Rookie CPAP User

[Sheriff Buford]

Because of the nose stuffiness issues, you don't want a nasal mask or a pillow mask. Go to cpap.com and look at the Resmed F12. Not the Airtouch…. just the regular F12. Turn the ramp off.... if you haven't already.

Sheriff

[ParsonBrown]

Information sent.

I really appreciate this and just the information/support overall on this site.

What is your lower pressure it may be too low making you feel unable to breath. Your minimum should be set to at least 6

Out of the box it was 4. I bumped it to 7. Can't tell much of a difference, but I'm trying to be patient to give things a fair shot.

[ParsonBrown]

I have chronic year-round nasal congestion, vasomotor rhinitis, along with year-round allergies. Check out my mask (click on it in my signature), the first of the hybrid-style full-face masks. I use Ocean saline in the can because the squeeze bottle doesn't provide enough pressure to wash nose & sinuses. I also use Xlear spray because it contains Xylitol that starves any pathogens hiding out in the nose. Both several hrs before maskup so nose fully drains. Grossan Nasal Irrigator also works to reduce congestion (I like his packets of saline best as it contains Xylitol). As a last resort, I use NasaCort, a nasal steroid.

I took a look at the mask in your sig. It is similar in style to the one I have. It is literally rubbing my upper lip and nose raw. I have been up for 4hrs and that area is still sore to the touch.

[ParsonBrown]

Because of the nose stuffiness issues, you don't want a nasal mask or a pillow mask. Go to cpap.com and look at the Resmed F12. Not the Airtouch…. just the regular F12. Turn the ramp off.... if you haven't already.

Sheriff

This is interesting. I want to try to the nasal or pillow mask. Anything that covers or limits my mouth/jaw during the night puts me into tail spin. Last night was maybe my best night yet, but I did not sleep much from 1 to 5 (my normal wake up time) because the panic and pain of the mask set in. But I kept it on and pushed through. Breathing through my mouth is very uncomfortable.

I am hoping the ENT helps me get things straightened out starting Monday.

The more I read and the more videos I watch...It seems like the mask is the weak point in this whole operation. It also seems like the vast majority have to settle on the lesser of the evils. The company I got my device from has 5 or 6 total options to choose from mask wise, and it appears they only have 2 or 3 available at any one time to try. I had the choice of 2. When I asked about the possibility of other options (at that time having no idea what existed)...it was explained these are your only choices...the therapist went on to explain how none of them worked for her husband either. It really sets you up for failure out of the gate.

Me being stubborn will fight through face sores, but I don't have much sense. I went almost 10 years with a bleeding cyst that I thought was normal before I said anything about it.

I see one of the prevailing winds on here, and I agree with it, you got to get over it and take care of yourself...so I'm not complaining too much. This world of CPAP is a strange one. The people I have dealt with so far are nice, but are like one level below TSA agents at the airport LOL!

[Pugsy]

No mask should cause pain, blisters, sores or skin abrasions of any kind.
If it does it's either the wrong size, fitted improperly or simply not a good fit for a person's face.

If you can breathe through your nose at all during the day there is a chance that you can use a nasal interface mask.
It all depends on what is causing the congestion and can you get it cleared up enough to move enough air through just your nose to be comfortable.

Read this
viewtopic/p663440/Mouth-Breathers.html#p663440
I had to about twist this guy's arm off to at least try a nasal mask.

Your equipment supplier isn't helping you...obviously. They are restricting your choices severely and the once a week time frame that they come to your area isn't helping either. I take it your choices are limited for equipment suppliers in your area?????

[ParsonBrown]

No mask should cause pain, blisters, sores or skin abrasions of any kind.
If it does it's either the wrong size, fitted improperly or simply not a good fit for a person's face.

If you can breathe through your nose at all during the day there is a chance that you can use a nasal interface mask.
It all depends on what is causing the congestion and can you get it cleared up enough to move enough air through just your nose to be comfortable.

Read this
viewtopic/p663440/Mouth-Breathers.html#p663440
I had to about twist this guy's arm off to at least try a nasal mask.

Your equipment supplier isn't helping you...obviously. They are restricting your choices severely and the once a week time frame that they come to your area isn't helping either. I take it your choices are limited for equipment suppliers in your area?????

Very limited in my area. I have to travel at least 30 miles to any of the suppliers and they are coming in only a limited number of times. I have spoken with my doctor and they are very aware (I'm not the first) of these issues. It just takes time.

I can breathe quite well through my nose throughout the day, albeit with some continuous level of stuffiness. This morning is pretty decent in my books. I would say I'm 40% stuffy (that's a good day for me and fairly normal).

Last night I breathed through my nose most of the night. There is noting natural about mouth breathing LOL! I had one of those custom mouthpieces made by my dentist which forced my mouth open. Almost choked to death the first night.

[Pugsy]

I simply can't knowingly mouth breath. I just have to breath through my nose especially at night or I just can't sleep.

What have you done to try to alleviate the stuffiness when you do have it?
Seen ENT to rule out physical causes like polyps or deviated septum?
Tried various meds to decrease the congestion??
Done any nasal rinses that seem to help a lot of people.

The mask should be there Sat. That's the ETA anyway. you might get lucky and have it show up tomorrow.

Don't make a blister or an open sore with the Amara...it 's not worth it and will make it harder to get the new mask comfortable.

[ParsonBrown]

I simply can't knowingly mouth breath. I just have to breath through my nose especially at night or I just can't sleep.

What have you done to try to alleviate the stuffiness when you do have it?
Seen ENT to rule out physical causes like polyps or deviated septum?
Tried various meds to decrease the congestion??
Done any nasal rinses that seem to help a lot of people.

The mask should be there Sat. That's the ETA anyway. you might get lucky and have it show up tomorrow.

