OK......So......Here we go.....

Elle · Post by **Elle** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 11:08 am

I have a regular memory foam pillow that I just punch into place around my mask (side sleeper). It is great for neck support and to make a space for the mask. It is not one of those ones with a raised side for the neck. It just looks like a regular pillow but mushes into place.

Hang in there. You have a great attitude for a beginner.

drdrew · Post by **drdrew** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 11:32 am

If you have a chance to try a liberty or a hybrid it may work better for you. The sore nose goes away after a couple days. I have the same problem of anything on the bridge of my nose causing it to clog and the other design solved it for me.

TalonNYC · Post by **TalonNYC** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 11:56 am

Randy:

Couple of things. First, I kept a running diary for about 4 months of every single night right here on this forum. So have others. The folks here LOVE to see them, and offer lots of help. More importantly, these threads help the next new user who's looking for help, because they can see what you're going through, and how you worked through it, and then THEY can do those things and work through THEIR issues. Thank you for sharing this stuff, and thanks for helping others along the way.

Second, on your issues from last night - sore nose is a very common issue. For the next few nights, you might want to put a band-aid on it, I used the ones that come with the antibiotic built-in. Not because of infection, but because they come with petroleum jelly on them, and it tends to stay within the band-aid. That soothes the sore spot and also avoids getting the stuff on the mask. Over time, provided you are not over-tightening the mask, the soreness goes away. I'm dealing with a "mask bite" right now, actually. Took a week to clear up, but it's only the second time I've had one in 9 months of using the full-face mask. Hang in there, this part of therapy does get better and easier.

Mr. Smiley (what we call that green happy face) just means that your leak wasn't off the scale for over 95% of the night. You may still be getting significant leaks. However, those are normal for new users, and we'll help you tame them. For future reference, the red face is usually called "Mr. Frowny" - just a fun fact.

I'm also a side sleeper, I've found that the buckwheat pillows on the market seem to "get out of the way" of the mask. I still get leaks, but they're within the expected tolerances of the machine (meaning they're not interfering with therapy).

Stick with it. The first month or so is the hardest as you adjust to the mask and adjust to actually getting sleep. Once you're through that, life gets easier =)

Sorry for posting half a novel LOL

brucelegs · Post by **brucelegs** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 5:50 pm

Randy,

It might help with the FX mask and side sleeping if you tried out some different bed pillows. I have had great success with the buckwheat hulled Regenesis pillow. I played with filling it with different amounts until I found the best amount. Now I can toss over and switch sides without too much trouble with the FX mask.

Hang in there - soon there will come a day when you will not be able to fall asleep with that mask and machine and it will all be routine.

Randyp1234 · Post by **Randyp1234** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 6:39 pm

brucelegs wrote:Randy,

It might help with the FX mask and side sleeping if you tried out some different bed pillows. I have had great success with the buckwheat hulled Regenesis pillow. I played with filling it with different amounts until I found the best amount. Now I can toss over and switch sides without too much trouble with the FX mask.

Hang in there - soon there will come a day when you will not be able to fall asleep with that mask and machine and it will all be routine.

I'm going to give this a try: http://www.amazon.com/Core-Products-CPA ... 107&sr=8-1

Randy

Newbie Woman · Post by **Newbie Woman** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 8:49 pm

Randy, I don't think any of us tire of new people posting every day. Most of the time it's an interesting journey, and we all understand and relate to what's happening to you.

archangle · Post by **archangle** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 12:24 am

Randyp1234 wrote:Because of the side sleep/comfort thing I ended up trying to sleep on my back, something that I trained myself a long time ago to stop doing because of the snoring thing.

I find it helps to get a body pillow in addition to my regular pillow and lie on my side, grab the pillow between my knees and hug it with my arms. It keeps me in a little more stable position. I also use a buckwheat pillow, which is less puffy and interferes with the mask less.

If I'm back sleeping, one of those "horsecollar" neck pillows may help keep you in a stable position. I have one of those in buckwheat, also.

