FFM extremely annoying

[MaxINTJ]

My point was not what time you or I need to arise, rather it was that when I started PAPing I was sleeping less than normal, then as time went by my sleep returned to a more normal schedule. Max, it seems like you are really fighting things. Any particular reason why?

My point about time was that I too am sleeping less than normal with the View. If I wear the nasal mask, I can sleep longer, but have more disturbances.

And I don't know that I'm fighting anything. I chose a mask that I thought would work - and it's comfortable. The machine I was prescribed has NO CHANCE to give me good sleep so I am using a borrowed one. I have been doing this for 3 months, have not gotten any good sleep, have ended up with a pinched nerve that has now affected me for 2 months, and have had to change to a FFM which is uncomfortable, has me waking up too early, and is causing a sore, stiff neck again.

I'm doing everything I can to move forward but not going anywhere. It's no good wearing a mask that gives me good sleep from a breathing perspective but cuts down my hours of sleep, is uncomfortable, and is negatively affecting my neck and back.

So fighting? No. Fed up? Irritated? Sleep deprived? Out of patience? Yes. Yes. Yes. A LONG time ago.

[TASmart]

My point was not what time you or I need to arise, rather it was that when I started PAPing I was sleeping less than normal, then as time went by my sleep returned to a more normal schedule. Max, it seems like you are really fighting things. Any particular reason why?

My point about time was that I too am sleeping less than normal with the View. If I wear the nasal mask, I can sleep longer, but have more disturbances.

And I don't know that I'm fighting anything. I chose a mask that I thought would work - and it's comfortable. The machine I was prescribed has NO CHANCE to give me good sleep so I am using a borrowed one. I have been doing this for 3 months, have not gotten any good sleep, have ended up with a pinched nerve that has now affected me for 2 months, and have had to change to a FFM which is uncomfortable, has me waking up too early, and is causing a sore, stiff neck again.

I'm doing everything I can to move forward but not going anywhere. It's no good wearing a mask that gives me good sleep from a breathing perspective but cuts down my hours of sleep, is uncomfortable, and is negatively affecting my neck and back.

So fighting? No. Fed up? Irritated? Sleep deprived? Out of patience? Yes. Yes. Yes. A LONG time ago.

ANd to continue my point, it took a few months of sleeping with the CPAP for my sleep duration to return to what I needed. I think it was because I was getting restful sleep finally, but my internal sleep clock was messed up because I was used to getting too little sleep. After a while, 3 months or so, my system decided that it was OK to sleep longer and get more deeply rested. Give it some time, it takes many people months to get deeply rested. You have to decide how long you will stick with the program, If you decide it is not for you that's your choice. But you need to look to this with positive determination and just fix things as they come up as needed adjustments. Currently, you seem more to bitch and moan this is not right and it's not right now. Adjust and be patient.

[nanwilson]

My point was not what time you or I need to arise, rather it was that when I started PAPing I was sleeping less than normal, then as time went by my sleep returned to a more normal schedule. Max, it seems like you are really fighting things. Any particular reason why?

My point about time was that I too am sleeping less than normal with the View. If I wear the nasal mask, I can sleep longer, but have more disturbances.

And I don't know that peraseverence fighting anything. I chose a mask that I thought would work - and it's comfortable. The machine I was prescribed has NO CHANCE to give me good sleep so I am using a borrowed one. I have been doing this for 3 months, have not gotten any good sleep, have ended up with a pinched nerve that has now affected me for 2 months, and have had to change to a which is uncomfortable, has me waking up too early, and is causing a sore, stiff neck again.

Iim doing everything I can to move forward but not going anywhere. It's no good wearing a mask that gives me good sleep from a breathing perspective but cuts down my hours of sleep, is uncomfortable, and is negatively affecting my neck and back.

So fighting? No. Fed up? Irritated? Sleep deprived? Out of patience? Yes. Yes. Yes. A LONG time ago.

ANd to continue my point, it took a few months of sleeping with the CPAP for my sleep duration to return to what I needed. I think it was because I was getting restful sleep finally, but my internal sleep clock was messed up because I was used to getting too little sleep. After a while, 3 months or so, my system decided that it was OK to sleep longer and get more deeply rested. Give it some time, it takes many people months to get deeply rested. You have to decide how long you will stick with the program, If you decide it is not for you that's your choice. But you need to look to this with positive determination and just fix things as they come up as needed adjustments. Currently, you seem more to bitch and moan this is not right and it's not right now. Adjust and be patient.

