Frustrated CPAP User

I have a Resmed Autosense 10 machine and have been struggling with it for 2 months. First the full face mask leaked, and leaked, and leaked. I was then fitted with a medium nasal pillow. Problem with that is my left nostril hurt like I had a blind pimple in it. the pain would go away a few days after not using the machine. Then it would return the day I used it again. Saw on this forum it might be too small and to get the next size up. I did and the pain seems to be gone? But I now get extreme dry mouth. Im talking pull my lips and cheeks away from my gums and teeth like I drank crazy glue. I bought a chin strap and still dry mouth. I went back to the full face because the head gear does not hold the large nasal pillows secure enough and leaks if I move my head any little bit. I messed around with the head gear on the full face mask and got a good seal. But now I get dry mouth. I bought the heated hose and played around with the humidity and temperature settings. even tried auto. Still have dry mouth. Took the temp and humidity up and down th e entire range and got dry mouth, or a soaked face with too much humidity. I cannot for the life of me get this to work? The company I got the machine from pretty much gave up on me. Everytime I called them with a problem the nurse said I never heard of that before. Finally she said well a CPAP is not for everyone. Can you please please please help? I am desperate for a good nights sleep. Thanks in advance.

Sorry I don't have any answers for you. But could you please post which nasal pillows you are using? We might be able to help with your fit issues if we knew that information.

Dry mouth means you're somehow breathing through your mouth. Even a full face mask and humidifier won't prevent it. If you suffer from really bad nasal congestion your chin strap may not either. Although then I would think that the air rushing out of your mouth would wake you up as it does me.

SteveNJ51 wrote:Everytime I called them with a problem the nurse said I never heard of that before. Finally she said well a CPAP is not for everyone

She is incompetent.

SteveNJ51 wrote:dry mouth

http://www.drugstore.com/orajel-dry-mou ... /qxp153412

I occasionally have oral air leaks. If I'm gaping like a fish, I wake pretty fast. Smaller leaks though take longer to notice. No biggie other than being annoying...those padded neck braces or a pillow tucked under the chin can help.

Tatooed Lady wrote:padded neck braces

http://www.amazon.com/Carex-Health-Bran ... cal+collar

Granny, you're scaring me.

Tatooed Lady wrote:Granny, you're scaring me.

that's a perfectly normal, and healthy reaction

Surprisingly, a soft foam collar has been just the ticket for a few here.
Some of us cannot stand elastic chin straps, and will try some pretty weird things to avoid wearing a full face mask.

Hi,

Dry mouth almost always means air is flowing through your mouth. With a nasal pillow mask, the air should be going through your nose and airway, but not moving through your mouth or lips. I couldn't find any way to stop the airflow until I read about mouth taping. There is a little risk to doing, so it isn't for everyone, but, in my case, it made all the difference. I couldn't get a full face or nasal mask to work (due to bone structure), so I simply had to make the nasal pillow mask work. Once you get this figured out, your life will improve dramatically.

-john-

SteveNJ51 wrote:Resmed Autosense 10 machine

Steve, You provided a lot of good information. Most problems can be worked out with time, learning and trial and error. Many of us started out with some really frustrating problems we had to solve. But we eventually solved them, got a good CPAP therapy working and greatly improved our lives.

It helps to continue the dialogue as some of the members may discover some easy fixes.

What are your pressure settings? What is the brand and model of the full face mask (FFM) you are using?

ChicagoGranny wrote:Many of us started out with some really frustrating problems we had to solve.

Yes, it started out really shitty for me. The doctor was very nice and tried to help. I had him on the phone several times for some long discussions. But it was this forum that led me in the right direction until I achieved success.

Other than providing a diagnosis for insurance companies, a starting CPAP pressure and a prescription for a machine, the medical professionals are not so much help.

Thanks all. I ordered the padded neck collar as recommended above. I was thinking about that as I can't stand the chin straps either. I hope that works for me? I also bought the biotene mouth rinse for dry mouth. I will keep the dialogue open and I hope you all keep an eye out on this post. I really appreciate your expertise and responses. Someone asked what nasal pillows I have. They are the Airfit P10 nasal pillows. Full face mask is the Airfit F10. thanks and I'll let you all know how my next round of trial and error goes.

Granny, my pressure setting was 15 but it was blowing the mask and pillows off after ramp up. I was told by someone who works at a sleep center to drop that to10 then increase it slightly over time until I hit something that works. I'm At 12 right now but the main concern is to cure the dry mouth and go with the nasal pillows. Hopefully the biotene and padd d collar do the trick?

SteveNJ51 wrote:I was told by someone who works at a sleep center to drop that to10 then increase it slightly over time until I hit something that works.

It would help to get one of the softwares (free) to analyze minute-by-minute what is going on with the CPAP and your breathing. All of the regulars on here do this. Someone should tell you where to get the software - I'm not so good with computers.

SteveNJ51 wrote:also bought the biotene mouth rinse for dry mouth

The rinse is good for quickly moistening a dry mouth.

For longer term prevention of dry mouth, I use Orajel Dry Mouth Moisturizing Gel http://www.drugstore.com/orajel-dry-mou ... tid=183812

What position(s) do you sleep on - back, sides, stomach, all of the above?