I'm new and need help...

[corymomma]

Well, the intro says the most of it...

I'm new to the CPAP machine and all this. I had my first of the two sleep studies done in the beginning of June, and just received my machine and all. If I'm reading the name of the booklet right I have a ResMed HumidAire3i (with heater), working with the ResMed S8 Escape System...I'm assuming there are different versions of the ResMed products, this is what the sleep lab, my doctor, and the insurance suggested and would pay for...I am using the nasal cover (I know it's not the pillows or full face).

Ok that's the basics I guess everyone needs to know...now for the issues...

The first night I think I may have adjusted the mask too tight, so I loosened the straps since then. But, I'm still having the same issue. The space under my nose and above my upper lip is sore as the dickens...at first I felt like I had my upper lip waxed when the lady was upset, but now it's feeling like it's trying to blister, and dang if it isn't sore...it was sore enough that I woke up 3 or 4 times in the night to readjust the mask to try and get more comfortable (not that 3 or 4 is bad, b/c in the past it was 3-4 times/hour). So do I have the wrong mask? I like this one b/c I am a side sleeper and doesn't come off. But I am willing to change if I can but not to the full facial, I had that one at the lab and am way too claustraphobic for it...

My other issue is only slightly minor but is irritating...I wake up with my eyes all gooey and crusty, my sinuses are runny and just ugh, and today my ears are feeling clogged, what have I done wrong?

Now I'm not trying to be whiny...this has been the best sleep I've had in I think forever, but my nose is killing me!

Thanks for the help ahead of time, Corymomma

[RichCMH]

It would help us a bit if you could post what your mask is, there has to be a name on the mask or on the straps.

Sinus problems, turn up the humidifier a bit, the moister the air, the less mucus your sinuses try and produce. You may want to buy a hose cover to keep the air warm as it travels thru the hose to the nose.

[Catnapper]

Being a newbie is so hard because there is so much to learn to do and it all happens when you are sleepy and overwhelmed.

One thing I can recommend for you to do is to read the articles that you will find under the icon of the yellow light bulb called Our Collective Wisdom. Reading lots there will get you started with ideas that have been tried and found to work for so many of us.

I can tell you for sure that most of us felt lost and confused with the CPAP therapy at first. That brought us here to get help. You are in the best place to get help. Once you have read the collected wisdom articles you will be set to ask more questions either in a thread or in the chat room. You will get answers. It will be up to you to make it work with the help people offer. It does get better, I promise.

Good luck and welcome to our group.

[corymomma]

The type of mask I have is a Resmed Ultra Mirage Nasal Mask with headgear...I think that is the whole name...does that help?

And thanks for the advise I've read through most of the "Our collective Wisdom" I felt that I might be able to find my answers there before I started asking...I belong to another site and find that sometimes people won't look at the obvious places for answers, so I did try...thank you, and I will admit I learned a bit from there

I've "played" with the humidity amount on the machine, going anywhere from nothing to high, nothing or one notch up being the best so far...otherwise I wake up with the mask dripping back onto me, that really wakes me up fast *lol*. (That and it is already miserably humid here...anyone want some rain?) I also learned really fast to tuck the hose under the blankets at night...it was the only way to keep the cats from playing attack and kill "the snake", so I'm figuring/hoping that also helps to keep the air a bit warmer...ok I think that answers the questions for the moment...thanks again

[cflame1]

What you had with the dripping... is called rainout.

By any chance... is your machine either at the same level as your bed or higher?

[Slinky]

The type of mask I have is a Resmed Ultra Mirage Nasal Mask with headgear... ... The space under my nose and above my upper lip is sore as the dickens... ... ...I wake up with my eyes all gooey and crusty ...

... I also learned really fast to tuck the hose under the blankets at night...it was the only way to keep the cats from playing attack and kill "the snake ...

Okay, I haven't used the Ultra Mirage or Ultra Mirage II nasal masks but can give you some tips on nasal masks in general. #1 is tightening the straps too tight discourages a full cushion of air. I always pull my nasal mask a skosh away from my face after turning my CPAP on to let my cushion fill optimally w/air and then let it lay back down on my face. Lay down on your back, turn your CPAP on and just lay your mask on your face, THEN adjust the headgear straps for fit.

The most likely cause of the sore upper lip/bottom of nose area is in all likelihood the result of the edge or lip of the outer cushion "cover". After donning your mask, with your CPAP turned on to fill the cushion w/air, run your fingertip along the line between your lip and the cushion cover. That should turn the cushion cover edge under so it isn't cutting into your skin in that area or scratching it. Sometimes just twitching your nose a few times or even screwing your mouth up a bit and side to side can help to reposition that cushion cover edge.

The eyes crusty and gooey are a much more serious problem! You have a minor leak around the eyes. Here again running your fingertip along the line of cushion cover meeting the skin can turn the cushion cover edges under to form a better seal (and not scratch the bridge of the nose). Setting the mask a skosh lower on your nose and then w/your CPAP on to fill that cushion w/air and keep it filled w/air, slide the mask back up your nose a skosh. That turns the cushion cover lips under so they are not scratching your nose skin and forms a better seal.

You can also try the adjustment between the forehead and the bridge of the nose. That may help w/the minor leak at the eyes.

The other thought is that this mask is just plain too long for your face and the next smaller size might be a better fit.

The other possible cause of the soreness on the upper lip/under the nose is the "rain out" that you encountered and then the air blowing on the moisture chapping the skin.

Placing your CPAP on a nightstand lower than your head on the mattress or pillow does a lot to eliminate "rain out" as does taking your hose under the covers. (You came up on that "cure" on your own. Thank your cat(s) for that). You will find you will have to adjust your humidifier settings up and down and off according to the weather and humidity in your area. When it was really cold this winter my Humidaire 3i couldn't keep up and I had to use the Fisher & Paykel HC 150 stand alone heated humidifier to get enough humidity and comfort. Lately its been so hot and humid I'm running the Humidaire 3i on 1 or turned off completely.

I've found the Simplicity nasal cushion mask excellent for sleeping on my sides or back. You have the option of running the hose above your head or not. There's not that much to the mask so less mask for your pillow to interfere w/the seal. The center strap provides a natural, flexible angle between forehead and bridge of nose. The swivel moves VERY FREELY. The center headstrap is too long for most women and needs to be "fixed" I folded under about an inch of it and held the fold w/velcro until I was sure I had it the right length. When I had it the length I wanted I cut about an inch out of it above the slots for the top straps and velcroed the cut ends back together.

[ozij]

On my first night with a nasal mask I felt like it was burning my face - and then I read a recomendation by Respironics rep. that people with sensitive skin should soak new masks for 30-60 mins in warm soapy water. I did it, and that helped the burning.

I also read, recently, that F&P say not to soak their 432 for more than 10 min.... I think that mask has something foamlike in it.

It may take time for you to find the mask that will fit you and let you sleep comfortably. Don't give up - I tried something like three nasal masks and one nasal pillows mask, and only the second nasal pillow mask fit me and let me sleep.

O.