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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on June 30, 2010 at 12:00pm

I found it a comfortable mask, couldn't wear it because of leaks around the nose. Also my face is not thin. Sometimes you have to work on the adjustments, in particular the forehead piece for a few days or weeks to get it right. It's a good mask, make sure the size is right and give it a good try.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Mary Z.

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Permalink Reply by cheryl on June 30, 2010 at 1:16pm

Well last nite I slept ALL nite with it on. It is heavy in my opinion, but I think I could get used to it. I have a huge sore spot on my nose where these things like to sit and bruise it, but some of it may be from my sinus surgery healing-the nose is still swollen in some spots. Today I am going to get a medium size in this mask and try it tonite. It may just work for me. I didnt have any problem leaks on it at all, which surprized me. And my rep told me to keep this mask, whichever one fits better, or try them both for 2 weeks to see if it can work. I may be on to something here. I did get tested in a mirage quattro and hated every minute of it. It is way too heavy..again, when your face is thin, things are all heavy and dent in places where heavier faces probably can fill it out better. What kind of cpap do you have? I am looking for a low cost battery for my resmed s8 escape II, but they are all $299 or so..no way. And I am hoping to switch to an autopap, as I think that will help with the air filling in my mouth, as I breathe so slow and with the air constantly blowing in my throat, it builds up...all I can figure out anyway, and nobody seems to be able to tell me where or waht is the obstruction I allegedly have. I have some problems with this whole thing. I cant understand how it can be just "unknown" what the problem is, yet the cpap fixes it. I wonder how much of this is scam and how much is real. Just being a big cynical...kind of like fibromylalgia,,all of the sudden, zillions of people with symptoms that could match virtually any other condition are now in that category. Seems like sleep apnea is kind of a rage now too. Just read the forums,,there are so many people who are on this, and so many who can't get it to work for them, and yet they go on and do just fine. I am not disputing anything, just wondering about all the money that is now being made on these masks, machines and other accessories, not to mention the incredible cost of the sleep lab itself. well my soap box for the day! thanks for listening if you bothered to stay to the end of this! bye Mary

Mary Z said:

I found it a comfortable mask, couldn't wear it because of leaks around the nose. Also my face is not thin. Sometimes you have to work on the adjustments, in particular the forehead piece for a few days or weeks to get it right. It's a good mask, make sure the size is right and give it a good try.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Mary Z.

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on June 30, 2010 at 1:52pm

Sleep Apnea is a real, testable in a lab, disease. Yes there's plenty of money to be made, but that's the case with all medical equipment. We should only be glad people are getting tested and treated. Just consider driving sleepy and the toll that takes, especially with our commercial drivers (they have a big safety campaign going on). Fibromyalgia and CFS are very real to the people who suffer from them, if the medicine helps, so much the better for them. Some conditions are harder to test for, they involve a cluster of symptoms. Sleep Apnea also involves a cluster of symptoms, but can be proven in a sleep lab. This is not the disease of 2010. Untreated sleep apnea can contribute to heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression to name a few sequelae.

What convinced you to get tested, cheryl?



< I wonder how much of this is scam and how much is real. Just being a big cynical...kind of like fibromylalgia,,all of the sudden, zillions of people with symptoms that could match virtually any other condition are now in that category. Seems like sleep apnea is kind of a rage now too.

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Permalink Reply by cheryl on June 30, 2010 at 9:20pm

