make you incoherent sometimes). I am sure when I finally lose another 50 or 60kgs that I may not need the machine. But even if I do, I don't  think I would ever go the surgery route. I been operated on enough and apart from my cataracts being done, I was never satisfied with the result. Good luck with the next sleep study, I hope you can get things resolved so you can get as they say in Australia that lovely "dream-time". Cheers,  Guy 

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