success finally achieved

[Guest]

I thought it was time to let the world know. After fighting with getting used to using CPAP off and on for about 5 years, trial and error seems to have led to success. I tried two different bulky masks and then finally stumbled onto Swift FX. Thought this was the holy grail as it allowed me to sleep on my side, with a normal pillow and not get knocked off my face very easily.

So I was glad to be able to go to sleep and not be bothered much by the mask. But then I still was not sleeping soundly and was waking up with a mouth so dry I could hardly find my tongue. I did some googling about dry mouth and then began to realize that the mask was providing good comfort, but my breathing system was still open due to sleeping with mouth open.

I loved the mask but then needed to find some way to keep my damn mouth shut. So I googled into a nice, relatively comfortable head/chin strap. So then I tried the combo of the Swift FX with the sorta comfy chin strap. Thinking now I had the full nelson approach to making the whole thing work.
Things were much better with this combo. When I say better, I mean less tossing and turning, less trips to pee, and basically better sleep. But still not just right...
The last piece of the equation was too cinch down on the chin strap as I believe my mouth was still opening a bit after falling asleep.

This appears to be the combo that actually allows sound sleep for the first time in many years. I am used to the mask, the chin strap is comfortable enought and I can't believe I made the system work. I am not overweight and I have expensive health insurance and I'm still using the same machine that good insurance bought for me 5 years ago.

[Mary Z]

Great new, congratulations on your persistennce over these many years.
Why don't you go ahead and register and fill out your equipment profile? Your experience could be of help to someone else so keep posting.

[OutaSync]

Would you share with us which chin strap you found to be comfortable?

[eflayer]

i believe the one i have this one or similar. it was a crap shoot and i got one that worked on the first try.

http://www.amazon.com/Respironics-Style ... d_sim_sg_8