Losing weight and having mask problems

[Karla1958]

I lost somewhere around 45 pounds and I was wondering how much trouble that might cause my masks not fitting right. I usually use my Hans Rudolph but that leaked air the last time I used it. It was the first time it leaked ever... Could it be the weight loss? My face and neck have gotten visibly smaller, so I'm wondering if I'm going crazy or if that can make a difference? I also tried the old Ultra Mirage I used to use before the Hans Rudolph and that woke me up too, leaking just like the other mask. It never leaked that much before, it was just uncomfortable on my nose. Maybe I'm just being weird... I'm also having hot flashes all the time but the doctors claim I'm not in menopause... what the heck! I just hate when you're trying to sleep and it gets too hot and your face gets sweaty with the mask on... what a miserable feeling. And then you start freezing to death when the hot flash stops because you're all wet then and the air conditioner is set at 60 because your roomie is a cold junkie! Oops, sorry for that bit of venom coming out, but I haven't sleep well in weeks. It seems I sleep in 3 hour intervals with no refreshing sleep at all... what a pain! I'm starting to think I might need sleeping pills or something, but can I have them since I have idiopathic hypersomnia anyway? I don't need anything to make me sleepier during the day. I tried to talk to my primary care doctor but he's a Medicaid doctor and he just doesn't have the time to spare to talk about things. I think they schedule him to spend maybe 3 to 5 minutes with a patient, if that. I've been begging for an MRI of my brain to check on my brain tumor but he's been putting that off for a year. Seems important to me, I had Gamma Knife surgery but I still supposed to keep an eye on it and now it's been 5 years with no MRI... Oops, ranting again, sorry. Oh, I'm just a grouch lately. Sorry!

[lktnky]

Sounds like you need a new Doc!
And a definite YES on the weight loss changing your mask fit. Any chance you're due for a new mask? Have you contacted your DME or RT?
Good luck and a big CONGRATULATIONS on that weight loss.
All the best,
LKTNKY

[FatiguedMe]

Hi Karla,
I am also a cancer survivor! BC here. 5 YRS with NO scan? You need to get a new Dr and by all means have things checked out. ASAP! It makes me angry that you haven't been checked in that area. Are you having any symptoms? I know alot of Docs don't do scans without symptoms anymore. They say it is because of us being exposed to too much radiation, but I am thinking it is also tied into Insurance as most things are. You have to REMEMBER, YOU have to be YOUR OWN ADVOCATE! Noone else will. Please, demand, stomp your feet etc to get the best care you are intitled too.
I would also think that yes, with considerable weight loss (congrats!) you would most likely need a smaller size mask.
I am also with you in the hotflash area LOL (not in menopause either) I figure I am in chemopause. No signs of mother nature in over 2 yrs so we wait and see. As far as the sleep issue goes, I am on Clonazepam. It helps with the anxiety, and also helps me sleep. It will make you drowsy until you get used to it. There is also Ativan/Lorazepam that is used for sleep it isn't as long acting as mine. Just a few suggestions for you, and you can also ask about the sleep meds in general.
Anyway Congrats to you also on being 5 yrs out! I am so happy for you! Keep us posted as to how you are doing.

[MurphysLaw]

Hi Karla,

We have a lot in common, OSA, similar weight loss, and cancer survivor. When I started losing weight I noticed that my jaw relaxed during deep sleep and air would come out even with a chin strap. While it was slightly annoying, it wasn't constant and I still felt great during the day. The first six months I had no problems of leakage. It wasn't until I began losing weight in January that I noticed the difference. My doctor told me that most definitely weight loss causes masks to fit differently and ordered a home mask fitting from my DME, which I had this week.

Congratulations on 5 years! Mine is two years this month.

Lynne

[Karla1958]

Thanks for your quick answers. My insurance doesn't cover anything CPAP, so I have to either buy my own mask (like I did with the Ultra Mirage) or beg for one to be donated by someone or some company. Luckily I caught the President of Hans Rudolph in a giving day last time and he had them send me a free Hans Rudolph V2. They sent me a medium and it was too big and than a small and it was just right but now it seems too big. I just don't feel right begging another one from them, though that is my all time favorite mask. And it fit me well up until just a few days ago. I can't afford a new one of any other kind, so I guess I'll just have to sleep through the leaking. CPAP doesn't help me as much as it should anyway but at least I won't die in my sleep. The hypersomnia isn't any better on CPAP (actually a BiPAP auto SV.) And that is what I really have a problem with.. the being sleepy, groggy and in a daze and nodding off all day.

Oh, this is on the subject of the brain tumor thing, they say mine wasn't cancer, but it was a tumor... so I don't get it. If they don't cut it out and examine it how do they know what it is? They just nuked it and it shrunk or was shrinking. They acted like it wasn't a big deal. But my Father's mother died of a brain tumor or really died of how they tried to get it out and that worries me. I never heard of brain tumors being inherited. Oh well. I've got to go eat my diet dinner.. whee!!! I'd kill for a donut! Thanks everyone.
Karla