FAQ thread..work in progress...need some input

jnk... · Post by **jnk...** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 2:18 pm

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 13, 2019 1:29 pm
posts in an open forum are intended to be read by strangers

Oh, man! You mean, signing up to this forum and then having to enter a password didn't make all of this private? NOW you tell me! That's it. I'm outa here. Please delete all my past avatars.

miner49er · Post by **miner49er** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 3:00 pm

Janknitz wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 11, 2019 3:27 pm
I think this might be really helpful, but I also worry that it will allow the forum to grow Nazis who will be nasty to any newbie who doesn't check the FAQ's first. I think one of the strengths of this group is we let newbies come and ask the same questions over and over again, so that they get individual help. Sometimes they don't even know what to ask, and I hate to see them get a nastygram because they didn't check the FAQ's first.

In that vein, some of the questions I see most often:

"How long is it going to take for me to feel better?"
"I wake up with the mask off. What do I do?
"Why is my mouth so dry?"
"How am I ever going to learn to sleep with this thing?"
"Isn't this just a scam?"

agree with this. i was shitting my pants hoping i formatted my charts right when i first posted. didnt want pugsy to yell at me

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 3:10 pm

miner49er wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 13, 2019 3:00 pm
didnt want pugsy to yell at me

When's the last time I yelled at someone? Especially new to the forum?

Now sometimes I am short and to the point but I don't think that qualifies for yelling.....at least in my mind.

Usually when I end up yelling at someone it's long overdue.

babydinosnoreless · Post by **babydinosnoreless** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 7:14 pm

Pugsy wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 13, 2019 3:10 pm

miner49er wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 13, 2019 3:00 pm
didnt want pugsy to yell at me
When's the last time I yelled at someone? Especially new to the forum?

Now sometimes I am short and to the point but I don't think that qualifies for yelling.....at least in my mind.

Usually when I end up yelling at someone it's long overdue.

Its not the yelling that worries us. Its your dang pet aliens that has us terrified. I never want a visit from those suckers again.

jnk... · Post by **jnk...** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 9:30 pm

Don't anybody believe Pugsy's claim that she yells. She NEVER yells in here, at least.

I oughta know; I've earned several good yellins that've been long overdue for years now. And she still ain't done it.

And the aliens only show up at my house a few times a year now.

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 10:44 pm

jnk... wrote: ↑
Fri Dec 13, 2019 9:30 pm
Don't anybody believe Pugsy's claim that she yells. She NEVER yells in here, at least.

Teehee.

She's got my phone number... you're right about her never yelling ..... in here.

'course, all she has to do is utter a couple syllables and I know I've been bad.

....Uh oh.

(Actually, she doesn't yell on the phone, either... in all honesty)

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 9:55 pm

bump

any more annoying questions that we commonly see here?

jimbud · Post by **jimbud** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 10:19 pm

How about the one where they say:

What mask do you recommend, should I get, will work for me, ect.

All you can really say is the old "everyone is different, what works for me may not work for you, a mask is a very personal choice,
You will just have to try them out until you find the one for you, ect."

However, some people seem to like answering this question over and over again.
Maybe makes them feel like they are participating?

That is not a bad thing, I guess.

Just trying to feel like I am helping out.

JPB

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 10:45 pm

jimbud wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 15, 2019 10:19 pm
How about the one where they say:

What mask do you recommend, should I get, will work for me, ect.

I gotta think on this one for a bit.....as well as the "which machine is better" question.

Right now I am just doing a handful of the easy ones that don't require much thought.

Before I offer mask ideas I always ask the "do you normally breathe through your nose question"
Maybe I can come up with a generic kind of response that covers mainly the YMMV stuff.

The cleaning question also is going to take some thought. Every time I see it I always want to ask
"well it depends...are you a germaphobe or not?"

jimbud · Post by **jimbud** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 11:31 pm

Yes.

There are quite a few seemingly simple questions relating to this malady that have complicated answers.

Truly simple ones are harder to come by than than one would think.
Until one tries to think of them.
At least for me. And I am pretty simple.

We are lucky to have you here.
Nothing simple about you.

