New Here and wanted to introduce myself

SleepySparky · Post by **SleepySparky** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:10 pm

Hello All,
I hope you all brought in the New Year safely and happily.
I am a 38 yr. old married mother of three boys. I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy approx. 15 years ago, and with OSA Nov. 2007. I have been very compliant with my machine using it every nap and every night. I have my apneas pretty much under control. I am, on the other hand, still searching for the right mask. I currently use the comfort gel, and it has numerous issues for me. I tried the Infinity 481, and it did not work for me, lots of nose pain. I am currently looking for a new mask, possibly the Swift II, Comfort Lite 2 or OptiLife. I am leaning toward the Comfort Lite 2 since it has 3 different interfaces. I am hoping one of them, if not 2 of the 3, will be what I need to be comfortable as well as compliant. Anyway, I use the REMstar M series Pro, with heated humidifier and c-flex. My pressure is 10 with a c-flex setting of 2. I have the smart card and I am ordering the software and reader tomorrow. This way I have access to my info. and can print out reports for my pcp, since I am not going to my Sleep Dr. anymore. He does not listen to me so I see no need going to a Dr. who will not listen long enough to get ALL the information so he can treat me effectively. So my pcp is willing to do the research and learn so he can treat me effectively and consult with another Board Certified Sleep Specialist when necessary. Anyway, I am an active mom, who loves to sew, quilt and get involved in my kids schooling and extra curricular activities. That about sums me up. It is nice to find this place and look forward to making lots of friends and hopefully learn from one another.
Thank you,
SleepySparky
Tina

differentdave · Post by **differentdave** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:22 pm

Tina,
First thanks for the kind wishes and the same to you and your family.
Second Welcome to the board. I started cpap therapy same did you did (11/23 I think) and have had incredible luck/success thus far.
What types of problems are you having with mask (leaking, marking face, can't turn with it, etc?) as I am sure others with more experience would find this info useful to better help you? I would ask DME for another fitting, maybe try a nasal pillow, etc.

AS for encore viewer and s/w if you search her you will find thread with links to get both items for a little cheaper (I think mine cost under 140 total). Basically you can order reader from http://www.two-factor.com/shop/ for 24.00.
I have found the wisdom and faq area above a great wealth of info and using ask question has also helped out.
I think you will find the people here are very nice and super responsive.
I wish you the best of luck and much success.
David

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:24 pm

Welcome to the forum!!

Many of us have walked in your shoes and are here to help you if you need it. If you don't need help, please keep coming back anyway as we are a friendly bunch of people here.

Getting a good fitting mask is probably the hardest part of treatment for many of us.

Please check out the yellow light bulb "Our Collective Wisdom" and the red question mark "CPAP FAQ" for information, tips, etc. that might interest you.

Read, read, read on the forum -- there are literally page after page of good information contained within this forum!!

There is a thread where you can trade masks, some offers of "trial runs" on masks where all you do is pay the postage to try out the offered masks, etc.

There is also cpap.com which has reasonably priced masks (cheaper than a brick and mortar DME) or cpapauction.com for great deals.

Please fill out your profile -- it is at middle of the top row. That helps us when you ask questions so we don't always have to ask you to repeat this information. The pictures are good, but then we have to click on it to know which machine you have so it is better if it is text.

Keep coming back for support!!

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:29 pm

Hello & Welcome, Tina! You've come to the right place for information and support!

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 4:32 pm

Welcome to the forum, Tina! You are a welcome addition to our group. I'm afraid I can't offer much advice regarding your mask problems as I was not particulary fond of the nasal pillows type of mask altho I did try the Breeze during my first titration and the Swift was the first mask I got when I got my equipment. I did like the ComfortLite 2 best of the nasal pillow masks I tried but once I tried the CL2 simple nasal cushion instead of the pillows I knew that a lightweight nasal cushion w/a lot of adjustability was the way I wanted to go.

I "might" have done well w/the Fisher & Paykel HC 406 FlexFit had I tried it but I had been given the 407 and it was a shade too large so never got around to switching to the smaller 406 before I found the old Respironics Simplicity, one of Respironics' earliest masks. It works well for me but not all people can adjust to a simple nasal cushion rather than the more complex nasal cushion w/cushion and thin outer cover.

It takes time but w/your attitude and frame of mind you will find THE mask that works for you.

SleepySparky · Post by **SleepySparky** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:39 pm

Hey Hey,
I see a few of you I recognize from another forum I frequent. Nice to see you again Rip VW, Slinky, and I am not sure but Different Dave, seems familar too.
I will check out the recommedations you all made. With regards to the profile, I did fill it out but for some reason the info. did not stay. I will try again. I had a heck of a time today just getting my post to go through for some reason. Anyway, enough about that. I will go a fill out the info. again and see if it shows up this time. I am watching some auctions of masks, if I can get them on cpapauctions it is going to cost a lot less. But I am interested in checking out the mask trades too. DME's are not an option unless they are online, since I do not have insurance the only ones I am finding in the metroplex, not close by and every expensive. I have thought about going trying on masks and then buying them online, but I do not want to have to provide them with a copy of my sleep study and script just to try on a few masks. So I am taking my chances right now. I have two masks, the comfortgel, that does not seal well and leaks because of my chubby checks and it feels heavy on my face. I also have the Infinity 481, which has the prongs rather than the pillows and they cause pain because the small are too big and the xsmall are too small. So I am trying to find a nasal pillow that will work. I tend to sleep on my side and stomach so the comfortgel is driving me nuts because I have to tighten the straps so I can move around in bed and not be woke up by the leaks every time I move. I have been getting more sleep since I went back to the comfortgel. But I really do not like it. So "a hunting I will go"....and instead of hunting rabbits I am a hunting the right mask......LOL.

Thanks a bunch for the warm welcome all of you. I am sure I will see you 'round here quite a bit.
hugs to ya all,
Tina

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 11:53 pm

hi tina
welcome to the board...if you are looking for nasal pillows, and especially for side sleeping, check out the 'headrest' (formerly called the 'aura'); you will find lots of side and tummy sleepers (including myself) who just love it...i went through 8 masks in my first 6 weeks of treatment, and have used the headrest for 9 months now and it is by far the most comfortable and reliable interface i have found (though like so many of us, i still keep my eyes open for the next new thing, LOL)

best of luck and happy new year to you, too!
sharon1965

SleepySparky · Post by **SleepySparky** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:04 am

Thanks a bunch for the info. Sharon. I will definitely keep that in mind.