+1000 .. Max does not realize that it takes TIME,PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE to make this work... impatience is not included in this therapy

[MaxINTJ]

So fighting? No. Fed up? Irritated? Sleep deprived? Out of patience? Yes. Yes. Yes. A LONG time ago.

+1000 .. Max does not realize that it takes TIME,PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE to make this work... impatience is not included in this therapy

Time = 3 months
Patience = zero (LONG gone as I already posted)
Perseverance = ????

How long is one supposed to persevere without forward progress?

With the Amara View, I am now consistently getting smooth breathing all night. No leaks, no flags, and smileys in Sleepy Head. Given that statement, one would think it is forward progress, but it's really one step forward and one step back.

yay, my breathing problem can be fixed - but at what cost?

Stiff, sore neck and back.
Waking up way too early (this after 3 months on xPAP)
Waking up and tearing off the uncomfortable mask without even undoing a strap or fully waking up.

OR, the other one step forward and one step back:

The Dreamwear mask is very comfortable and doesn't leak even at high pressure.
I can wake up with it on, leave it on, and go back to sleep.

yay, supposedly the hardest part about xPAP - getting the right mask - but at what cost?

Being a wind tunnel during the night (20-30% large leak rate), drying out my mouth, and waking up my wife.
Too many disturbances from the leaks, lots of flags.
I can sleep much longer with it on but the sleep is much poorer.

SO, I chose the best mask when I picked up my machine but it doesn't fix my SDB.

A horrible mask fixes my SDB but causes all sorts of other problems.

I really don't know where to go from here. Either choice seems to result in going absolutely nowhere.

There are no other FFM masks I would even try because they are all more intrusive than the View, and I have yet to have any success keeping my damn mouth closed at night, so nasal masks aren't the solution either.

So yeah, call it bitchy, whiny, or grumpy - frustration and sleep deprivation does that to people.

[Cpapian]

There is another stomach sleeper on another board. He made it work.

[MaxINTJ]

There is another stomach sleeper on another board. He made it work.

With a FFM?

Who? Where?

[drfaust]

Time = 3 months
Patience = zero (LONG gone as I already posted)
Perseverance = ????

How long is one supposed to persevere without forward progress?

With the Amara View, I am now consistently getting smooth breathing all night. No leaks, no flags, and smileys in Sleepy Head. Given that statement, one would think it is forward progress, but it's really one step forward and one step back.

yay, my breathing problem can be fixed - but at what cost?

Stiff, sore neck and back.
Waking up way too early (this after 3 months on xPAP)
Waking up and tearing off the uncomfortable mask without even undoing a strap or fully waking up.

OR, the other one step forward and one step back:

The Dreamwear mask is very comfortable and doesn't leak even at high pressure.
I can wake up with it on, leave it on, and go back to sleep.

yay, supposedly the hardest part about xPAP - getting the right mask - but at what cost?

Being a wind tunnel during the night (20-30% large leak rate), drying out my mouth, and waking up my wife.
Too many disturbances from the leaks, lots of flags.
I can sleep much longer with it on but the sleep is much poorer.

SO, I chose the best mask when I picked up my machine but it doesn't fix my SDB.

A horrible mask fixes my SDB but causes all sorts of other problems.

I really don't know where to go from here. Either choice seems to result in going absolutely nowhere.

There are no other FFM masks I would even try because they are all more intrusive than the View, and I have yet to have any success keeping my damn mouth closed at night, so nasal masks aren't the solution either.

So yeah, call it bitchy, whiny, or grumpy - frustration and sleep deprivation does that to people.

Max, don't worry. I hear you. I'm 10 months in and it's just as bad as day 1. My sleep is horrible, I wake up feeling punched in the face, I have constant headaches, and my lack of sleep exacerbates my anxiety and depression.

I'm on my fourth mask. I'm trying the Amara View right now. I started with nasal pillow (P10), but those made my nose bleed (even with lanolin) and my mouth leaked, even with taping and a chin strap. I tried an N20 nasal mask but I couldn't tolerate having my nose covered -- I'd wake up in panic attacks ripping at the mask, even after several weeks (and I literally mean panic attacks -- like, the kind where you think you're going to die and don't know where you are anymore). The Dreamwear was comfortable, but again, mouth leaking even with a chin strap and taping (and the taping could lead to panic attacks too).

Now trying the Amara view for the second night. I'm sitting here with it on my face for "practice" before going to sleep -- I get it adjusted to where it's not leaking, but then after five minutes without moving or changing positions, leaks blowing up into my eyes. Readjust. Five minutes later, leaks and farts blowing out the sides. Adjust again. Five minutes later, leaks in my eyes again.

