A Few More Questions

I switched from a Swift LT nasal pillows for her to a Ultra Mirage FFM about a week ago. The pillows fit and I sleep better in them but they cause me to have extreme sinus issues and I have a killer headache all day. After switching my sinus are great and no more headaches at all! However, I can only wear the FFM about 3 to 5 hours and have to take it off. It feels like a cement block pushing on my face. I am waking constantly with it on. Finally, it will become so uncomfortable I have to take it off. I don't have it too tight and it fits fine it is just SO awful to tolerate on my face.

Also, my numbers have gotten worse with the FFM. Here they are:
On the pillows my numbers averaged (wearing it 6 -7 hours nightly)
AHI = 2.5
AI = .1
HI = 2.4
Here are my numbers on the FFM. Remember I am wearing it only 3 - 5 hours
AHI = 9.7
AI =1.1
HI = 8.6

Leaks with the two masks are about the same (.40 and .58). I can't wear the nasal pillows and I don't like these numbers on the FFM or the way it feels.
I am planning on trying a new FFM next week when I can get to the DME. I got some suggestions from folks on here. Does anyone have any other suggestions or can you tell me why my numbers are so drastically changed by the mask change? Am I going to be able to wear a FFM?

One more question! I have seen on here not to take sleep aids to help sleep. I have in the past few years had to take stuff to be able to sleep and function at all. I am trying not to take anything at all but that makes this whole process even harder as I am not sleeping much at all. Is there something that would not interfere with my apnea at least for a while till I adjust to the cpap? In the past I have take Benedryl or Tylenol PM. A few weeks ago my MD gave me Klonopin to help but it makes me feel depressed in the mornings. I don't like taking it. I don't take much prescription medicine only a blood pressure med since all this started. Maybe I am addressing too many things at once here but I am so tired all the time, I am not doing well overall and I just want my life back so badly!
Thanks for any suggestions.
Karen

How long did you use the nasal pillow mask? Are you using a humidifier? It might be worth switching back to the Swift to see if you can accomodate to the "hurricane up your nose" effect. I found it annoying at first, but don't even notice it now.
Shari

I used the pillows for 28 days. I do use the humidifier and I have tried it a different settings with the pillows. My pressure is 9. They just give me terrible headaches all day long! I wish I could make them work.
Karen

ka-ann wrote:I switched from a Swift LT nasal pillows for her to a Ultra Mirage FFM about a week ago. The pillows fit and I sleep better in them but they cause me to have extreme sinus issues and I have a killer headache all day. After switching my sinus are great and no more headaches at all! However, I can only wear the FFM about 3 to 5 hours and have to take it off. It feels like a cement block pushing on my face. I am waking constantly with it on. Finally, it will become so uncomfortable I have to take it off. I don't have it too tight and it fits fine it is just SO awful to tolerate on my face.

Also, my numbers have gotten worse with the FFM. Here they are:
On the pillows my numbers averaged (wearing it 6 -7 hours nightly)
AHI = 2.5
AI = .1
HI = 2.4
Here are my numbers on the FFM. Remember I am wearing it only 3 - 5 hours
AHI = 9.7
AI =1.1
HI = 8.6

Leaks with the two masks are about the same (.40 and .58). I can't wear the nasal pillows and I don't like these numbers on the FFM or the way it feels.

<snip>

Karen

Hi, Karen.

Your leak rate is way too high (anything over .4 l/s means your machine cannot compensate for it, and you're NOT getting your prescribed therapy pressure). When the leak is too high, you can't rely on the event data being reported.

First things first: Get the leak under control, no matter which mask you're using (and be sure that the correct mask is listed in your machine's menu).

Could be that you're mouth-breathing with the pillows mask, and the FFM just isn't fitted well. There are lots of different FFMs on the market, and I would encourage you to try a different one. Since you like nasal pillows, you might look into the "hybrid" masks (combination of mouth cushion and nasal pillows) - the Innomed/Respcare Hybrid and the ResMed Mirage Liberty. I use the Hybrid now (after using the Swift LT), and breathing through my nose with the Hybrid mask feels more like natural breathing, because the air comes into the mouth cushion and isn't going directly up my nose.

Re: sleep aids, many advocate the use of melatonin.

Hope that helps. Work on those leaks.