I normally sleep in the recliner, both for my back and it keeps me in CPAP position.

Randyp1234 · Post by **Randyp1234** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 11:43 am

As I lay down last night and heard Darth Vader standing next to the bed again I thought "damn, I really don't want to listen to that tonight". So I grabbed a small box fan that was drying some carpet (leaky water heater Thanksgiving day) and plugged it in to cover the noise. MAN, what a great idea that was. No more "Darth", no more clicking from the humidifier, and no more of that strange other noise I hear when I exhale. Slept pretty soundly. AHI 5.9. Off to Amazon for a white noise machine - or more likely the hardware store for a better fan. Man, this shit nickel and dimes you pretty good doesn't it? But what doesn't any more. Try taking up photography or scuba diving or better yet underwater photography. That gets seriously expensive!!

Randy

TalonNYC · Post by **TalonNYC** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 1:34 pm

You may also want to try some soft foam ear-plugs. They're pretty cheap, and since most of the S9 devices are under 30 decibles, they wipe out the noise =) Replace them once a week or so.

queenmac46 · Post by **queenmac46** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:15 pm

Hey Randy,
Here's an idea for your "singing CPAP machien" - try using earplugs to "mask" (pun intended!) the sound of the CPAP machine. I hear what I think you're describing when I'm not wearing my earplugs - kind of like Darth Vader breathing next to me, I hear it when I inhale. Funny thing is, my husband who sleeps on the other side of the bed doesn't hear anything (Thank God because he complains about all sorts of other random noises (de-humidifier running in the other room, clothes dryer, HVAC unit in a hotel room, etc., etc., etc.)

I found my soft foam earplugs at CVS/Walgreens -they're a hideous fluorescent orange, and the package contains several pairs. I have used them for several years now, along with an eye mask (I'm into masks, can you tell?!) to block all ambient light in the room. I also wash them with soap and water every few days to clean off any wax buildup. Amazing how much better I started sleeping with both extraneous noise and light no longer an issue. And then I was diagnosed with OSA....

The secret to the soft foam earplugs is to roll them between your fingers, and then insert them into the ear canal while they're compressed, and when they expand - VOILA! = the sounds in the room are immediately lessened, especially any sounds from Darth breathing in my ear.

Keep us all posted on your progress -- the MASK IS THE KEY to a successful CPAP experience, and as the wiser ones on this board have shared - all of us have different shaped faces, so keep trying out the masks until you find one that works perfectly for you. Your mask is out there...

Randyp1234 · Post by **Randyp1234** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 5:18 pm

I have an abundant supply of the foam plugs and do wear them occasionally but prefer white noise rather than the plugs. *Sometimes* when I'm wearing the plugs if my jaw gets into a certain position I can hear my pulse beating and that's almost as annoying as the sound I'm trying to block.

This afternoon I swapped the Quattro FX for a Mirage Liberty. I'm anxious to give it a try.

Randy

napstress · Post by **napstress** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 7:44 pm

Hey, Randy.

My machine does that funny sing-songy thing too, which I rather like. I don't get the Darth Vader noise, though, for which I am really grateful!

For nose sore, you might try a Pad-a-cheek mask liner. It also helps with leaks.

If you end up going back to a ffm, for a super-helpful piece about mask fitting, do a search on this forum for janknitz' "Taming the Mirage Quattro." It's good advice for any mask in that line. It completely eliminated one obstacle for me in the time it took to read her instructions and follow them.

Best of luck, and keep us posted. The cool thing about people asking lots of questions is that readers can keep learning new things. I had no idea about bandaids with petroleum, but I will use them tomorrow!

Randyp1234 · Post by **Randyp1234** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 8:04 pm

I think I didn't say what I meant about the nose discomfort of the Quattro FX. My problem isn't that the outside part of the bridge of my nose is sore from the mask. The problem is that the part of the mask that's in contact with the bridge of my nose puts pressure on my nasal passages inside my nose putting a squeeze on sinuses that already close up when I lay down. That's why I'm trying the Liberty.

Randy

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