Which ResMed nasal mask for CPAP - Need opinon

[romeroom]

...
To see the sleep tecq. today and pray he has some answers from the machine I used at home for 5 days...

Judy

Hi Judy. Wondering how your visit with the sleep tech went. Were your prayers answered?

[Judy in CA]

Thanks so much for caring. It means a lot to me.
I guess my prayers were answered as he is trying to help me
will order a new mask and provider is to come and fit it this time.
Also if this doesn't work he's going to look into a APAP so my apnea spikes will be covered
Right now pressure is set at 13.
3 Dr apts yesterday and last one was rough
Eye dr found cateracts in both eyes worse and in need of surgery.
I just can't face it now with this other issue so will get some glasses to buy me a couple months.
Guess he said I am legally blind so will have to really watch my driving till the glasses come in
Last nite was somewhat better but woke up on back and snoring and mouth dry so will have to try something else for the rolling over in my sleep
Again, Thanks for caring
one health issue at a time correct?
Judy

[OutaSync]

Judy,

The doctor said you were legally blind and you are still driving?!! Maybe you should put the cataract surgery priority over the sleep, although they both need attention to make you a safe driver. I have two legally blind sisters who have never been behind the wheel of a car. At least, your condition is fixable.

Please be careful!

[Judy in CA]

Thanks for caring
I've been very careful, I can see to drive just not street signs but they said they can make the glasses so I'll be better than 20/40.
I wouldn't be driving if i didn't think it was safe.
We only have one car I don't want to bang up
and
esp. sure wouldn't want to hurt anyone.

Dr said i could drive but the glasses now aren't good.
so appreciate your concern.
Without sleep i just can't cope and have already had nuclear heart test, echocard, and testing after testing.....just can't face a surgery now ...........Just need a break from all this doctoring.
Judy

[OutaSync]

You poor dear! I really feel for you. I do remember my first year on CPAP when nothing worked and I was a total basket case.

Have you tried a chinstrap to keep your mouth closed at night?

What is your biggest problem, right now? Mouth leaking with a nasal mask, or mask leaking with a full face mask?

Let's get one thing fixed at a time and get you some sleep!

[busylady]

See my post "5 Nights Better Than Expected -- 8, or NOT" Last night I was awake from 1:15-3:45 when I took off the gear and gave up. Leakages and pressure that hurt the septum. 20 min. later I tried again. Note I have FX pillows. I noticed it said "S" on the side, but my RX says XS. Have really narrow nare on one side. I did dose until 4:45; had a leakage. Dosed again until 5:15. Know I had opened mouth to exhale and "motorboat" during that time. Hubby said he could hear whistling/leakage. Don't see that a strap would help because I can still open my lips and breathe out. I plan to tape my mouth tonight to see if my leakage goes down from the 70s. That may tell me that I really do need the full mouth/nose mask. I wanted to avoid that because I have rosacea that has gotten worse in the last year, and I thought the pillows would be less intrusive. I don't have software for printouts which I'm going to plead for. Seems like I could better determine when the apneas occur... side/back sleeping, and the type of leakage. I've always been one to research and do a lot of my own medical diagnoses. Another ? -- what happens when you get a cold/stuffed nose if you use the pillows? I plan to check out the web sits that another person recommended, which may let me know what else is out there. The FX seems to be too long from nose to attachment of back & top straps. It creeps up the back of my head and slips off.. Guess I've got a little head. Any ideas?

[Judy in CA]

You poor dear! I really feel for you. I do remember my first year on CPAP when nothing worked and I was a total basket case.

Have you tried a chinstrap to keep your mouth closed at night?

What is your biggest problem, right now? Mouth leaking with a nasal mask, or mask leaking with a full face mask?

Let's get one thing fixed at a time and get you some sleep!

Thanks again
I've had a working CPAP for 10 years with 100% compliance and NO problems.
It's since we moved to CA and had to find a new dr and new equip supplier.
Now on second eye dr as Internist wanted a opthmologist so all records sent............
got $300 ugly glasses to get by till the cataract surgery. They are booking 1+ months ahead. I have some colored prescription glasses that are old but he said they were working . go figure........
i can see with those to drive.

Any way 1. got and used a chip strap with old Nasal pillow Swift FT i think it was. Didn't need chin strap before.
2. mouth open with full face i put on my profile. It's ok but mouth so dry and even if air doesn't escape from mask eye dr said can go up sinus and into tear ducts in thus the dry eyes or gooey eyes like i have.
anyway you sure are trying to help.

Thanks so much. your right one thing at a time. haven't been home one day this week.
have a nice weekend.
Judy

[Judy in CA]

[quote="busylady"] Hubby said he could hear whistling/leakage. Don't see that a strap would help because I can still open my lips and breathe out.

Seems like I could better determine when the apneas occur... side/back sleeping, and the type of leakage. I've always been one to research and do a lot of my own medical diagnoses.
[quote="busylady"]
I can only help here as i do this too. I wouldn't tape my mouth shut tho...
I try to research too but my dr says If i sleep or get onto my back.......the apnea occurs.

