Newbie questions - Leaks, Dry Nose, Noise

[Perpetual]

Hi all and thanks for this forum. I have found a lot of information here already and some ideas that I am going to try but I still have some questions. I have been using the search function...

1) I have a ResMed Mirage Quattro that my supplier (lincare) got me into. First, they sit you down with all of this equipment, then start handing you masks to try. Of course it's impossible to decide which one you like best but once you take it home, it's yours. So, I ended up with the fore mentioned mask. Problem is, I can not get it to stop leaking around the mask without getting it so tight the cushion is basically smashed flat around my mouth. If it's not this tight, I get air coming out all over.

A bit more information, I have a pressure setting of 19 psi....apparently my case was pretty bad so I require this high setting.

Question is, due to my high setting, is leakage just a problem I will face? When I use the mask, it feels like it's going to be blown off my face due to the amount of pressure. Am I just out of luck here?

Which leads to my next question...

2) Due to the problem above, I am using the mask I was given during my sleep study, ComfortSelect Nasal Mask. I do like it and have had great results as fas as sleeping is concerned. However, I wake up at around 4 am everyday because my nose is so stuffed-up/dry that I can hardly breathe. I am using a warm air humidifier (set at 2 which I am going to try turning it up to max tonight).

Should I try a nasal spray to help my nose in the middle of the night? Although I am concerned about using something that may be addictive. The humidifier isn't actually producing "warm" air, should I expect it to?

Finally...

3) Prior to my sleep study my wife and I were in different rooms because I was too loud with my snoring and gasping. Now, although I am silent, the machine is too loud and the sound of the breathing through the mask is too loud. Are there masks that are quieter than others? I think the problem again goes back to the high pressure because when I start the machine and it is on a lower setting as it builds to the 19 psi, it is much quieter. I am guessing again, there is nothing that can be done about this "noise".

Any suggestions would be great,

Thanks!

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): resmed, humidifier, mirage

[Babette]

Use the lab mask - seems to be working for you.

Turn up your humidifier setting. Try testing it on the highest level and then backing it down if you get warm air. I think I'm sensitive to warm air, because I just can't tolerate anything over a 2, but I'm used to the dry mouth and throat from my allergy meds, so THAT doesn't bother me. There are some folks here who SWEAR by the highest humidity settings. I think they are all men.

If you have mouth breathing issues, either get or make yourself a chinstrap. My Topaz is working for me, but you might check out the threads on mouth breathing, tape, leaks, etc. here:

Links to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard viewtopic/t8011/Links-to-Mouth-leaks--A ... Guard.html

Good luck!!!
Barbara

[Perpetual]

Thanks a lot Babette for the response.

I was a mouth breather but learned real fast to keep my mouth shut with the nasal mask. I tried a chin strap at the beginning but stopped using it as I found I did not need it. I guess subconsciously I learned that if I open my mouth 19 psi of air blows out.

The leaks are definitely a sealing issue and not mouth leak.

I will try the higher setting tonight.

Thanks!

[LyleHaze]

Welcome Aboard!

Wow, I'll bet your mask really is being blown off your face!
Most of us measure pressure in Cm/H20. A quick conversion from 19 PSI shows 1336 Cm/H2O. That's REALLY high pressure there!


Regarding feeling dry, turn up your humidifier. I only run mine on 2, but higher settings are available. I have found that I breathe better on CPAP than the rest of the day, probably because the air filter stops pollen.

My wife had been so well adjusted to my snoring that the first two nights on CPAP she'd keep waking me up.."Honey, are you alright??". Simply because if she couldn't hear me, she would assume that I stopped breathing. She's now sleeping much better. The biggest complaint now is the "draft" of exhaust from my Swift. I'll be trying a different mask that vents up instead of out when I can afford to.

All of this can be worked out. I suspect when you get your mask to stop leaking, it'll probably make a lot less noise, and will work better for you as well.

Best advice is to take the time to make it work. Your health is worth "figuring out" how to make CPAP therapy work for you.

I've only been at it four weeks, and I feel better than I have felt in at least ten years, probably more. And it's still getting better.

LyleHaze

[Perpetual]

Thanks for the response LyleHaze.

Maybe I need to check again, the setting is 19 and I either assumed it was psi or I read that. Now I am questioning where I got psi.

As for the noise, it's definitely the sound of the air going through the mask, the hose and the cpap that is bothering her, not the leaks. She is a very light sleeper.

I have been using it for 2 months and otherwise it's been a great thing. I am now loosing weight, which is where my apnea originates as it goes away when I am not overweight. So, I don't regret using the cpap, just wishing I could get beyond these 2 issues. The latter, noise, is the most important. In can live with nose problems.

[momadams]

I love your subject line - it describes all of us the first week!