My sleep is just as bad now as it was prior to CPAP. I have missed exactly two nights of CPAP since I got the machine in January. I'm giving it every opportunity to work and to get used to it. I'm committed to making this work because I know it's important for my health. But it is keeping me absolutely miserable.

I've seen two sleep doctors and they look at my numbers and say "You're cured! I bet you feel great!"

No, I feel awful. Absolutely horrible. Waking up every 20min to fix your mask or close your mouth is just as bad as sleep arousals every 20min due to the RERAs I was having before.

[RiverDave without password]

There is another stomach sleeper on another board. He made it work.

With a FFM?

Who? Where?

I'm a stomach sleeper (I guesstimate 75% of the night) and use a Quattro FFM. Leak rate over the last 6 months is 0 (based on my S9 LCD screen. It's all about how you use your pillow.

It can be done.

RiverDave

[MaxINTJ]

Now trying the Amara view for the second night. I'm sitting here with it on my face for "practice" before going to sleep -- I get it adjusted to where it's not leaking, but then after five minutes without moving or changing positions, leaks blowing up into my eyes. Readjust. Five minutes later, leaks and farts blowing out the sides. Adjust again. Five minutes later, leaks in my eyes again.

After struggling with the View for several nights, I think I have it down pretty well. I can easily go all night with leaks under 1%.

When I first put it on, the air in the eyes is the worst, and yes, I fix that and it starts farting out the sides. Some of the problem for me is I am using and ASV, so if I mess around too long the pressure goes to 25 and makes it REALLY hard to get it fitted so I have to reset the machine.

Lately though, I have most of the straps set correctly so when I put it on, I only have one strap to connect. I don't bother trying to fit it properly until after the machine comes on. Once it does, I have noticed that I can reposition the bottom up higher on my chin - which puts some pressure on the nasal piece. At that point it's mainly leaking out the top and blowing in my eyes.

I have found that by pulling the nasal cushion out and up a bit my nose settles into the pillow with a nice wrap around on all sides. Then it's usually just adjusting a lower side strap to stop the farting.

Once it's adjusted, it doesn't leak all night at the top or the sides. I have tried 2 different sizes. The first size would not maintain a seal all night. The 2nd size I can get adjusted. Both seemed to fit initially...

I would so much prefer the Dreamwear, but I too have been unable to stop the mouth leaks.

[Stardustor]

https://imgur.com/a/oDoFk

Leaking, nasal congestion and dry mouth..... Dream Station CPAP - fixed pressure setting - 10
I'm relatively new to this forum and sleep disturbances. I can say that I have gotten more and better info from this forum than I ever received from drs or dme

I'm beginning to realize that I have been experiencing sleep disturbances & possibly related problems for the last 20 to 25 years of my life. After 20 years of trying to find solutions, e.g., causes of elevated BP, daytime drowsiness and irregular heartbeat, my cardiologist,18 months ago, began to investigate sleep problems. Two sleep studies later and Bingo, a positive Sleep Apnea diagnosis. The sleep DR prescribed a CPAP machine, and after a quick setup, said, "Come back and see me in 6 months." During a recent extra visit, he discouraged trying APAP.

I began to noticed minor health improvements, but sleep difficulties continued to bother me. I began to experiment with info & ideas gleaned from this forum. Slowly, improvements began to come about. I'm now at a point where my AHI diagnosis of 22 is now down under 5 (and getting better). I'm still working thru mask leaks & dry mouth issues.

Thanks to this forum, I'm beginning to get a glimmer of hope & understanding. I also went thru a stretch with nasal congestion. A forum individual recommended that I reduce my humidity setting and lower heated tube temp. That really helped alleviate the nasal congestion...!!

I've just recently switched back to nasal gel pillows & Dreamwear from an Amara View FFM. Numbers dramatically improved..! Further improvement with my addition of mouth taping. I'm having difficulty with failure of the tape seal around 3:30 - 4 a.m. Dry mouth comes back into my nightly picture. Brought on by leakage of Therapy air, out thru my mouth and thru the loosening tape seal. Too much moisture precipitates the tape adhesive failure. From my breath..? from saliva...?

I use two strips of Nexcare paper tape across my mouth. The first across my slightly overlapped lips. The second strip overlapping the first but slightly lower. They both become saturated and loosen, bringing on the leaks, dry mouth & awakening during the wee hours. Any ideas out there....?