My health care rep. said, "Mrs. blah-blah, this is your third mask. You cannot keep switching out masks. Your insurance will not pay for it. You have to make a decision and in six months we can possibly get you something else."
If I can't find a mask that fits and allows me to sleep then should I turn my CPAP machine into a flower vase? It makes no sense to me to have a cpap machine that I can't use. How on Earth am I supposed to know if the mask they are handing me is what is going to work until I sleep with it for a night or so? Do runners in marathons take whatever shoe is offered to them and run regardless if their toes turn blue and fall off? I know my cpap costs more than a lousy pair of running shoes, so why can't I get a mask that fits so I can use this expensive piece of equipment that is supposed to revolutionalize my life?
I told "the non-gender-specific" health care rep. that I had been on line and noticed that there were several models of masks made for people, who like me, sleep on their sides. The health rep asked, "Mrs. blah-blah, do you know the name of this mask?"
Stupid me, I hadn't make a print out copy. For some dumb reason, I thought this highly trained individual would know about masks designed for side sleepers. I was terribly wrong.
"Mrs. Blah-blah, there are nearly 100 different brands of masks on the market. This is your third mask and it will be your last. Do you want the mask I've shown you?"
I'm looking at a *&JJY^^*IJ nose mask (a different brand of nose mask that has little holes in it instead of the whistling slit like the last one). I even ask about the little nose model that is on the face of a dummy in the display.
"Isn't that the one you are supposed to use if you sleep on your side?"I ask, "Or the one that fits over your head?" I look down at the stiff, uncomfortable mask in my hand. Everything about it screams 'cheap piece of plastic.' "It doesn't seem to have much padding on the forehead at all. And when you tried it on my nose I noticed it wanted to move up under my nostrils. Is it supposed to do that?"
"No," the health rep said. "Just keep the mask on and tighten it down."
"This is a mask for people who sleep on their sides?" I asked again.
"This is the only mask we have for side sleepers. And everybody seems to like it."
Who the heck is this "everybody" he's talking about, I'm thinking. I shrug. I don't know if this mask will work any better than the last one. I've asked if it makes more noise. The health rep says, "Mrs. blah-blah, all masks are going to make noises."
"Mrs. blah-blah, will you take the mask you have in your hand or not?"
I took the new mask. I'll sleep with it tonight. If it doesn't work I'm angry enough to take the entire lot back, machine, crappy hose, and humidifier. I won't pay for something that is just sitting by the bed and useless.
I'm paying for this lousy service and the machine because the machine is on a "RENTAL 3 MONTH PERIOD" but for some reason it's been decided for me in a rental period that I can only try out 3 different masks. And none of these masks have any information on them at all. There is no book in the office or brochure to tell you why this mask is any better than another. There is no list of features of different masks and nothing that tells you which masks are better for which kinds of sleepers.
I'm not an unreasonable person. I've given each mask thus far at least a week and tried to make them work. I don't want to feel tired all the time. I want to get better and feel like a human being again.
I've decided that a CPAP machine doesn't make a good flower vase, at least not until it is featured in Martha Stewart and comes in cooling mint green colors.
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