I am SO frustrated

[Abbi Normal]

I have been 'lurking' for months now and want to say what a great forum this is and how informative, helpful, amusing & funny all of you are. So a big THANK YOU to everyone.

I cannot find a mask that works for me. I have tried at least 10 to 12 different ones and sure wish I had written down what they were because I can't remember the names of all of them Most of them were too big and only a few are made in the extra-small size. I am currently using the Swift LT and really like the light and comfortable head-gear but the nasal pillows are driving me crazy I started with the medium pillow, then went to the small and thought I had found the perfect mask. After two weeks fussing, tweaking, hanging the hose up, lubing my nose-holes with k-y, loosening the head-gear, putting the mask on in front of the mirror and a whole lot of cussing, its still not working correctly and I am SO frustrated. I think my nose-holes (I know they are nares but I like nose-holes better) are too small because the pillow just keeps popping out to the side and leaking. Last night my AHI was 17.5

Then, also what's SO frustrating is my husband (Fraunk aka Fraunk n steen) has been using CPAP for 10 years and the mask they started him on is the one he still uses and he's never had a problem with it! Now is that fair? What the crap is wrong with this picture? One hose-head sleeps like a baby, and the other one is going bezerk for the last 7 months because of mask issues.

Any help, advice, ridicule, jokes, teasing or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Abbi-Normal]

Ok, oops this is me and I didn't sign in. Well, I'm still learning!

[jnk]

Well, obviously the headgear isn't fitting properly over all that hair and your glasses!

Uh, just kidding. We aren't our avatars, I know.

I am not usually comfortable talking to a perfect stranger about lubing up one's nose-holes with KY jelly, but I gotta say that I think you'd be a lot better off using nasal pillows without any lube at all.

Yeah, I know. It hurts. It makes your nose red and irritated. That's OK at first. Your nose will get used to it. You get little irritated spots on either side of your nose from wearing glasses too, but your skin adapts and you get used to it.

So try nasal pillows completely dry for a while, please. No way anything is popping out of anywhere when you do that. Just make sure you adjust the headgear straps while you are in sleeping position. Don't look in the mirror while you adjust. It's a rule. Well, only my rule, but it's my response-post in this little box, so my rules are the only ones that matter.

Welcome to the forum.

jnk

[DreamDiver]

Ok, oops this is me and I didn't sign in. Well, I'm still learning!

Hi Abbi-Normal,

Are you using any kind of chin strap? If not, I'd suggest the pap cap. (pursleep.com)
It will stabilize your mask so that when you turn in the night, the mask will be less likely to torque and leak. It's really worth it.

You may either have the mask straps too tight or too loose - these are things that can cause too much leakage. If nasal masks are problematic, have you considered trying a full-face or hybrid mask?

Others will follow with more sage advice, I'm sure.

[Wulfman]

I have been 'lurking' for months now and want to say what a great forum this is and how informative, helpful, amusing & funny all of you are. So a big THANK YOU to everyone.

I cannot find a mask that works for me. I have tried at least 10 to 12 different ones and sure wish I had written down what they were because I can't remember the names of all of them Most of them were too big and only a few are made in the extra-small size. I am currently using the Swift LT and really like the light and comfortable head-gear but the nasal pillows are driving me crazy I started with the medium pillow, then went to the small and thought I had found the perfect mask. After two weeks fussing, tweaking, hanging the hose up, lubing my nose-holes with k-y, loosening the head-gear, putting the mask on in front of the mirror and a whole lot of cussing, its still not working correctly and I am SO frustrated. I think my nose-holes (I know they are nares but I like nose-holes better) are too small because the pillow just keeps popping out to the side and leaking. Last night my AHI was 17.5

Then, also what's SO frustrating is my husband (Fraunk aka Fraunk n steen) has been using CPAP for 10 years and the mask they started him on is the one he still uses and he's never had a problem with it! Now is that fair? What the crap is wrong with this picture? One hose-head sleeps like a baby, and the other one is going bezerk for the last 7 months because of mask issues.

Any help, advice, ridicule, jokes, teasing or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the forum!

Judging from your avatar and sense of humor, you're gonna fit right in with this bunch.

Ok.......which masks have you tried? Sounds like they've all been strictly "nasal" type masks.

Last question........approximately where in Idaho? My wife has family in the Lewiston and Moscow areas (among other places).


Den

[DreamStalker]

It is important that you align the angle correctly to fit your nares ... uh, I mean nose -holes. If the hose is tugging them out of place (or angle), you may need to attach the hose to the headgear rather than letting it hang free-style in order to keep them properly oriented under your nose-holes.

I agree, if you are not getting sore nose-holes, there is no need to lube them up and also make sure the nose-holes are free of facial oils too ... try an astringent followed by rinse with cool water right before sleep time on those nose-holes.

As far as fit, the outer rim edge of the pillows should fit outside of your nose-holes (but I guess you already know that).