JPB

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 11:48 pm

jimbud wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 15, 2019 11:31 pm
Yes.

There are quite a few seemingly simple questions relating to this malady that have complicated answers.

Truly simple ones are harder to come by than than one would think.
Until one tries to think of them.
At least for me. And I am pretty simple.

We are lucky to have you here.
Nothing simple about you.

JPB

The entire point of the FAQ is to put a place where, instead of typing one of her novellas in answer to questions that come up frequently, Pugsy can just answer with a link to the faq.

Now, if it's a frequent question that's easy to answer, then it doesn't really warrant a FAQ entry

(IMO).

remstarcpap · Post by **remstarcpap** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:58 am

1. How to tape lips, and which products to use, pros and cons.
2. Buying a used machine, what to watch out for.
3. Cleaning masks, hoses, and humidifiers. What to do, and what not to do. Why most cleaning products are bunk.
4. FFM versus nasal masks.
5. Sleep studies, home and lab.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:21 am

jimbud wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 15, 2019 10:19 pm
What mask do you recommend, should I get, will work for me, ect.

All you can really say is the old "everyone is different, what works for me may not work for you, a mask is a very personal choice,
You will just have to try them out until you find the one for you, ect.

A protocol for selecting a mask can be developed. Here's a stab I took at it a few years ago.

How to Choose an Initial CPAP Mask for Newbies

1. If you had a sleep lab titration and liked the mask that was used, and that mask was recommended by your medical team, then go for it.

2. If not 1., then did your medical team recommend a nasal mask or a full face mask (FFM)? For many people, nasal masks are easier to use assuming they don't mouthbreathe, leak air out the mouth or get air inflating the cheeks while using CPAP during sleep. If you have any of these problems, you may need to use a FFM. (Despite what you may see in the forum, there are many of us that find FFMs are easy to use, do not leak and are not uncomfortable.)

3. Once you have decided whether you need to start with a nasal mask or a FFM mask, begin looking at the mask descriptions and images at https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks.php . This is the website of this forum's host.

4. For a newbie, you should select a popular mask that gets high rankings from the reviews. Some people in this forum get excellent usage out of masks that are not popular and do not get good reviews. They might rave about the mask to you. But for a newbie, you want to start with a popular mask with high rankings. After you get some experience, you can experiment with masks that pique your fancy but are not so popular.

5. Once you have a category (nasal or FFM) of masks selected, you can go to that category on CPAP dot com's web page and sort by Biggest Sellers and then by Rating. You can check the ratings and read reviews.

6. When you receive your mask and machine, you should watch the mask manufacturer's videos (On CPAP.com's web page or on youtube.com) for instructions on use and adjustments.

7. If you have any problems using the mask, please start a new thread here and ask for help.

8. It's not unusual to try different masks before settling on one that works well for you. If you find yourself buying a fourth or fifth different mask, the problem may be with the way you are trying to use the masks, instead of the mask itself. Please get help from the experienced forum members.

- ChicagoGranny

jimbud · Post by **jimbud** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:31 am

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 16, 2019 8:21 am

jimbud wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 15, 2019 10:19 pm
What mask do you recommend, should I get, will work for me, ect.

All you can really say is the old "everyone is different, what works for me may not work for you, a mask is a very personal choice,
You will just have to try them out until you find the one for you, ect.
A protocol for selecting a mask can be developed. Here's a stab I took at it a few years ago.

How to Choose an Initial CPAP Mask for Newbies

Excellent!

You have humbled me.
As usual.

You even included our outstanding host https://www.cpap.com/sleep-apnea-cpap-starter-pack in your protocol.

JPB

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 11:49 am

Mask fit is hard to predict because the manufacturers want to sell more masks.
The only sure way to get the right one is trial and error.
The manufacturer templates can be helpful--if they can be found.
I can imagine a "Maskopedia", containing downloadable fitting templates,
[[[since facial anthropometrics was abandoned when photography and fingerprinting
were adopted by law enforcement around a hundred years ago.]]]

I would not be surprised if a simple photograph could now be used to accurately select a cpap mask,
But that will NEVER happen, because it would cut into the bottom line.

FAQ thread..work in progress...need some input

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