New user Needing help have tried 3 different masks

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
bethshomeschool
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 4:38 pm

New user Needing help have tried 3 different masks

Post by bethshomeschool » Wed Jul 29, 2015 4:50 pm

Hi I am a frustrated newbie, I am using the Resmed Airsense 10 and started with a nasal mask, tried different sizes and now am supposed to be using nasal pillows. I am woken by air leaks, and/or air pressure and/or coughing from asthma (I have that so am trying to get it under control).
I haven't been able to keep and of those on all night long for any length of time. My ear pressure is hurting too, they feel clogged. I was told I needed to have 12 RAM and I called the Dr.s office and they changed it but I am not getting much communication about what it's been changed to.
I was told the machine will know what I need and adjust based on my needs while I am sleeping. I wish I had more control so if it wakes me maybe then I can lessen the amount of air pressure or RAM? I guess I have to find a way to live with the pillows or do I now go with a mask and if I do the mask will I have more leakage issues? I don't especially trust or enjoy the man who sold it to me, he was overwhelmed and very busy. I am in Maine and don't know if I can switch to another provider it's been about 3 and a half weeks. Mostly not using it.
I should tell you I broke my nose and sometimes feel like I'm suffocating, plus the air leakage from the nose went into my eyes which I can't tolerate so the pillows are easier as it doesn't go into my eyes. But I haven't been able to sleep more than an hour with it on.
Any and all advise is appreciated. Thanks

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Nuance & Nuance Pro Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Gel Nasal Pillows
Additional Comments: told to start at 14 after titration but 3 years ago was told 12 am currently struggling again!

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LSAT
Posts: 13229
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:11 am
Location: SE Wisconsin

Re: New user Needing help have tried 3 different masks

Post by LSAT » Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:20 pm

This has been mentioned MANY times on this board......Put on your mask and watch TV or a movie. Do this for several nights. Then do the same thing with your machine running. You will adjust to having the mask on your face. It sounds like your machine is set for AUTO so there are a range of pressures. If your original pressure was set at 12, the range may possibly be set at 10 minimum and 14 maximum. (Just a guess).

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Fisher & Paykel Vitera Full Face Mask with Headgear (S, M, or L Cushion)
Additional Comments: Back up is S9 Autoset...... Buckwheat hull pillow

bethshomeschool
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 4:38 pm

Re: New user Needing help have tried 3 different masks

Post by bethshomeschool » Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:07 pm

Thanks for your reply, I don't have an issue with the pillows so I guess I can just try using it while awake and see if I have the same issues with the pressure. Do your ears pop? Does wearing a mask help prevent the popping sensation??

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Nuance & Nuance Pro Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Gel Nasal Pillows
Additional Comments: told to start at 14 after titration but 3 years ago was told 12 am currently struggling again!

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Julie
Posts: 19898
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:58 pm

Re: New user Needing help have tried 3 different masks

Post by Julie » Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:11 pm

Another thing is that there are sooo many diff. masks available and while many prefer the newest ones, pillows, etc., there are lots of us who had to try on a lot more than you have at the beginning til we found the 'right' one for us... not because it was new or lots of others liked it, but because it worked for us. Cpap.com will let you try on many for a small insce. fee x 30 days - look at the website because it's got more variety and better prices than other sites. Find a DME who'll let you try others and don't feel you're stuck with uncomfortable or leaky ones just because. Don't be afraid to try full face ones - a lot of us like them better than nasals or pillows and not all of them leak more as some would have you believe.

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rachelp
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2015 12:38 pm

Re: New user Needing help have tried 3 different masks

Post by rachelp » Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:13 pm

bethshomeschool wrote:Thanks for your reply, I don't have an issue with the pillows so I guess I can just try using it while awake and see if I have the same issues with the pressure. Do your ears pop? Does wearing a mask help prevent the popping sensation??
I have the same mask and I've never experienced popping ears. I agree to wear it while awake. That advice was given to me and i feel it helped a lot.

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library lady
Posts: 1116
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 11:10 am
Location: Rochester, MN

Re: New user Needing help have tried 3 different masks

Post by library lady » Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:41 pm

I had the same problem, as many of us have had, with keeping the mask on all night in the beginning. Your brain thinks this thing on your face is an alien, and be putting it on, running the machine with it, while you are awake helps you train your brain to recognize it as an acceptable thing. My chief problem was leaks, which I couldn't tame, and when I learned about mask liners I bought some and they were a game changer for me! I use them every night. Several options are Pad-A-Cheek, http://www.padacheek.com, RemZzzs from your DME or online at our forum sponsors, https://www.cpap.com, or DIY, google "DIY cotton mask liner pattern" and make your own from old t-shirts, which is what I do now, though I've used the others as well. The pattern is for a full face mask, but it's possible you could find one for your mask.

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ F10 Full Face Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments:  Sleepyhead
Now using AirFit F10 mask; Quattro Air is backup mask. RemZzzz mask liners with both.

bethshomeschool
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 4:38 pm

Re: New user Needing help have tried 3 different masks

Post by bethshomeschool » Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:53 pm

Thanks, I was considering getting Remzzzs for the nasal mask, but think i should try the full face mask if my ears keep hurting using the nasal pillows.

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Nuance & Nuance Pro Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Gel Nasal Pillows
Additional Comments: told to start at 14 after titration but 3 years ago was told 12 am currently struggling again!

