New machine and mask

[LordGrumpy]

I have been using my new machine and mask now for just about a week. I have yet to go more then a few hours without the urge to rip the thing off. All is fine when I go to bed but within an hour or two I am either waking up due to leaking noise or air blowing out the side of my mask. Or the mask is too tight and I have physical pain under my nose. Or such dry mouth that i have to take off the mask to take a drink. I have a resmed aircurve 10, with built in humidifier. I had been upping the humidity from the default setting to about 7 last night. I just got the heated hose this morning in the mail so I have not had a chance to try out the auto humidity setting. I am using a dreamwear full face mask. One night I woke up like 5 times with my mask off (not remembering actually taking it off). The machine isn't reporting leaks but the noise and air blow on my face is saying I have them, and I have to remove the mask shut the machine off and reseat the mask to reestablish fit. It is very frustrating. I have not actually pulled the chip out to run the data through oscar but I do have oscar installed and ready. ANy advise or suggestions would be helpful.

[Sheriff Buford]

You need to get used to wearing the mask all night. When first starting cpap therapy, this is probably the most common frustrating thing to do. Are you unknowingly "ripping the mask off in your sleep" or are you sayin "screw it.... I 'm not wearing this no more." Wear the mask at night when doing something.... watching TV, reading, etc.. Know that you will get used to the mask.

Sheriff

[esel]

I have been using my new machine and mask now for just about a week.

Dear Lord,

The starting of this journey sure is hell for most of the ones here. You will need patience and try out things. You will get advises for masks, for settings, for getting other checkup's. Sleep disruption can have many reasons.

For masks they are often put on to tight. They should float, the seal is formed when the pressure builds up.

For progress you may need to look over month. Fine tuning can last much longer.

Put out some oscar they are helpful for advises.

[LordGrumpy]

I am thinking that my mask is leaking around the chin mostly. I am on a full face mask and it is happening about 2 hours into therapy. The leak is enough to wake me and I believe it is a combination of my jaw relaxing and the pressure increasing. I am on bipap as my pressure is very high. Typical response is to remove the mask, take a drink of water to quench the dry mouth and reset the mask for another 2 hours. the second round usually finds me falling asleep before I can reset the mask. I had trouble with mouth leaks when I was on the nasal only mask many years ago but even with that history I am thinking about trying a nasal or nasal pillow mask.

[Zenthar]

When I started CPAP therapy over 5 years ago, it probably took me 3 months to get used to it; finding the right mask and how to adjust it properly for you is key. Maybe the dreamwear just isn't for you, have you tried others?

[clownbell]

Hello Lord - I am also a fairly new user - 60 days in. May I share two things I've learned:

• Masks are highly variable depending on the user. Most folks try several to see what works for them. I have used the DreamWear FFM and find the cushion too flat and rigid to fit the contour of my particular face, and so it leaks easily. I tried the ResMed F30 FFM which I believe offers a different profile and (for me) is more comfortable and produces a better seal. Your mileage may vary.

• Conventional wisdom seems to be that more humidity and/or FFM is required for dry mouth but there are some experts who believe otherwise. I had serious dry mouth, and could not clear it up with increasing humidity and/or FFM. So I tried xylimelts lozenges, available on Amazon, which stimulates the production of saliva to cure dry mouth. It worked for me. YMMV. I understand this product also comes in a gel form. called xyligel I believe, but have not tried it.

Time, patience and perseverance will accomplish all things. Hang in there.