My First Night

Last night was my first night on CPAP. Overall, it went well. I spent some time tweaking my mask to stop any leaks, but other than that it was OK. I did have some moisture inside the mask around 2:00 a.m. I think, but not enough to be a nuisance. I wanted a full mask because I had a hard time breathing in my sleep study with the nasal pillows. I felt like I wasn't getting enough air, and actually was awake for an hour and 45 minutes before calling in the tech to complain again. They turned up the air, which helped, but still wasn't ideal. The full mask is a lot bulkier than the nasal masks, so I'm not sure if I will keep it or not. I might try it a few more nights and see what happens. I definitely like the size of the nasal masks, I just wonder if I would get used to that "suffocating" feeling that I had with the air only going in my nostrils. I'm sure there are others out there that have had the same problem. Any suggestions?

It takes time for your body to adjust to both the equipment and the therapy ... hang in there.

The mask will indeed be the biggest challenge ... there are many different ones but there are many more different sizes and shapes of people's faces. Everyone is unique so you just have to try several until you find one that is both comfortable and does not leak.

This therapy is most successful when you take control ... read as much as you can here on this forum and be prepared to fight for your health.

Get a copy of your sleep lab study and get an original copy of your prescription .... you will need them both for the fight.

Best wishes!

Welcome, I only have 2 nights on you but can say that the learning curve is steep! I too went with the FF mask because I can't stand things in my nose (hospital O2 drives me crazy) and I drop my mouth during the day to breath so it makes sense that I would at night. I think the trick is in getting it adjusted, not so tight that it digs into your face (as I did the first night) and not so loose that it breaks seal (as I did the second night). Just try to relax and imagine yourself sucba diving a reef in the warm waters off Grand Caymon Island (it works for me).

I'm glad it went ok for you. Last night was my 2nd night...and things aren't going so great.

I am getting alot of gas and waking up alot. Hopefully things improve.

Do you have a deviated septum? Ever broke your nose. That could explain the feeling of lack of air with nasal pillows. A simple surgery will fix that.

JeffH wrote:Do you have a deviated septum? Ever broke your nose. That could explain the feeling of lack of air with nasal pillows. A simple surgery will fix that.

Not that I am aware of.

I breathe through my mouth sometimes during the day, so I assume I do the same in bed. Plus, I know I drool sometimes and wake up with my mouth wide open. However, I'm not necessarily *breathing* through my mouth...I may just be drooling.

I'll see how the full mask goes. I seem to like how it works, I just preferred the simplicity of the nasal masks.

Hi and welcome. Can't say what mask is best for you as everyone is different, but here's what happened to me. I hated the idea of being confined so I started with nasal pillows and minimal strapping--didn't work.

To make a long story short, I now have a nasal mask and have come to love the sensation of the air coming in under pressure. It makes me breathe more deeply and, I think, helps me go to sleep quickly. Plus I know it's stopping my apnea and that's such a positive thing.

Now, I didn't say I love the mask...probably never will, but CPAP's made a huge difference for me.

[quote="Claire"]
................To make a long story short, I now have a nasal mask and have come to love the sensation of the air coming in under pressure. It makes me breathe more deeply and, I think, helps me go to sleep quickly. ............ [quote]

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Claire, it's odd you should say that you've "come to love the sensation". It occurs to me that just looking at my equipment could be compared to Linus (of Charlie Brown fame), looking at his beloved security blanket! I just know that as soon as I strap it on.... well, the night will become wonderful!

I guess I've "come to love" it too!

Jerry.

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Houston,

You could try a nasal mask and either tape your mouth shut or use Polident strips to hold it shut. Both methods have been discussed at length on this site and you could find all the info you wanted on them by using the search function. It may be better to just give yourself some time to adjust to the mask that you have. If your current mask is "bearable" I would stick with it for a week or two and give yourself some time to adjust. Check with your DME and ask what their mask return policy is, and take full advantage of it. In time, you will hardly know you are wearing one. I reach up and try to scratch my nose through the mask all the time now!

Hi HoustonRealtor,

I have been on APAP just over three years and have only used the Resmed Activa mask. The local supplier said I should get a new one every year - stands to reason, they sell them. At this time my headgear is really the worse for wear which I expect will be the first part to give out. The mask itself is getting a little gungy looking - probably form the infrequent (quarterly or thereabouts) soakings it gets in the vinegar solution immediately after the old Ivory dishsoap scrub down. It screams at me every time - "leave me alone, I'll be fine". Lazy bugger I am, seems OK to me. In fact, a very informative poster on the forum said to just shoot the damn mask with a diluted solution of apple cider vinegar once in a while and all will be disenfected and well. Even the smell will be great! I did that and it worked! It worked so well that I used the solution for many other things and finally ran out. Did I mention I was a lazy bugger? Yeah, I know, time to get a refill.

Oops. Meant this to be a short story only - getting back on track now.

You seem to have a full face mask and are comparing it to just the nasal pillows - I've been away so may be wrong here. Have you tried the nasal mask?

I did the measurement test on this site yesterday to confirm the size of a new Activa mask I should get.Right now have a "Standard" which I think must be medium. The test said this kind of mask was not appropriate for me. Kind of blew my mind because the one I have has worked fine from day one. Actually have become quite attached to the little sucker and I do mean sucker as it just grabs hold and doesn't let go. First word that comes to mind for us proud owners is "erotic", whatever that means to Apniacs.

Anyway, trying to make a short story short in my long winded way - I called CPAP.com and was told - "Hey tests are not always perfect and if the Activa has been working well for the past three years go for it".

I think the Rep is right and I expect to make the big move soon, after all how long do these masks last even if you totally ignore the cleaning instructions? Could be a little longer - after all, I don't tinker with it so it's not likely to break.

Point to all this - try the Activa, it will be my second mask sooner or later.

This whole thing takes time to get used to. All the best.

Bob F

Houston,

You don't say what your pressure is, but if it is low that could contribute to the "suffocating" feeling with nasal pillows. However, different nasal pillows provide different results. I used the ComfortLite 2 for a number of months and got plenty of air at a pressure of about 8. Then I switched to the Headrest pillows and felt like I was getting less air at the same pressure. Because I loved the mask otherwise I stuck with it and got used to it. It no longer feels like too little air.

You said that you sometimes wake with your mouth wide open, but you are not necessarily breathing through your mouth. The problem is that your cpap is likely breathing through your mouth. It is really hard to avoid having the cpap air flow out of the mouth if it is open. If the cpap air is flowing out of the mouth, you lose much or most of your therapy and will likely have apnea events.

There are a variety of options you can try to deal with the open mouth problem such as a full face mask like you are using now, training yourself to keep your mouth closed when asleep (some people have been able to do so), using a commercial or homemade chin strap to hold your mouth closed, or using tape or Polident strips to hold your lips closed. It may take a lot of trial and error. And you should try only one new thing at a time for a week or so to see if it is working or not.

Most everyone will tell you that a comfortable and effective mask is crucial. I consider finding the right mask to be the top priority.

Janna