STILL SNORING WITH FULL FACE MASK...CONSIDERING SURGERY.HELP

[vdol52]

I'VE HAD SLEEP APNEA A LONG TIME AND HAVE BEEN THROUGH A NUMBER OF MASKS. I AM USING A REMSTAR AUTO WITH C-FLEX AND HAVE A ULTRA MIRAGE FULL FACE MASK. MY HUSBAND FINALLY GOT THE MASK TO STOP WHISTLING BY PUTTING A TINY BIT OF VASELINE AROUND THE ROTATING JOINT. I ALWAYS START OFF SLEEPING ON MY SIDE BUT END UP ON MY BACK IN THE EARLY MORNING. I HAVE I AM IN REM STAGE (DREAMING) AND I WAKE MYSELF UP WITH A SNORE EVEN WITH THE MASK ON. DO I NEED A CHIN STRAP AND DO THEY WORK WITH FULL FACE MASKS? I WAKE UP VERY TIRES AND SLEEP DEPRIVED AND I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS HAPPENING MORE THAN ONCE A NIGHT.
WHERE DO I GET A CARD READER FOR MY MACHINE. HOW DO I USE THE SOFTWARE OR AM I BETTER OFF JUST GOING TO THE MAYO CLINIC OR TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT THIS. I AM NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT ABAILABLE IN ORLANDO. IT TOOK 3 SLEEP STUDIES BEFORE THEY CONFIRMED SLEEP APNEA AND I WAS STOPPING BREATHING FOR MORE THAN 30 SECONDS AT A TIME. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE I CAN GET STATE OF THE ART MEDICAL CARE. I HAVE GOOD INSURANCE AND DON'T MIND FLYING. I AM ALSO CONSIDERING SURGERY AND AM LOOKING INTO SOMNOPLASTY, AND OR UVULAPLASTY, TURBINOPLASTY, TONSILECTOMY, AND ADENOIDECTOMY. I WILL GET SEVERAL OPINIONS BEFORE I DO ANY OF THESE. ANYONE HAD ANY OF THESE SURGERIES? IS THESE HELP FOR US? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE PHARNYX CAN BE MALCONFIGURED AND THAT CAN CAUSE THE BREATHING PROBLEMS. ANYONE???

[snufflepgs]

Do you only start snoring when you're lying on your back? If so, one less than state-of-the-art fix I've heard is to strap a piece of foam rubber on your back, shark-fin style, that discourages you from rolling onto your back and getting comfortable there.

As for surgeries, I'm clueless. I do know a friend who had a bad surgical experience here in Texas (completely unrelated to sleep apnea), and finally did go to the Mayo to get the mess cleaned up. She had a really good experience there. Good luck.

[Julie]

Hi, the surgeries almost invariably end up with your reverting to apnea after some time (6 mos, a year, etc.) so don't seem to be the best idea, however you may be jumping the gun a bit. See an ENT MD to check for sinus problems, and something like a turbinectomy might be in order. Apneas will increase on your back, so that could have had some bearing on your original reading if you were on your back then and may not be as indicative of things as you think. Raising the head of the bed, however, is helpful. Your present problem may simply be that your mask doesn't fit properly and a trial of another kind (such as the new Fisher Paykel 432 (not 431)) that I'm now using and love could be helpful too. Using a chin strap with a FF mask is kind of pointless and is generally less effective in any case. BTW, it may be necessary for you to write in caps for vision problems, and if so, ignore this, but are you aware that it is considered yelling on the computer to do it?

[kteague]

vdol52 - A little more info would be helpful. You said you've had sleep apnea for a long time. How long have you been on cpap and trying different masks? There are some starting points to begin to rule out possible cause(s) for you still snoring and having episodes, like:

Is your autopap set to work in auto mode?
Does your pressure range need adjusted?
Are there any other settings that could affect its performance?
Are mask leaks affecting therapy?

Ideally, whoever set you up with the equipment would find answers to your issues, but if they are not willing or capable, you are wise to search elsewhere. It may be a bit premature to begin traveling. See what kind of thoughts some of the technically experienced users come up with here first. Whether to get software or travel to a renowned facility for a better look at your case depends on your inclinations. Monitoring your own care can assess problems with more immediacy and may or may not lead you to follow up with a professional. Certainly is cheaper than flying for appointments and less painful than surgery that may or may not be effective.

You clearly have expressed a willingness to do whatever it takes. With that determination, solutions should be soon forthcoming. In the meantime, if you can provide more details here it would be helpful.
Best wishes.

Kathy

[Guest]

What did your sleep studies show for a titrated pressure?

WHat rangs is your machine set up to?

Is it the tank model or M (if m what is the ramp set at and for how long).

Card reader and software are available from our host, CPAP.com for less than $200 for the package. If you are willing to fly around, I assume you can afford these.

Let us know more please.

[Vader]

I use the Ultra Mirage FF and started snoring a little bit myself.
It would only happen if I lay on my back.
Unfortunately, I've had a bit of arthritis in my neck, so I'm forced to sleep on my back a little more than I'd like.
My sleep doc suggested my pressure being raised from 7cm to 10 cm.
I brought it down a bit- to 8cm, and I haven't snored since. If I have further trouble, my next step is to get an auto titrating machine.

So you may want to talk to your doc about your situation.

[Goofproof]

You already have 2/3 of what you need. Get the software and reader, set it up, and see what's going on. Snoring isn't the end of the world, not getting the treatment to work for you is.

Fill out your profile, Settings and other info, that helps us make suggestions to help you. Don't give up, it works. Jim

[Snoredog]

Geeze KILL the caps!! it is harder to read and considered shouting and rude.

Go see a good ENT. The surgeries you mentioned normally don't work because most of OSA is caused by the tongue falling into the back of the throat. When you remove those items via surgery you just make a bigger hole for it to land into.

Surgery may be able to reduce snoring or if you are using cpap reduce the pressure needed if that is high.