Greetings from the UK - and 2 questions please

[Gollom]

Hi all

Only just been diagnosed with over 25 incidents per hour which I believe puts me in the "moderate" category. I am lucky enough to have the NHS so was given an AirSense 10 Autoset & a Quattro Air mask

Tonight will be only my first week living with the mask, so I know it's early days but....

Will I learn to live with the mask? Experience so far has not been great - I am by preference a side sleeper so would welcome any tips that would enable me to get more sleep!!! Last night I found that I could only quieten the mask by tilting my head right back with seemed to help with the seal - but I'm rubbish at sleeping on my back. Most successful on my side was ending up in a position which kinda pressed the mask against my face, helping the seal. Trouble with that is by nature I like to move a lot in my sleep, so woke with a sore neck from being in one position for a long time! As an aside, I am also conscious that my beautiful wife is a very light sleeper who stops being beautiful when over-tired.... Should mention that I have a very, very short beard which is kept that way - I hate shaving and it can affect my skin.

All advice appreciated

Also, am I OK with alchohol free wipes to clean my mask for the daily routine?

Many thanks

[Pugsy]

Welcome to the forum.

There are less obtrusive full face masks available than the Quattro Air...IMHO. Masks that would likely be better suited for your preferred sleeping position.
Take a look at the various options in the full face mask category.
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks/full-face-cpap-mask

How come they gave you a full face mask? Is your nose chronically congested that dictates you just have to mouth breath?
Or do you normally breathe through your nose just fine?

[rick blaine]

Hi Gollom,

An Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) of 25 is indeed 'moderate to severe'. The category 'severe' starts at 30, so you're not far off.

Yes, you will get used to it. One week isn't much with respect to adaptation. Three months is more the norm.

Do make an effort to sleep on your side. For reasons of anatomy, sleeping on your back gives the machine more to do.

If you find the mask-pillow fit awkward, there are special pillows available. Your sleep-medicine department can't and won't provide. Look up EU-Pap/ Intus in Reading on Google. And also the UK-based non-profit Hope2Sleep.

The mask they gave you, you can wash – in lukewarm water and with any dish-washing liquid that doesn't have extra things added to it. Surcare (from Sainsbury's, for example) is what I use.

Modern machines such as the Airsense are much quieter than machines of yesteryear. But they still make a modicum of noise. So ... your wife can wait to see if she 'habituates' to the minimum noise, and learns to tune it out. Otherwise, Boots has earplugs in the 'for travel' section.

PS. I notice the sleep-medicine department did not issue you with a humidifier. Cost-saving. You can and should buy your own. It not only makes for more comfort, but it helps prevent infections from the throat getting dried out.

You can buy the humidifier bit direct from ResMed UK in Abingdon. Their number is: 0800 907 7071.

[Gollom]

Thanks for such a fast response. Will take a look at that link.

She asked if I was a mouth or nose breather and I took what was given! Said was not really sure but I thought nose and that most mornings I awoke with "gunk" (technical term!) on my lips so assumed I used both. I must say though that the mask of course emphasises the way I breathe and it all seems to be nasal. However there is a LOT more "gunk" on my lips, so I must be mouth breathing too? I do not have any nasal congestion at all. If relevant, is probably worth mentioning that my saliva is naturally thicker and more plentiful than most people. Occasionally I seem to be drowning in the stuff!! Doctors don't seem overly concerned about it though.

Help appreciated.

[Gollom]

Thanks for the reply Rick. Will look more into pillows - I did have a brief look but the cost shocked me more than a little! LOL

Reason I asked about wipes is I am off on holiday next week to Tunisia and access to washing liquid, cloths etc. will be difficult. Would alcohol free be OK?

[Pugsy]

The gunk on your lips is nothing more than saliva leaking out....or as I call it, "slobber".
Doesn't mean that you are mouth breathing.

[rick blaine]

Hello again, Gollom,

Re-read what I said above. I noticed that you don't have a humidifier and so added a PS.

EU-Pap/ Intus sell a brand of wipes which are suitable for APAP masks. They're on: 0844 504 9999.

[rick blaine]

Gollom,

Some points you didn't specifically ask about, but which came to my mind when I re-read your post and saw 'Tunisia'.

1. It's a good idea to get and carry with you a letter from your sleep-medicine department which identifies you as a patient, and the machine as valuable, necessary, and delicate medical equipment. It politely settles any argument with check-in staff or gate-attendants.

2. The sleep service department might also provide a document which certifies that the machine is their property, and is on loan you you, and can be identified by its individual serial number.

This is to politely tell any customs officer you might be faced with that paying duty on the machine isn't an issue.

3. If you're flying RyanAir or any of the other current European low-cost carriers, do not 'check in' your APAP machine under any circumstances. Even if you have to pay a surcharge, the APAP machine goes with you in the cabin.

4. It's a good idea to get some large, clear plastic bags - the ones from Lakeland are ideal - and put the machine in one, the mask in another, and the hose in a third.

If you get asked to unpack your carry-on for visual inspection, or for them to x-ray the machine separately, then you have one hygiene problem fewer.

Other than that, have a good hol.

[palerider]

Hi all

Only just been diagnosed with over 25 incidents per hour which I believe puts me in the "moderate" category. I am lucky enough to have the NHS so was given an AirSense 10 Autoset & a Quattro Air mask

Tonight will be only my first week living with the mask, so I know it's early days but....

Will I learn to live with the mask?

You should... we all have. It helps to *want* it, to tell yourself that that mask is giving you life giving air so that you can sleep.

Also, am I OK with alchohol free wipes to clean my mask for the daily routine?

Alcohol doesn't bother the silicone of the mask (or the plastic) in the least, so you don't have to worry about that..

wipes, bit of soap and water, ... you're fine. I use alcohol hand sanitizer and a facial tissue because it cleans the cushion really well.

[Jas_williams]

Thanks for the reply Rick. Will look more into pillows - I did have a brief look but the cost shocked me more than a little! LOL

Reason I asked about wipes is I am off on holiday next week to Tunisia and access to washing liquid, cloths etc. will be difficult. Would alcohol free be OK?

I use fragrance free pampers baby wipes to clean the facial oils off my mask with no issues that will be sufficient for your trip to Tunisia