[Lilluanu]

I, too, advocate the lack of lubrication. In fact, you should clean the skin around the nose of any make-up, oils, lotions, etc in preparation for sleep. the clean skin helps with a proper seal and if your nose-holes are irritated from the mask, you can try adjusting your humidifier setting up and/or soothing the skin in the mornings with lotion, cocoa or shea butters, or some other healing ointment. I started out with the Swift II and then switched to the Swift LT, and while I definitely noticed the greater flexibility of the LT nasal pillows I have not had problems with them popping out of place once I get it adjusted each night (I have fairly small nose-holes myself and being used to the stiffer Swift II pillows, it takes me a couple minutes each night still to be sure I have the LT pillows properly in place, but I like being able to sleep on either side without laying on my hose - those weird marks on my face in the morning are just too tough to cover up!).

[jnk]

. . . I like being able to sleep on either side without laying on my hose - those weird marks on my face in the morning are just too tough to cover up!).

I tell people I was run over by a bicycle.

jnk

[Lilluanu]

. . . I like being able to sleep on either side without laying on my hose - those weird marks on my face in the morning are just too tough to cover up!).

I tell people I was run over by a bicycle.

jnk

hehehe I'll keep it in mind!

[SlowHiker]

I understand your frustration. I have tried every full face on the market (no lie, every one) and am now on my 7th nasal one. I have a small head and crooked nose and I am always between sizes. I have been on cpap 1 1/2 years and I wake every day with deep grooves and red marks. I have a pressure of 22 and this just blows out the seals on everything.

[Abbi-Normal]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll try it without the KY which will be a relief. For some reason it just 'feels weird' to be putting that stuff in my nose holes

I've tried a chin strap, but it kept sliding off my head, plus it didn't stop the mouth breathing but I saw quite a post about taping so will try that whenever I get to the 'big city' to buy some tape. I started out on a Flex Fit 407 Fisher Pak, then tried numerous other full-face including a hybrid. All of them leaked and made a horrible sore on the bridge of my nose. I tried taping, band-aids, etc. etc. Then I tried a nasal pillow with the mouth thingy again, CRS is hitting and I'm too lazy to look up what it is called. Some of the masks I was sent I didn't even try because when I put them up to my face they were huge, kinda like Jim Carey looks in the "Mask"

I'm just very frustrated because for a while I was feeling so good and had so much energy but lately I feel like I've been run over by a truck and am even getting sleepy in the afternoon. It's certainly not related to anything hormonal or cycles since I haven't had innerds in years! Guess I'll just keep on keeping on and my RT said that she would keep sending me masks until I found 'THE ONE' and since I haven't been charged for any of them yet, she is keeping her word, so any suggestions on something to try would be great. Also, I have requested an A-PAP to see if that would make a difference. My setting is at 12 and sometimes wonder if that is too high. On the 2nd sleep study I got to sleep stage III for a couple of minutes and never went to REM, so I think they were just guessing on what to set it at and hoping that it would work. Little did they know eactly how 'abnormal' I am

I live in the very small town of Council, population 300, plus I am the real McCoy since I was born and raised and forever living in I DA HO

BTW, I always wash my face before hitting the sack and do not use lotion or creams and I always blow and clean out my nose. Now, is that TMI ???? I would say Yes

[Blackneto]

I used the Swift LT for the first time today.
I noticed when i lay down on my side it adjusts better than my opus did.
However when I woke up the fit on my left nostril was leaking a bit.
but it's not popping out to the side as far as I can tell.

But what you descibe with the movement is the same problem I had with my opus pillows.

Look at this post by BadBreath to see how I was able to fix that. It my work for you.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33681&p=286965#p286965

[Julie]

Hi - I wonder if you'd checked for tape at your local drugstore, because just about all of them carry at least one good version. I've used 3M micro- or transpore tape, and now have a scotch tape like dispenser of Nexcare Plastic (tape). Don't ask the pharmacist for 'mouth' or OSA tape, just ask for the stuff itself - it's usually on a regular counter display.

[Snoredog]

someone said 3/4" wide blue painters tape worked, you could try that until you get where there is electricity. But wouldn't blue clash with your hair??

Somnotech's masks run smaller than most and they have a Extra Small available in the Plus version if you are looking for that.

Soyala is my favorite:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Soyala ... dgear.html

or the Plus available in Extra Small:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/somnot ... dgear.html

Note: you should test by pressing the outside of your nose around the base (where cushion might ride) to see if pressing there causes nasal congestion, if so if you get a conventional nasal mask that is too small it may also press there and contribute to nasal congestion.

[Abbi-Normal]

Thanks! The Soyola looks good so I will see if they can order one to try. Um, its too bad we don't have a pharmacy in town and I know the grocery store doesn't carry the tape that was mentioned, but I can check at the Lumber Yard to see if they have the blue tape. The blue would not go well with my hair but I can put on blue earrings and my blue nightie and perhaps I can get a blue groove going I will crank up the generator in a bit so we have some lights and then I'll be able to see what kind of nose-hole fitting I can achieve tonight. Hopefully not using the KY will make a difference and once I can get into town to buy the blue tape maybe I won't be SO frustrated.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions. This truly is the place to become educated about hose heads