Ugh, ready to quit after four nights -mask issue

Idget · Post by **Idget** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:10 am

I'm on my fourth night second night with Resmed Liberty hybrid full mask with nose pillows. Its comfortable (to the extent that is possible), more so than the Resmed Quattro that I switched from. And I actually fall asleep until my wife wakes me up because my nose is making a loud whistling noise. Are the:

1. Pillows too large or small size: I am using medium.
2. The air pressure too much for air pillows I am set at 15.

What may be the cause? I really think I may like this mask, but as the machine ramped up to 15, it seemed the nose pillows were making more and more noise.

If any one has suggestions I would appreciate, I don't really want to go back to the Quattro due to more claustraphobia feeling and face marks, although I ordered the pada cheeks for both masks. I felt like I was making some progress and I am ready to give up after four nights.

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:04 am

Hi, Idget, and welcome to the forum!

I suggest reading two recent threads posted by other newbies.
viewtopic/t25335/CPAP-Should-I-turn-it- ... -vase.html
viewtopic.php?p=218925&highlight=#218925

LOTS of good ideas, help, and advice on this forum. Don't quit - that won't get you anywhere except more and more sick. You might need a different machine, you might need a different mask, etc.

Good luck,
Cathy

nosbig17 · Post by **nosbig17** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:44 am

A comfortable interface (mask-pillows) is probably the most crucial piece of equipment you need for successful treatment. Many of us are on a quest to find the perfict interface, after many years of searching I have NOT found it.
My experiance has been that it takes about two weeks to get a new mask set up, when modifications are made it takes ever longer.

mch441 · Post by **mch441** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:59 pm

ive had the same problem with my liberty last night ,about 3:00 in the morning i wake up with the nose pillow hissing away and i had a hard time getting it to seal again ,tonight im going to try turning the humidifier down to 4 and also try some ayr gel to see if that helps keep it sealed

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:19 pm

My suggestion... your pillows are too small.

SleeplessInOhio · Post by **SleeplessInOhio** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 11:50 pm

....once or twice a night to adjust the nasal pillows beats the heck out of waking up 40 times an hour with sleep apnea!

Nightwatcher · Post by **Nightwatcher** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:28 am

I felt the same way - and woke up angry every morning.

Because of a recommendation on a forum I bought a 25 dollar feather/down pillow at Target. Now I can sleep on my side and the mask just sinks in - most pillows are hard enough to push the mask out of place. I've now had 4 good nights of sleep. Last night I slept 8 hours - something I have not done in years. I did not even get up for the bathroom! I usually do that 2-3 times.

So, hang in there, keep asking questions and looking for practical solutions.

PS: two weeks ago I would not have dreamed I would be posting this. All it took was a simple feather/down pillow. Maybe it's not the answer for you - but something else might be. keep trying. Lots of folks are pulling for you. It's hard starting on cpap and people here understand what you are going through.

Idget · Post by **Idget** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:27 am

Thanks all for advice, I bought the pillow, I have padacheeks, only have to get the Ayr's cream. This site has been great for advice, every suggestion has usually helped me. I took the night off to catch up on some sleep. My wife didn't get a good night sleep, I was snoring again, and she stayed up to poke me when I stopped breathing. Reminded why I am going through all this. Will try again tonight.

OutaSync · Post by **OutaSync** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:05 am

I tried for 6 weeks to make the Hybrid work for me. It would not not work at high pressures on my face. It would start whistling aroun 11 or 12 pressure. Look carefully at how the cushion fits in to the hard plastic shell. If it doesn't go all the way in and touch the edge, it may be defective. When I finally figured out where the leak was comeing from, I took it back to the DME. When the rep came in he agreed that it was defective and replaced it with a new one. I won't go back to the Hybrid. The intentional leak rate is too high already. I'm now using a Activa and I have ordered a ComfortLite 2. For the first time in 2 months my AHIs have been below 5. Thanks to Snoredog and Wulfman who pointed out that it wasn't me, it was the mask!

longtimer · Post by **longtimer** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:56 am

I've used a Breeze nasal system for the last few years. At a 14 setting I seldom (almost never) get a bad seal / mask shift. I am also an 80%+ side sleeper and I don't have any issues with my pillow shifting the nasal unit off of my face...for what that's worth.

The first few nights/weeks are always a struggle but after 10+ years on CPAP please let me tell you with some authority, It is well worth it. You may have to try several mask / nasal devices until you find the right one to fit your face and sleeping style, just don't give up. While I don't know you and I'm not a resp therapist, I am reasonably certain that at a setting level of 15 you absolutely need this program to work for you. You will feel so much better after a week of good sleep!

----------
Air is no big deal...'til you're not getting any.

skits · Post by **skits** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 12:17 pm

Nightwatcher, thanks for the idea. I do sleep with a feather pillow, but I bet a new one would make a big difference. (And a relatively inexpensive fix.)

I had issues with the nasal pillows (felt like my nose was expanding) so I switched to a FF. Don't like that either. I think I'm going to try just a nose one. I think I'm over the panic of having my mouth fill with air.

Hang in there. I'm in week four and still struggling.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:30 pm

OutaSync wrote:I tried for 6 weeks to make the Hybrid work for me. It would not not work at high pressures on my face. It would start whistling aroun 11 or 12 pressure. Look carefully at how the cushion fits in to the hard plastic shell. If it doesn't go all the way in and touch the edge, it may be defective. When I finally figured out where the leak was comeing from, I took it back to the DME. When the rep came in he agreed that it was defective and replaced it with a new one. I won't go back to the Hybrid. The intentional leak rate is too high already. I'm now using a Activa and I have ordered a ComfortLite 2. For the first time in 2 months my AHIs have been below 5. Thanks to Snoredog and Wulfman who pointed out that it wasn't me, it was the mask!

No kiddin'??? Well, that may explain the massive leakage you were getting.

Hope your new Activa is treating you better.

Best wishes,

Den

Ugh, ready to quit after four nights -mask issue

Ugh, ready to quit after four nights -mask issue

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