Don't make a blister or an open sore with the Amara...it 's not worth it and will make it harder to get the new mask comfortable.

Thanks.

I do daily nasal rinses, daily zyrtec, tried most all of the nasal sprays, many of the basic OTC meds out there I have tried over the years. Monday will be my first time seeing an ENT for this.

Anything that goes up the nose causes instant/temporary stuffiness. I tried this Xlear for the first time the other day and it does just like the rest, but does eventually provide some better relief than most others I have tried. I'm really excited about seeing the ENT to say the least...

[katebrownell86]

I have started using CPAP mask for a month. Will CPAP mask cure the snoring problem permanently?

[Pugsy]

I have started using CPAP mask for a month. Will CPAP mask cure the snoring problem permanently?

CPAP only works while you use it.
It's a therapy that works while you use it but as soon as you stop using it things go back to like they were before.
It doesn't cure anything as in make it go away forever so that you don't have to use cpap.

Think of prescription eyeglasses....they fix the problem while you wear them but as soon as you take them off the problem returns.

[Sheriff Buford]

I have read this thread thru and I don't see what I'm about to say. Sorry if it's in it or you already know it. If you use a nasal mask or pillows, you can't breath thru your mouth at night. You'll lose therapy (the cpap air will escape thru your mouth and not go into your body). If your sinuses become blocked at night, then probably a full face mask is for you. I would kill to use the pillows, but that ain't gonna happen. Due to my sinuses, I'm a mouth breather. Plus the pillows are less intrusive.

Sheriff

[Pugsy]

I have read this thread thru and I don't see what I'm about to say. Sorry if it's in it or you already know it. If you use a nasal mask or pillows, you can't breath thru your mouth at night. You'll lose therapy (the cpap air will escape thru your mouth and not go into your body). If your sinuses become blocked at night, then probably a full face mask is for you. I would kill to use the pillows, but that ain't gonna happen. Due to my sinuses, I'm a mouth breather. Plus the pillows are less intrusive.

Sheriff

OP has a sometimes bad time with his nasal congestion and not an all the time bad time. He can breathe through his nose sometimes.
It's not like his nose is totally useless.
His DME started him out with no humidity at all. His congestion got worse at night ...duh. He added humidity and it helped the congestion.
He is getting no sleep with the current full face mask and feels worse than without cpap.
It is tearing up the skin on his face.
His DME only comes to his area of the country once a week and they are extremely limited on mask choices and that time has come and gone this week.

What would you have him do? He might be able to use a nasal mask....he might not due to massive mouth breathing but we won't know until we try and right now that is really is only option. I didn't have a full face mask to give him.

Even if a person does do some mouth breathing it doesn't always mean that 100 % of the therapy gets lost out the mouth.
It all depends on just how much mouth breathing is done.

My goal is to at least let him try a nasal mask and now that he found out that he does need humidity and it does help the congestion...get him at least some therapy time on the mask. He's getting no sleep with the current full face mask and that's not acceptable either. At least get him some therapy and some sleep while awaiting the next time the DME comes to his town so he can maybe get a different mask.

And not all mouth breathing equals massive loss of therapy pressure anyway.....and I have the leak reports to prove it.

How about we let him at least try something he wants to try before we start killing the idea?
So he can get maybe some therapy and some sleep without his face turning to hamburger from the wrong mask.

[ParsonBrown]

Thanks for all of the responses. I am learning a lot via the site and my own personal experience.

Just so it is clear to those replying and helping, here is quick summary.

1. I live with some level of stuffiness/congestion
2. I cannot breathe through my mouth. Yes, of course I do at times, but it is extremely uncomfortable. If I'm breathing through my mouth I am having a problem.
3. FF mask has officially given me a blister on my nose and upper lip as of this morning. I am done with this mask. It cannot be said that I didn't try. Thankfully it is not too bad, but for today you can call me Rudolph.
4. In spite of number 3, I slept through the night last night and feel the best I have so far. I experienced a bunch of leaks through the night and registered a bunch of hypopnea events along with a few obstructive apnea. AHI = 10.1 for what it's worth at this time.

I am waiting a bit longer before I submit data here to the group. I just know at this time I need to fix the obvious issues.

Small Rant: I just got off of the phone with the ENT confirming my appointment for Monday. There is no one in this area that helps patients/customers with CPAP equipment set up outside of the occasional drive thru people dumping equipment into customers laps. I am Pastor and a Mechanical Engineer...I have plenty of faith and mechanical aptitude to figure things out in life LOL...this whole industry appears to be lacking as a whole. Maybe it's just this area, but I don't live that far from Savannah, GA so I find it surprising there is not more support.

[Sheriff Buford]

Ok, stick with Pugsy… she will help you..... she has help many people here and I am one of them, which I am grateful for. Just put this in the back of your mind when you say you are done with a full face mask. The Amara view mask is not like your standard full face mask. A full face mask is a mask that covers both nose and mouth. The Amara view does that in a unique way and is a popular mask. But if you look at it, it is not like your standard full face. I'm just saying, if you every decide to give the full face mask a try, keep that in mind. Good luck!

Sheriff

[babydinosnoreless]

If any of these will help. I would be glad to send them to you.

Copied from another post:

I have a small eason nasal mask, a f&p brevida nasal pillow mask, with both xs/sm and m/l cushions one of the m/l cushions is still sealed, a mirage activa standard with 2 sealed cushions.

I also have a medium wide and large cushion for the dreamwear nasal. If anyone can use any of these items I would be happy to pay it forward and send them out. Just send me a pm.

Please note :These are in a smoking household (tho I don't smoke) they may have picked up the scent in the air. I know some are super sensitive to smoke smell so I mention it.