have tried so many masks

[Julie]

[onward60]

After much internal debate (and a kick by my daughter) I ordered the heated hose. It came yesterday but I haven't opened the package yet. I also made an appointment to go try masks again. They were kind of resistant, but I persevered and got an appointment for a day my daughter can go with me. I have such cog fog that I really need an advocate with me. I felt like the last time she was just rushing through them so fast. That's next week. I'm going to really try to get the heated hose working and practice with it before then. If I don't get this thing started by November first, I'm going to run out of time and have the machine taken away from me. or

[pixelyzed]

Hello Onward,

I have not posted here in ages but I've been on CPAP for nearly 12 years at this point. I'M one of the lucky ones who adapted pretty easily and quickly to it. But masks are the part that is hardest to deal with.

I have tried and used only 2 models of masks in all that time. The first and the one I'm still using (I'M on my third) is the Resmed Activa LT. But I'm looking to change as it's hard to find now and I do not think it would do well for you.

https://www.resmed.com/en-us/healthcare ... activa-lt/

One of those I have tried that was super comfortable was the Philips Dreamwear (https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-dre ... k-fit-pack) and I'm surprised no one has recommended you try it. It has no hard plastic, fits under the nose and is pretty loose. Hose comes out the top so not tugging at the mask at all.

I ended up not using it for two main reasons. One is that, unlike you I'm a side sleeper and I use a special ergonomic pillow that's pretty hard and keeps my head level when on my side and barely has anything but neck support when on my back. Air in the Dreamwear passes through the frame so when on my side, that side was pretty much blocked and unlike what they say, I found it impeded air flow too much and made it too noisy. I,m very sensitive to noise so that was the second reason I didn't continue with it.

But you are pretty much forced to sleep on your back so that would not be an issue for you. Mouth breathing would still need to be addressed though and that is also not a problem I have so cannot advise you there.

A similar one from Resmed is the AirFit 30i (https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... -cpap-mask). It's constructed a bit different but also has the hose on top and would, I'm sure, fit pretty loosely as well avoiding your teeth pain issues like the Dreamwear should.

In terms of pur physical comfort, the Dreamwear was amazing really. I still have it and might try it again when I get my new CPAP (both of mine were part of the recall and I cannot wait to replace them with the new AirSense 10 I ordered last week

Good luck and don't give up just yet. The therapy made a big difference for me as I was starting to have memory loss and other troubles... and I was only in my mid 40s but I have severe apnea. SO this CPAP thing is a life saver for me.

[RogerSC]

Wanted to second the Dreamwear Nasal mask recommendation. It's the only mask that will currently work for me of the many that I've tried since the nose surgery I had a few years ago. I did try the AirFit N30i as well, and even with its new, quieter nasal cradle cushion, it wasn't as good for me as a side sleeper...too much leaking. Being a light sleeper, leaking keeps me awake, so the fact that the leak number on my Dreamwear is under about 5cm every night, often 0, is very helpful to me. The other mask with a nasal cradle-style cushion, the AirFit N30, also didn't work for me as a side sleeper, too much leakage as well.

I'd be happier with the Dreamwear if it had a more diffuse vent, as would my sleep partner, but as long as the jet stream coming out of the vent isn't blowing on my blankets its okay. That was the reason that I went back to the AirFit N30i when they redesigned the nose cushion to have a diffuse vent, but, as I mentioned, too much leakage. One other thing that I like about the Dreamwear is that the tubing comes off the top of your head instead of off your nose, which is better for a heavy mask like the Dreamwear. And plays well with the "hose hanger" that I use to keep the tubing out of my way. Much better to have the tubing coming down out of the sky than laying on my bed, at least that's helpful to me.

Anyways, I'd suggest trying the Dreamwear Nasal mask if you haven't, you might find that it works well for you. The "cradle" style nose cushion is the most comfortable, least leaky that I've found.

[onward60]

Thanks. I'm having trouble processing all this information. Do either of these options put zero pressure on the upper lip area? If so, where is the pressure?

Me, too, pixe. Memory is terrible. I forget what I posted and what people answered. Or I have a vague idea I posted but don't remember where or what I said.

[onward60]

Also, can a facial mask cause tooth pain? It seems like whatever I try it causes tooth pain.

[Julie]

Have your teeth been looked at lately?

[CyberSpiff]

After much internal debate (and a kick by my daughter) I ordered the heated hose. It came yesterday but I haven't opened the package yet.

I suggest washing the hose first before using. Some have complained about an odor if not cleaned first. Just put some warm water in a container with a bit of dish soap, drop in the hose and let it soak for a bit, then take it out and rinse it well, then hang up to dry. If there is some water left in it before using that's okay, just make sure the contacts and ends are dry before plugging into your machine.

