Recent Dx (Primary Central Apnea) preparing for 1st DME call

[Snorkle Man]

Hi all - wanted to report on my 2nd night of therapy...

Night 2 was much better than the first night. I think I actually got in some good sleep time this time around. Probably a total of 7 hours when all was said and done. Disjointed of course, considering the mask leaks woke me every now and again. Can't wait to take a look at the data to see what's actually happening.

To recap the night, I started out with the FlexiFit HC431 FFM (again, provided by DME), but was only able to last 2 hours before I switched out to the Mirage Quattro (received at sleep study), which seems to give me less leakage near the side of my mouth.

Thinking about 2 things...first, which mask liner to purchase - padacheek or quietusliners? And whether or not I need the padacheek anti-leak strap to help solve the mouth/cheek leakage. Right now my nose is hurting from tightening the headgear itself quite a bit. Guess it will take some trial and error to get the gear tight enough to prevent leakage but not tight enough to hurt me every night. The challenge I'm having right now is that the results are different when I lay my head down at night and when I've been in bed for 5 hours (when the leakage really starts to ramp up) - I guess the liners will help in that case. Any experience/recommendations with the liners and/or headgear adjustment in general are welcome.

Secondly, I'm wondering if I should call the DME to get another mask to replace the HC431 - as I mentioned, the Mirage seems much better, but because I received that mask at the sleep study, I want to take full advantage of what I'm able to get from the DME (a replacement for the HC431). Is there a set amount of time that I should give the 431 before I give up on it? And is it okay to call the DME to ask for a new mask considering I have the Quattro (albeit a product from the sleep study)? Finally, if I am able to get a replacement, are there any others I should try? Seems that the Quattro is one of the best...?

[JohnBFisher]

I find getting the mask right is half the battle .. and I find that I'm right on the ragged edge. Much tighter and it will restrict the airflow (through my sinuses on my cheek). So any tighter and I can not breathe. That's not the solution. Any looser and it leaks a LOT. Too much in fact. My ASV starts beeping telling me that it can not maintain the proper pressure.

So, for me at least, it's a balance between being able to breathe and .. well being able to breathe.

The mask liner will help reduce some of the pressure of the seal against your nose.

If you are going to replace the mask from the DME, I would do it sooner rather than later. I think there is a time limit (of just a few weeks) during which they will do the exchange. So, call them as soon as possible.

[RandyJ]

Thinking about 2 things...first, which mask liner to purchase - padacheek or quietusliners? And whether or not I need the padacheek anti-leak strap to help solve the mouth/cheek leakage. Right now my nose is hurting from tightening the headgear itself quite a bit. Guess it will take some trial and error to get the gear tight enough to prevent leakage but not tight enough to hurt me every night. The challenge I'm having right now is that the results are different when I lay my head down at night and when I've been in bed for 5 hours (when the leakage really starts to ramp up) - I guess the liners will help in that case. Any experience/recommendations with the liners and/or headgear adjustment in general are welcome.

I can vouch for the Padacheek liner w/the Mirage Quattro.

I also use the anti-leak strap but you may not need it. I like it because it seems to take pressure off the bridge of the nose and move it further down, and keeps the mask seated on my face snugly but not uncomfortably tight.