AAARRRRRGH!!!!!

Sugarbeetn · Post by **Sugarbeetn** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:53 am

Hello everyone,

My significant other is a new user (since September), and I am so damned frustrated I could just scream.....

He is having difficulties with the mask he chose (sorry I don't know the name or model) so now if it is not his snoring it is the noise of the air squeaking out of his mask, and now he his mad at me because I can't sleep....aaargh!

I need any advise on how I can encourage him to continue use of the cpap machine along with getting him to try new masks. He is a stomach sleeper so that is what is causing the mask to loose its seal.

Any help will be greatly appreciated - thanks for letting me vent!

Sleepless in Detroit!

MartiniLover · Post by **MartiniLover** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:06 am

Sounds simple to me.

He finds a pillow that allows his head with mask to work right.

You have to bend and the both of you work to try to get through this.

Easiest, of course would be to move out. Just how significant is he?

Sugarbeetn · Post by **Sugarbeetn** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:18 am

Thanks for the chuckle MartiniLover! It's a very good question!

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:19 am

Sugarbeet -

Welcome!

There are some masks that work better than others for stomach sleepers. I personally use the Invacare TwilightNP nasal pillows. They seem to have been made for stomach sleepers. They vent upwards, toward the headboard, so the air doesn't hit your bed partner, and also is not blocked by sleeping with your face mostly in the pillow. They'd definitely be worth a try.

If he says he doesn't like things in nose, assure him that these really just rest at the outer edge of the nostrils. If he does try the mask, and he can't get a good fit, post back here - we have some great ideas to fix that.

If he's insisting on a nasal mask rather than pillows, the Mirage Activa is a great nasal mask. It has a special bellows system that allows it to seal better than many others, in my opinion. If he goes with a nasal mask, he will have to learn to dangle his head off the edge of the pillow, though, to keep it from leaking (more than likely).

There are two pillows that CPAP users have had good experience with (that are helpful for side and stomach sleepers): the "sheapeable pillow" from target, and the "PAPillow" from talkaboutsleep.com. Either of those might help him.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask! We're always glad to help!

Sugarbeetn · Post by **Sugarbeetn** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:51 am

Thank you so much, I will get him a pillow, until he decides to try the nasal pillows. I will keep you inform.....

Your reply was most helpful!!!

Have a great day.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:55 am

Separate bedrooms have saved my marriage......

sleepylady · Post by **sleepylady** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:15 pm

I'm a stomache sleeper and found the best mask to be the Invacare TwilightNP nasal pillows. I did try four other masks, including the ResMed Activa, but the Twilight just seems to work better. I've been using this mask for over a year now and love it. It's also quieter than some other masks I've tried. Plus, I rarely seem to get leaks.

Mile High Sleeper · Post by **Mile High Sleeper** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 12:30 pm

For some ideas on bed pillows, click on the light bulb, expand all, solving common mask problems or cpaptalk-articles/CPAP-mask-leaks-problems.html
The end of the article talks about bed pillows.

The article on masks might be helpful, too.

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:31 pm

Oldgearhead,
separate houses saved mine.