Month 3 Update: Observations & Questions

I'm finishing my third month now on CPAP and it's going very well! My tested AHI was 66 and treated I am now down to the low single digits. I'm sleeping better and longer and my wife is happier too! A few comments and questions for all:

1) I've woken up a few mornings and found I've taken off the mask during the night and have no recall of that. I suspect when I wake I think it may be close to my scheduled wake up time so I'm just taking off the mask even if it's actually only 2am, but then I fall back asleep. Since I have poor eyesight and am tethered to the machine I can't maneuver to see our clock, so I've started wearing a glow-in-the-dark type of watch (Timex Indiglo) so I can easily check the time whenever I might awaken.

2) My compliance rate has been very good but a couple of times I have not worn the mask when nasal/sinus congestion just makes me feel uncomfortable and suffocated with the mask on. Suggestions on this front are welcome!

3) I found when traveling over a long weekend that I did not bring enough distilled water with me. Given the bulk and weight of water, what do folks who travel typically do to handle this?

4) Trim your nose hairs! I have found that nose hairs around my nostrils can be vibrated under the air pressure of my mask and tickle my nose, which is a real irritant. Keep those hairs trimmed for appearance sake as well as CPAP effectiveness!

5) How often are folks replacing the cushions on their masks? Mine is three months old now and still seems to be fine, even though the DME says I'm "eligible" for a new one.

6) I wash my mask, tube and headgear once a week and find the headgear material takes a long time to dry. I've started rolling it up in a towel for a couple of hours and find that helps draw much of the moisture out before I let it air dry until bed time.

Thanks everyone and rest well!

xchecker wrote:3) I found when traveling over a long weekend that I did not bring enough distilled water with me. Given the bulk and weight of water, what do folks who travel typically do to handle this?

I just use tap water or bottled water if distilled isn't handy. The main thing about distilled is you don't get the mineral build up in the water chamber but even if it happens it is easily removed with vinegar.

xchecker wrote: 5) How often are folks replacing the cushions on their masks? Mine is three months old now and still seems to be fine, even though the DME says I'm "eligible" for a new one.

Cushion life or nasal pillow life is highly individual..not uncommon to get months and months of use for many people. Depends on a combination of things...facial oils, cleaning routine, etc..

xchecker wrote: 2) My compliance rate has been very good but a couple of times I have not worn the mask when nasal/sinus congestion just makes me feel uncomfortable and suffocated with the mask on. Suggestions on this front are welcome!

I do what I can to open up the nose...decongestants, saline spray and in emergency a tiny bit of Afrin but that's reserved for emergency use only and I know my limits. I have yet to have a time where once I got masked up and the humidity is flowing that I didn't actually breathe better when on cpap than without.

xchecker wrote:2) My compliance rate has been very good but a couple of times I have not worn the mask when nasal/sinus congestion just makes me feel uncomfortable and suffocated with the mask on. Suggestions on this front are welcome!

- Get a full face mask for these nights.
- See a good ENT/Allergist and get this problem resolved.

xchecker wrote:Given the bulk and weight of water, what do folks who travel typically do to handle this?

Pick up a bottle of drinking water at the hotel desk. It may leave a small amount of harmless mineral deposits in your humidifier tank - not a big deal and can be cleaned out later.

xchecker wrote:5) How often are folks replacing the cushions on their masks? Mine is three months old now and still seems to be fine, even though the DME says I'm "eligible" for a new one.

Personal choice.

xchecker wrote:6) I wash my mask, tube and headgear once a week and find the headgear material takes a long time to dry.

I never wash a hose; mask every five days and never wash the headgear. I have Pad-A-Cheeks on the headgear straps and wash them regularly. I wear a headcover. So no part of the headgear ever touches my hair or face - it just doesn't get dirty.

xchecker wrote:4) Trim your nose hairs!

Good idea!