I've had my humidifier at 5 for the last 6 weeks and it really seems to keep my nose clear. Before you try decongestant sprays, experiment with saline rinses before bed (neti pot or Simply Saline spray) and/or a nasal gel (Simply Saline Gel or Ayr Gel).
My allergy doc said that products like Afrin are ok if you keep it to 3x a week.

Noise? That was one of my initial concerns, but my husband likes the white noise and it drowns out the neighbors' 5am barkers.

And keep asking questions. We love showing off that we've finally figured some of this out!

Shari

[Babette]

Try her on ear plugs. I really like those silicone plugs that you custom shape to your own ear. You don't become DEAF, it just sort of innurs you to the outter world. You hear your own breathing and get focused on that. They are sold in little clear hard plastic cases at drugstores and I think they are primarily used by swimmers. They are my favorite kind - like them better than the open cell foam ones that are are used alot for construction and industrial use.

THEN, if she has wake up, get her a "shaking" alarm clock and put the shaker under her pillow.

Lastly, you might want to start slathering a nasal moisturizer around and slightly inside your nose. I'm using Ayr Saline Gel, I get it from Walgreens. Non-greasy, and helps with dryness. I put it on before bed, and in the morning.

Cheers,
B.

[Perpetual]

Thanks momadams and Babette, thanks again.

Yeah, we tried earplugs before cpap. I actually bought some that were like $30 and meant for sleeping next to jet engines apparently. But....we have 2 young ones in the house and my wife doesn't want to miss any sound they may make. I know, almost sounds like she is being difficult but really, I sound like darth vader breathing in and out! If it were a constant "white noise" that would be bearable.

I will stop tonight and look for the suggested nasal products. Thanks for the suggestions!

[Perpetual]

Major N00b edit:

It's 19 CMh2O.

[Lubman]

Perpetual,

I also have dryness and keep my F&P humidifier at 2.
Depending upon your climate (mine happens to be quite dry before
trying any apnea cures), raising the humidifier level may create rain out in the hose, which means you could wake up with a faceful of moisture.

I always clean and moisten out my nose before bed with a wet Qtip and then apply Ayr gel in each nostril. Ayr is available from most pharmacies without a prescription - although some keep it behind the counter and some have it on the shelf.

Rinse your nasal passages with saline solution as suggested above.
Some people have a skin sensitivity to the solution - I can't use much of it as the end of my nose gets red.

Ocean (brand) spray bottles of saline may also help

Lubman

[Lubman]

There is one obvious question

I have a ResMed Mirage Quattro that my supplier (lincare) got me into. First, they sit you down with all of this equipment, then start handing you masks to try. Of course it's impossible to decide which one you like best but once you take it home, it's yours. So, I ended up with the fore mentioned mask.

Did your DME actually fit the mask per ResMed instructions or just give you one to try on? If they didn't determine if you require a regular or a shallow
and properly fit S M or L, then it could be leaking because it doesn't fit you face.

Quattro is a very new mask. See other posts about it within the month of May.

Lubman

[Perpetual]

Lubman, I picked-up both products Ayr saline spray and gel moisturizer, going to try them both tonight. I live in the midwest and although it is very humid outside, our house is rather dry due to A/C and good insulation.

Basically, my DME handed me 3 masks, connected them to my machine and turned it on and said "how does it feel". I kept commenting about the leaks and she said that some leakage is acceptable. Honestly, I wasn't impressed with the "fitting".

I have read here about rainout and will be prepared for it. I keep my machine on the floor so I am hoping it's not an issue but we'll see.

Hoping for a better night. Now if I can quiet this thing, I may be 100% happy.

Thanks for the response!

[momadams]

Earplug Idea.

I play piccolo, so have invested in a pair of Westone musician's earplugs supplied by the audiologist at my ENT.
They are available with assorted filters depending on what decibel level you want to block out.

I use them in movie theaters (now that I can sit through a movie without falling asleep) to bring the volume down to "non-damaging".

Something like that might lower the volume at night without completely blocking out "kids needing mom" sounds.

Shari

[Perpetual]

Earplug Idea.

I play piccolo, so have invested in a pair of Westone musician's earplugs supplied by the audiologist at my ENT.
They are available with assorted filters depending on what decibel level you want to block out.

I use them in movie theaters (now that I can sit through a movie without falling asleep) to bring the volume down to "non-damaging".

Something like that might lower the volume at night without completely blocking out "kids needing mom" sounds.

Shari

Thanks for the tip. We just did a dry run with the cpap machine hidden and a sound machine on "white noise". Was much quieter so maybe we are getting close to a solution. Yay!

[WearyOne]

If the machine noise bothers youor your wife, one solution I have seen work for many is a styrofoam cooler turned upside down over the machine, leaving holes for the air vent and hose, obviously. It's cheap to try and may help!

Pam