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Mask trouble
I have just recently started using a CPAP and was given a nasal mask. I was so excited to think I would be getting a good nights sleep but I'm having a few problems. There are times I feel there is no air and I take off the mask which I know is all in my head, but there are also times when I'm woken up because the mask has moved and cold air is blowing in my face or freezing my nose. I tried the other mask they gave me at the sleep lab but that just makes me unable to get comfortable in it. Anyone having these issues that can help?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on
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Kellie, welcome, what is the other mask? First thing, the hose should be coming from above your head this means the gravity will pull the mask up instead of down, you can buy one over the net or maybe able to make one. Second, get some mask liners, try a Remzzz's 6 pack trial pack first, again you can get them over the net. Do you breathe trough your mouth (a mouth breather), if you do you need a chin strap or a full face mask or both. You may need to re adjust your straps to get the correct fit, make sure there not too tight but not too loose either. See how you go with that for a start and keep at it as the benefit out weight the teething problems, keep us posted.
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It is a mask the covers my nose completely. I love the nasal mask but the sides that go down around my face and hold the nasal unit are a harder plastic that when I lay on my side they bow and move the nasal pads out of place.
Terry Vella said:Kellie, welcome, what is the other mask? First thing, the hose should be coming from above your head this means the gravity will pull the mask up instead of down, you can buy one over the net or maybe able to make one. Second, get some mask liners, try a Remzzz's 6 pack trial pack first, again you can get them over the net. Do you breathe trough your mouth (a mouth breather), if you do you need a chin strap or a full face mask or both. You may need to re adjust your straps to get the correct fit, make sure there not too tight but not too loose either. See how you go with that for a start and keep at it as the benefit out weight the teething problems, keep us posted.
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Kellie, I use a full face mask so it's different to yours. Most people including myself need to go through a number of masks at the start of the treatment until they find the right one. I tried 5 different masks from pillows to nasal masks and finally FFM. It is all trail and error, unfortunately, because we all have different sized faces etc. Sometimes it is daunting but like I said earlier it is worth it. Try the liners and mask lift. I'm on another site and a guy has used CPAP for 5 years and continued to have leaks, he made the chnages I suggested and they worked. You do need to do a bit of experimenting with this, look at it as if you are a curiou scientist. Also you are going to be on it for a long time, I say it's a marathon not a sprint, so it may take time and patience to get it right.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
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Kelli, Terry has given some good advice- try the mask liners and the hose lift. It took many ofd us a long time to find the right fit in a mask. I wear a Total Face Mask because I'm a mouth breather and can't have a mask that touches the bridge of my nose so I found the Respironics FitLife Total Face Mask and that's the one for me. You're Medic al Supplier should swap out a mask that's not working for you within 30 days. I'd try Terry's suggestions first.
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Permalink Reply by Amy on
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Kellie I want to tell you that mask problems are the biggest issue with new CPAP users. Do not give up. The fact that you are saying it is cold leads me to ask about a heated humidifier and if it is set correctly and if not that may be why the air is feeling too cold and why you feel like you are getting no air. If your nose dries out due to lack of humidity it can become swollen and congested and you may not be as able to move air through it.
I would also say that you need to give yourself time to adjust to the therapy. Remember you can get used to it just hand in there.
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Permalink Reply by jim allAn on
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I would like to add that I have been using cpap for over 15 years and have yet to find anything as comfortable, to me, as a nasal pillow mask. My most recent one is a respironics advantage 2. The hose connects to a swivel at the nose device. You may still get the air leaks at first each night, but miner adjustments can take care of that.
As you an see from my picture, I have a full face beard and mustache, so leaks are a problem. The nasal pillows allow me to get a good seal even with the mustache.
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Smith on
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I am having terrible trouble with the mask, when i first got it, it wasn't the one i was meant to have but they were all out of the other ones, it was ok at first but now i'm being left with blisters on my cheek and terrible redness around my face, i also get cold air going into my eye sometimes. i have adjusted it so many times but nothing seems to work
jim allAn said:I would like to add that I have been using cpap for over 15 years and have yet to find anything as comfortable, to me, as a nasal pillow mask. My most recent one is a respironics advantage 2. The hose connects to a swivel at the nose device. You may still get the air leaks at first each night, but miner adjustments can take care of that.