[onward60]

Have your teeth been looked at lately?

Yeah, I go twice/year like I should. I know my teeth aren't straight but not so bad that I would go through time/money of orthodontia to fix them. I remember the dentist in the past giving me a referral to an orthodontist when I complained of a rotated tooth hurting. It wasn't bad enough to spend the money so I pitched it out. This time I went in and had him look again and paid for it out of pocket because I and used up my benefits for the year (root canal). I told him about the mask and the dental appliance both giving me tooth pain. He told me to go back to the dentist who made the appliance, which I have done many times. And that doesn't account for the mask. He just shrugged and told me to try salt water rinses. Sigh.

[onward60]

After much internal debate (and a kick by my daughter) I ordered the heated hose. It came yesterday but I haven't opened the package yet.

I suggest washing the hose first before using. Some have complained about an odor if not cleaned first. Just put some warm water in a container with a bit of dish soap, drop in the hose and let it soak for a bit, then take it out and rinse it well, then hang up to dry. If there is some water left in it before using that's okay, just make sure the contacts and ends are dry before plugging into your machine.

It does smell bad. Chemical plastic smell. I'll try washing it.

[onward60]

Update: I went and got another mask fitting at the sleep lab. I got a different respiratory therapist who was older and much, much more patient, like night and day from the previous one. LeeAnne. I'm going to remember her name in case I need to go back. I came home with several new masks that might work for me. One of them was very hard to keep from leaking so I don't know if it will work out. The other 2 were better but needed a chin strap. That wasn't too bad.

I'm starting to wonder if there is something wrong with my machine. The ramp up feature doesn't seem to be doing much. I think it's set for 40 minutes but after 40 minutes it's barely budged.

I have now burned through 2 months of my 3 month trial period without being able to wear it at night. I find just practicing with it during the day extremely stressful. The machine smells like cheap perfume. The masks make my teeth burt. The cold air on my face keeps me from falling asleep.

I'm in the middle of a complicated renovation of my daughter's house so I can move in with them in December. This was all supposed to be done in June. So many stupid mistakes have been made along the way and we just discovered more this week. Sections of finished drywall will have to be cut out and repairs done. Many wrong lighting fixtures need to be replaced. But getting the subcontractors to come back and fix their mistakes s just about impossible. They're all too busy. And my main contractor screwed up an measurement so the flooring is wrong. That's his fault. Naturally the flooring people don't want to make an extra trip to fix what was not their fault. It seems like every day it's something new. And I'm trying to pack up and downsize a lifetime of stuff into a small in-law suite. It's going slowly because I'm getting all nostalgic about everything that I try to get rid of.

I cannot imagine how I am going to get through the next month with the remodel and the move. I cannot imagine adding the stress of the CPAP trial into this. I just want to put the machine away and take it out again after I've moved and settled in. But I will have failed my trial and will lose the machine long before that. I wonder what happens to people who fail their trial. Do they get to start over or are they kicked out for a period of time? I guess I'm going to find out.

[Julie]

About the ramp - if you've set it to take 40 mins to 'ramp up' from a very low (close to default machine low of 4) to (another) still-low min. pressure, you're not being fully treated for all that time. Unless your min. setting is actually much higher now than e.g. 6 or 7, you should set the ramp time (if you really feel you need it at all - most of us don't bother using it) to a much shorter time - e.g. 10 mins if that. Worth a try
at least I would think.

[onward60]

About the ramp - if you've set it to take 40 mins to 'ramp up' from a very low (close to default machine low of 4) to (another) still-low min. pressure, you're not being fully treated for all that time. Unless your min. setting is actually much higher now than e.g. 6 or 7, you should set the ramp time (if you really feel you need it at all - most of us don't bother using it) to a much shorter time - e.g. 10 mins if that. Worth a try
at least I would think.

The DME lady thought it best to start at 4 and ramp up slowly. I encouraged her to make the ramp shorter but I'm not sure she did. I guess I need to figure out how to see what the machine is set at now.

[Julie]

The ramp feature is not about the number it starts at such as the setting for your min. pressure, but rather is just a way for those (usually on high min. settings) to ease into Cpap rather than put on the mask and immediately get hit by a strong gust of air. At anything below e.g. a min. setting of 10 or 15 (very rare), you very likely just don't need the thing. Most of us don't use it at all.

And DMEs rarely know what the heck they're talking about - do not go to them for Cpap advice!

[tlohse]

I don't really know that much about masks as I have only had the Resmed Mirage FX Nasal and Airfit P10. I will be going for a new mask on Tuesday November 2nd Im not sure what kind Ill get next but I do know finding the perfect mask is a trial and error process that can take many turns as long as insurance and the DME and your doctor allows it.