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codinqueen
Posts: 445
Joined: Sun Feb 13, 2011 12:14 am
Location: FL Panhandle

Re: New user Needing help have tried 3 different masks

Post by codinqueen » Thu Jul 30, 2015 9:14 pm

I have found I tolerated the Swift Fx mask better than any of the other masks I tried when I first started. It isn't as obtrusive as some of the other masks, is light on the face, and allows me to sleep on my side. If you make it too tight you will have "pig-nose" that is uncomfortable, so be sure it is loose enough. Wash or wipe your mask clean before every use, to remove any oil from the previous night if you doin't wash your mask daily. (I don't and many people here don't if they prefer to use a baby-wipe or cleansing wipe).I use Sensitive skin baby-wipes from CVS. Stay away from the wipes that have alcohol and Aloe if you want to use wipes, the alcohol is not always good for the masks. Be sure to wash or wipe your face with a baby-wipe before putting your mask on. A clean face is easier for your mask to adhere, since if you have any oil or dirt on your face the mask might slip around some. Not knowing which masks you have tried, if you have a Swift Fx mask, loosen the silicone strap that goes over your head until you can get at least 2 fingers between the upper silicone strap and your head. Adjust the side straps that cover your cheeks to be loose enough that they don't hurt your nose or push it up, but stay in place when you move your head, but don't make them too tight. Try a teeny bit of some Lansinoh Ointment inside each nostril - it is a little bit tacky & helps the nasal cushion to "stay" in place. Lansinoh ointment is available in the baby/nursing mother supplies dept of drug stores and some super-markets, or ask your druggist-it is over the counter-comes in a tube that comes in a box, I think it is a pink box, costs about $8 and one tube lasts a long time. I have the same tube I bought when I started this CPAP journey. It is pure lanolin and is used by breast-feeding mothers for healing sore nipples. It also heals sore nostrils. Once you get used to it, you can go without the Lansinoh unless your nose gets sore inside.
I don't know what RAM is that your are mentioning. If it is RAMP, it could be that you need to turn your ramp function off. Mine made me feel like I was suffocating. Be advised you will need to meet compliance for the insurance company (if you have insurance) to pay for your machine, so you need to use it every night for more than one hour, or you will be asked to pay the entire cost of your CPAP machine when insurance denies payment if you don't meet compliance. I am unsure how many hours use and percentage criteria for compliance requirements are, so maybe someone else can chime in, or you can ask your insurance company if you need to know. They usually check your SIM card or download from your modem if your machine has one, in the first 3 months, to be sure you are meeting it. I think you have to use your machine a minimum of 4 hours a night but I could be wrong. Good luck, keep trying to get used to it, and try some different masks to find the one you are most comfortable with. Some people try many masks before they find the one they like.

_________________
Mask: Swift™ FX For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Clear by Pur-Sleep to keep nose open at night, Cozy Hose-Boss by Pur-Sleep
Pressure 6-10 cm

Janknitz
Posts: 8410
Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:05 pm
Location: Northern California

Re: New user Needing help have tried 3 different masks

Post by Janknitz » Fri Jul 31, 2015 5:20 pm

Buy a set of ear plugs and put ONE earplug in ONE ear when you put the mask on. This MAY stop the ear popping. It works for me, I usually have one earbud in because I listen to podcasts to help me sleep. If it doesn't work, no harm, no foul. Just ONE ear, though.
What you need to know before you meet your DME http://tinyurl.com/2arffqx
Taming the Mirage Quattro http://tinyurl.com/2ft3lh8
Swift FX Fitting Guide http://tinyurl.com/22ur9ts
Don't Pay that Upcharge! http://tinyurl.com/2ck48rm

herefishy
Posts: 1012
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 8:24 am

Re: New user Needing help have tried 3 different masks

Post by herefishy » Sat Aug 01, 2015 8:01 am

You can always change providers - but before you try that, you might want to call your present DME and ask if you can come in and "test drive" various masks. They should let you do that, and then you at least might find one that is more comfortable. When you are doing the testing, lie on your back and various positions to find the best one in terms of leaks.

_________________
Mask: Mirage Activa™ LT Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: pressure 10-12

lindalrc
Posts: 78
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2009 1:34 pm
Location: Maine

Re: New user Needing help have tried 3 different masks

Post by lindalrc » Sat Aug 01, 2015 7:41 pm

Hi:
You may well go thru multiple masks. Don't worry about it. AND you may find yourself changing in the future. Been on CPAP since 2007. Took me two years to settle on the ResMed Activa LT and I picked it out to try because I am a restless sleeper. Recently I shifted to the Gel cushion that fits the same mask - and better results. Another issue is head gear size. They come in a "standard" size, standard being defined by the manufacturer. But, I found out that I need a SMALL (and even that is a little big). So, the provider has to order it separately. I have seen on this site where some people try pediatric sizes to get a good fit.

This mask business is kind of like shoes - fit is just paramount to comfort and comfort is needed for compliance. Sometimes it takes a good bit of looking.

And - if you do go to the DME and try on a bunch, remember that the shape of your face changes when you lie down. I have not yet seen a DME who has a place you can lie down. You may be forced to use the floor. Also, cruise around our sponsor's website. There are many reviews about most masks. Read the low-rated reviews and likely any bad genies in the bottle will be mentioned.

Good luck and keep at it.

mgaggie
Posts: 870
Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2013 4:30 am
Location: Victoria, Australia

Re: New user Needing help have tried 3 different masks

Post by mgaggie » Sat Aug 01, 2015 8:42 pm

I had problems with my ears popping and I used pressure reducing ear plugs

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lewis-N-Clar ... 3f2d0a2d45