Newly Diagnosed - Starting CPAP Trial

[davidb01]

Hi All,

I've been recently diagnosed with Sleep Apnea (AHI of 63 and a blood oxygenation level that drops to 79%) so I've just kicked off my month long CPAP trial. I was able to take home a couple of different masks to try.... took home a full face mask and a nasal mask. Started with the nasal mask, fully expecting that I'd have to change to the full face mask (I've always been a mouth open sleeper and didn't think I could change it that easily). I was amazed how easy it was too keep my mouth closed! In fact if I opened my mouth and got that rush of air coming out - my natural reaction seemed to be to close it again. So - first win on the board!

Anyway - because I felt I wouldn't need the full face mask, I went back and swapped it for a nasal pillow mask. The one they gave me is the Pilaro Q (with the diffuser attached) and I've been reading how some people don't like it for the noise level. Well - after my using it tonight for about 15 mins my wife cracked it saying it was too loud!

To my question - while I was using the pillow mask, I was finding I had to work a lot more to breath over the standard nasal mask. IS this normal? Also - I could feel a small amount of air coming out on my top lip, but could not work out where it was coming from. Could this be just from the venting or could it have been leaking? Ultimately my aim is to get the Resmed P10 pillow mask (read a lot of good things about that one!) but if I'm finding it more of a struggle to breath with the Pilaro Q then I may just have to stick with a nasal mask.

Anyway - was just typing this up while waiting for work to call me back (great having to be oncall when you're trying to adjust to a new life with CPAP!) Thanks for reading my story!

[Julie]

There are loads of different masks out there, nasal, full face and hybrid (as well as 1-2 'totals' which apparently leak too much) so why not look at what's available... Cpap.com has lots of info on all of them for comparison.

[ChicagoGranny]

I had to work a lot more to breath

This is a common feeling for newbies. They think about, and concentrate on, their breathing.

I am a small, elderly lady and I can easily breathe out with a variety of masks including nasal pillows. Even when my machine hits 20 cm pressure, I keep on sleeping and breathing softly - normal breathing when asleep.

The trick when you are new is to distract your mind from breathing and let your autonomous system have control of the process. This may not be as easy as it seems, but once you get the knack, it seems so simple and easy.