[Judy in CA]

...
To see the sleep tecq. today and pray he has some answers from the machine I used at home for 5 days...

Judy

Hi Judy. Wondering how your visit with the sleep tech went. Were your prayers answered?

romeroom, I'm so sorry to have hijacked your thread. Please forgive me.
I wanted to know how your second nite went.
You didn't mention your progress? I hope it went as well as the first one.
Judy

[romeroom]

...
To see the sleep tecq. today and pray he has some answers from the machine I used at home for 5 days...

Judy

Hi Judy. Wondering how your visit with the sleep tech went. Were your prayers answered?

romeroom, I'm so sorry to have hijacked your thread. Please forgive me.
I wanted to know how your second nite went.
You didn't mention your progress? I hope it went as well as the first one.
Judy

No worries, Judy. Hijacking only happens in planes, trains, and busses. We're all here trying to help each other. These kinds of forums can be hard to find.

Both nights with chin strap (& the new Mirage FX Nasal) helped with keeping my mouth closed and not dry. I don't like having to put two things on--adjust the chin strap then put the mask on. But if it's helping, I'll deal with it for now.

Since getting the CPAP machine, I've used it every day for a total of 46.5 hours and near zero apnea events. My daughter said to me this morning, "Dad, you looked really peaceful sleeping."

[Judy in CA]

No worries, Judy. Hijacking only happens in planes, trains, and busses. We're all here trying to help each other. These kinds of forums can be hard to find.

Both nights with chin strap (& the new Mirage FX Nasal) helped with keeping my mouth closed and not dry. I don't like having to put two things on--adjust the chin strap then put the mask on. But if it's helping, I'll deal with it for now.

Since getting the CPAP machine, I've used it every day for a total of 46.5 hours and near zero apnea events. My daughter said to me this morning, "Dad, you looked really peaceful sleeping."[/quote]

h, What a sweet little daughter. Thanks for the nice comments and so happy that you are getting such good results.
I guess you have a thing that doesn the print outs too.
Have a nice weekend...........HA and LOL on the hijacking..............

[romeroom]

My second night with the Mirage FX went much better as I thought it would. Good AHI and the leakage was in the "excellent" range.

I'm curious how the rest of your nights went with the Mirage FX. Like I've posted, it's working well for me. However, I am noticing an occasional awakening at night with a leak or two needing an adjustment, especially when turning from left all the way to right (I can't stand sleeping on my stomach.). That being said, I've always been intrigued by the Activa LT and it's advertised "high seal" design.

I'm very much counting on your expert comparison between the two before I decide to try the Activa LT; no pressure I just don't want to decide on something that's pretty good for me when there is something excellent out there. Thanks.

[Judy in CA]

My second night with the Mirage FX went much better as I thought it would. Good AHI and the leakage was in the "excellent" range.

I'm curious how the rest of your nights went with the Mirage FX. Like I've posted, it's working well for me. However, I am noticing an occasional awakening at night with a leak or two needing an adjustment, especially when turning from left all the way to right (I can't stand sleeping on my stomach.). That being said, I've always been intrigued by the Activa LT and it's advertised "high seal" design.

I'm very much counting on your expert comparison between the two before I decide to try the Activa LT; no pressure I just don't want to decide on something that's pretty good for me when there is something excellent out there. Thanks.

Romerrom
good luck making your correct decision. Finding the 'best' mask it key I think

[OutaSync]

Judy,

If you are getting a dry mouth using the full face mask, there are two things I can think of that could prevent the air from rushing out of your lips. Taping your lips shut, I know it sounds drastic, but it's really not bad. I do it every night, as do many of us. It's not dangerous since you have a full face mask with a valve that will open if the power goes off. Turn your lips inward and apply the tape horizontally, that way the tape isn't actually touching the sensitive lips.
The other thing that some people do is seal their lips shut with a polident strips. Lick your lips to wet them slightly, apply the strips and close your lips to seal. You can easily break that seal if you need to cough or something and then re-seal.

Either of these options can be done with the Swift LT, if you were more comfortable with that mask.

[Judy in CA]

Judy,

If you are getting a dry mouth using the full face mask, there are two things I can think of that could prevent the air from rushing out of your lips. Taping your lips shut, I know it sounds drastic, but it's really not bad. I do it every night, as do many of us. It's not dangerous since you have a full face mask with a valve that will open if the power goes off. Turn your lips inward and apply the tape horizontally, that way the tape isn't actually touching the sensitive lips.
The other thing that some people do is seal their lips shut with a polident strips. Lick your lips to wet them slightly, apply the strips and close your lips to seal. You can easily break that seal if you need to cough or something and then re-seal.

Either of these options can be done with the Swift LT, if you were more comfortable with that mask.

Thanks so very much for the tips.
It was a better nite last nite any only dry after 6:30 when i was on my back and probably apnea and snoring happened. Also the humidifier was almost empty
sometimes it's almost full.
If almost empty does it mean a leak?