And dont get me wrong Mary, I am not discounting in any way, the real problems and the fact that these are real conditions. I just tend to think that when symptoms appear, which many could describe menopause symptoms, depression, etc..all of the sudden you start to hear all about for example, fibromyalgia and another example, depression. The commercials are all over the place. I think sometimes people get all excited thinking they have found out what is wrong with them, and it perhaps is not that at all. maybe you don't agree..I know many of my friends who convince themselves, because they are overweight that is because of some disease or condition, when really what it comes down to, is they eat too much and do no exercise, everyday and everyday, and gain weight and blame thyroid or some such thing. I was tested because I am considered to be " a very healthy specimen" per my doctor, yet my neck muscles never really healed from my disc surgery 2 years ago, I get severe headaches several times a week and yet all my bloodwork, etc all comes back normal. The doc looked sheepishly at me back in January and said "how do you feel when you wake up?" I said tired and headachy, sinus like. He sent me for a sleep test and I came back with a number of like 65 or something, considered severe. Now thing is, I only got 2 hours of sleep during both the first lab and the titration. I had a horrid headache the first time and was refused a sleep aid and therefore, just lay awake until 0400 and the test ended at 0600. Happened again for the titration, the mask was heavy and I could NOT get to sleep no matter what I did. I was allowed meds that nite and nothing helped. I think I got 3 1/2 hours that night. No wonder the sleep was bad and choppy. But it was insisted that no matter the quality, they got what they needed and I was headed for cpap. If you want more history, Mary, will be happy to tell you..please do not think I am picking on overweight people or these conditions. I just get a bit concerned when all of the sudden, so many people NOW have these conditions...sorry if I came across abrupt or judgemental. I did not mean to. You are sweet to want to know my opinion more. I am open to your thoughts and anyones...and as much as I've said- both my ENT surgeon whom I saw 2 weeks ago and my regular doc, the one who sent me initially for the lab-both have recommended I stop cpap. For the past 3 months, I have had nothing but trouble, and maybe 4 good nite sleep in all that time. This is because I have had so much difficulty finding a mask that would work. I love nasal masks, but the air poofs thru my mouth. I may have found one now that may work. Last nite I wore it til 0530 this morning. But my docs both think, along with my husband, that this is not worth the problems and frustration I have had. I've had the worst 4 months of my life since cpap. thanks for listening

Mary Z said:

Sleep Apnea is a real, testable in a lab, disease. Yes there's plenty of money to be made, but that's the case with all medical equipment. We should only be glad people are getting tested and treated. Just consider driving sleepy and the toll that takes, especially with our commercial drivers (they have a big safety campaign going on). Fibromyalgia and CFS are very real to the people who suffer from them, if the medicine helps, so much the better for them. Some conditions are harder to test for, they involve a cluster of symptoms. Sleep Apnea also involves a cluster of symptoms, but can be proven in a sleep lab. This is not the disease of 2010. Untreated sleep apnea can contribute to heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression to name a few sequelae.

What convinced you to get tested, cheryl?



< I wonder how much of this is scam and how much is real. Just being a big cynical...kind of like fibromylalgia,,all of the sudden, zillions of people with symptoms that could match virtually any other condition are now in that category. Seems like sleep apnea is kind of a rage now too.

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on July 1, 2010 at 8:13am

I'm chastened. Sure diddn't mean to discount your ideas, cheryl. I wasn't thinking of the TV ads at all. They do a good job of selling hese meds. And you're right, people jump on the bandwagon, hoping they've found a cure for whatever they have. Ot that they've found out what's wrong with them.

cheryl said:

And dont get me wrong Mary, I am not discounting in any way, the real problems and the fact that these are real conditions. I

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Permalink Reply by cheryl on July 1, 2010 at 10:18am

Im not sure what you mean-"chastened" in this sense...but I think my bottom line is that my ENT cannot point to any type of problem in my throat that could be causing this. He himself says it is strange. Normally he can see a deformity or some type of obvious obstruction. I am just not understanding why my situation cannot be identified-the cause of this. And I haven't been able to accept "sometimes it just happens and the cause is not known"...I'm just not there yet. The next sleep lab may reveal an improvement after my sinus surgery a few months ago. It is all still healing. Now I have to say, I changed to a medium size in the mask I have been trying out the last few days. And I am working very hard to get used to it and start to feel better as "everyone" has told me I would. I believe there is a problem in my case, but I want to know what it is. Are you a facilitator of this website? Thanks for your interest and again, I apologize if I seemed to minimize or dispute the authenticity of these conditions. I know how it feels to be dead tired at about 2pm each day. I am working hard to make this work and I slept all night with my cpap on. have a wonderful day and take care! Do you know if this website has other aspects of rating masks or in general, how to use it?

Mary Z said:

I'm chastened. Sure diddn't mean to discount your ideas, cheryl. I wasn't thinking of the TV ads at all. They do a good job of selling hese meds. And you're right, people jump on the bandwagon, hoping they've found a cure for whatever they have. Ot that they've found out what's wrong with them.

cheryl said:

And dont get me wrong Mary, I am not discounting in any way, the real problems and the fact that these are real conditions. I

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on July 1, 2010 at 10:30am

cheryl, no I'm not a facilitator. By chastened I just meant I don't think I gave your opinion/ideas the respect they deserved. I just coped with the diagnosis of sleep apnea without wondering why. I've since learned that a visit to an ENT would be a good idea, not necessarily looking for a cure or a why, but hoping to improve the success of my BPAP therapy. Waiting for summer and swimming weason to be over. LOL. Sometimes we just can't find a cause other than in modern people mouths tend to be smaller giving less room for the airway to remain open.

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