As you an see from my picture, I have a full face beard and mustache, so leaks are a problem. The nasal pillows allow me to get a good seal even with the mustache.
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I have been experimenting with CPAP equipment and masks for a few months now. One nasal mask I was recently given to try with a chinstrap caused me to feel that my throat had closed completely and I was choking to death. Even when I semi woke up and tried to take a deep breath I couldn't leaving me to frantically tear the mask off my face. I never used it again and was so traumatise I went about a week without any CPAP at all.
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Kellie, Hi, my name is Ed,I have been on a CPAP since 1990, tried all types of masks. Contact your CPAP Company and see if you can have them come out to your home and them specially fit a full face (over both your nose & mouth) with a tight seal. That might work for you.
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Hi Deborah!
The blisters/red marks sound like maybe your skin could be reacting with the materials of the mask. After my night study with the mask on, I went around for days with pustules on my face in the exact shape of the mask. I got some Remzzzs and that problem went away.
The forehead part was bothering me as well but it was, in addition, putting indentation marks in my forehead. So I took a piece of t-shirt material and wrapped some cotton in it and then I put it between the forehead part of my mask and my skin.
Now the bridge of my nose is starting to suffer terribly but I found that if I use a bandaid (not the tiny ones) and put a piece of cotton in there then put the bandaid on my nose then the mask doesn't tear apart the bridge of my nose.
Be sure to get help with the air blowing into your eyes. It's not uncommon to get tear duct infections if the air is blowing into your eye(s).
I hope this helps!
Sweet Dreams!!
Diane
Deborah Smith said:I am having terrible trouble with the mask, when i first got it, it wasn't the one i was meant to have but they were all out of the other ones, it was ok at first but now i'm being left with blisters on my cheek and terrible redness around my face, i also get cold air going into my eye sometimes. i have adjusted it so many times but nothing seems to work
jim allAn said:I would like to add that I have been using cpap for over 15 years and have yet to find anything as comfortable, to me, as a nasal pillow mask. My most recent one is a respironics advantage 2. The hose connects to a swivel at the nose device. You may still get the air leaks at first each night, but miner adjustments can take care of that.
As you an see from my picture, I have a full face beard and mustache, so leaks are a problem. The nasal pillows allow me to get a good seal even with the mustache.
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Deborah, what mask are you using? It shouldn't blister your cheeks or leave redness. I'm assuming it's afull face mask or nasal mask, have you tried mask liners so the mask isn't touch your face? With the air blowing in your eye's, depending on which mask you use, most have a dial at the top you can adjust also the straps at the top probably need tightening and possibly the bottom straps lossened. Keep going back to where you got the mask from until they get it right or change to another mask. It took me five before I got the one I was happy with.
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Thanks Diane for your advice. With this day and age you think technology would be better where these things are concerned, its so depressing having to use the contraption
Diane Dennis said:Hi Deborah!
The blisters/red marks sound like maybe your skin could be reacting with the materials of the mask. After my night study with the mask on, I went around for days with pustules on my face in the exact shape of the mask. I got some Remzzzs and that problem went away.
The forehead part was bothering me as well but it was, in addition, putting indentation marks in my forehead. So I took a piece of t-shirt material and wrapped some cotton in it and then I put it between the forehead part of my mask and my skin.
Now the bridge of my nose is starting to suffer terribly but I found that if I use a bandaid (not the tiny ones) and put a piece of cotton in there then put the bandaid on my nose then the mask doesn't tear apart the bridge of my nose.
Be sure to get help with the air blowing into your eyes. It's not uncommon to get tear duct infections if the air is blowing into your eye(s).
I hope this helps!
Sweet Dreams!!
Diane
Deborah Smith said:I am having terrible trouble with the mask, when i first got it, it wasn't the one i was meant to have but they were all out of the other ones, it was ok at first but now i'm being left with blisters on my cheek and terrible redness around my face, i also get cold air going into my eye sometimes. i have adjusted it so many times but nothing seems to work
jim allAn said:I would like to add that I have been using cpap for over 15 years and have yet to find anything as comfortable, to me, as a nasal pillow mask. My most recent one is a respironics advantage 2. The hose connects to a swivel at the nose device. You may still get the air leaks at first each night, but miner adjustments can take care of that.
As you an see from my picture, I have a full face beard and mustache, so leaks are a problem. The nasal pillows allow me to get a good seal even with the mustache.
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