How Long

[katztoy]

How long did it take you to get used to cpap? I am in month 3 and I am still having a horrible time. I am lucky if I get 4 hours a night with the mask on. I have gone through what seems like a million masks and can't find one that works! The best "feeling" is the pillows, but my nose is always stuffed up! I've tried sprays Rx and over the counter, the breathe right strips worked (for a while) and nothing seems to work! The full face seems like a solution since my nose is stuffy all the time. I rarely breathe through my mouth but i tried to do it with the FF. I however can't seem to tolerate the material (the gel or silicone flaps). I get a horrible rash (like a heat rash) and then I can't use it because it hurts.

I refuse to give up because I saw the changes in my Mom when she started therapy. She was a like a completely different person. I want to feel good!! and I'm at a loss for how to get this to work. So I'm just curious to see how long it took everyone to get used to this?

[fadedgirl]

Hang in there!!

I haven't found a pillow mask that I could wear either, something about the air going straight up the nostrils that stuffs me up, but I can handle the nasal masks better than the FF masks. The air is diffused, I guess, and therefore it doesn't cause the congestion that the pillows do. I do still get congested, and need ENT surgery most likely, but its totally manageable with a nasal mask (I use various things depending, and sometimes nothing), whereas with the pillows it was impossible.

I have tried a million masks, too, so I totally hear ya on that. Did you perchance give the Oracle a try? Its mouth-only, but its plastic and silicone so you may want to steer clear due to that.

I recently started using the SleepWeaver. Its a cloth nasal mask, no silicone or plastic to be found. I am truly loving it thus far, but its only been 3 or 4 days. Its so much more comfortable, ridiculously so in comparison to regular masks, that I'm going to cry myself to sleep every night if I don't end up with it as my main squeeze. I put it on, if it leaks, I lie my head down on the pillow, and within a few seconds the mask seals up. If not, I adjust it slightly. Do not over tighten, that causes leaks for me. I lightly clean it with the CPAP mask wipes every morn. The best thing is: no mask digging into my face, forehead, pillow, etc. Glorious! You may want to check it out, I would expect it to be a rash-free experience for you. You can check out the reviews of it on cpap.com, or do a search here to read the various posts about it.

OH and there are also RemZZZs. They are little cloth templates that you put between the mask and your face. They have their own website and you can order samples for less $$$ than having to order a bunch. I thought they were a great idea, yet I didn't care for them too much in practice BUT I do not have the skin reactions that you do to the silicone or gel (not that I love the feel of it). But you may want to take a look at those as well for use with a nasal or FF mask.

Let us know if you've tried those things already, and we'll see what else we can think of for you!

[Julie]

You may be stuffed up because you probably have the humidifier at a high setting. Try lowering it right back down and see if that helps. Some of us don't use it at all (it's not intrinsic to therapy, just comfort).

[SleepyT]

It took me about 3 months to get used to it....but I fiddled around with different masks in the beginning as well. I used the Swift LT for Her...and then left...but then came back...and for some reason I could tolerate them much better at that point. Now the Swift pillows are my exclusive mask! I get the best numbers with it. Try Julie's suggestion of lowering the humidifier setting and set the EPR (hope that's the right acronym...it's early yet!)...the exhalation feature on your machine...and maybe that will do the trick.

[ozij]

Soak all the masks you've tried in warm soapy water for 30-60 minutes -- and do it to every new mask you ever get before using it. Washing is not enough.

This was recommendation made in a moderated chat by a Respironics. Rep http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-dis ... elchat.htm -- and it worked for me. The mask that gave me rashes stopped doing so -- and since reading it, I never let any mask or seal touch my face before the soak. Have never had a rash since.

O.

[mdintx]

I would recommend that you try experimenting with different humidifier settings. For me, I need to have it set @ 3.4 or 4. When I lowered it to 2, I became congested. Some people are the other way around.

[Uncle_Bob]

The best "feeling" is the pillows, but my nose is always stuffed up!

You might want to visit an ENT and have your nose checked out. Its possible you might have a deviated septum.

[Tielman]

I refuse to give up because I saw the changes in my Mom when she started therapy. She was a like a completely different person. I want to feel good!!

I congratulate you on your refusal to give up. You WILL find a combination that will work for you, and once you do, you'll see the changes in yourself.

Keep at it, and things will turn around!!

[Patrick A]

It took me a couple of months before I slept all night with the mask. I went thru all kinds of masks finally got a Swift Mirage II Nasal Pillow mask and it works great. I also had a runny nose every morning until I went to a Bipap Auto machine, go figure that one out. I seem to be doing pretty well now after 5 years. Once in awhile I wake up with a runny nose. I do not use a Humdifier although I have one for my machine. My sleep doctor said that if I didn't need to use the Humidifier to not use it.

[katztoy]

some very good suggestions. I appreciate all of your help. I saw the SleepWeaver somewhere (I can't remember) and I was always curious about it.

As for the humidifier, I had it set relatively low and was having trouble so the Dr suggested that I turn it up. Did that and for a day or two it was good, then I got plugged up again. Now I'm somewhere in the middle and getting so much rain out that it's nuts. I put the cover on the hose and it helps a little. So I'm still working with the humidifier to see what I can do there. I tried with it off and it nearly froze my brain! Too cold in my room I guess. (hazards from living in the Rocky mountains!)

I have not soaked the masks. didn't know I should do that so I'm going to do that right now. I got a new full face today to try, its the quattro.

I do have the EPR set, I was having trouble with that as well and that seems to be stable now

I often wondered about a deviated septum. My Brother had one and had some surgery for it. I'll have to check that out.

Thanks everyone! I'll take every suggestions I can get!