Just got my CPAP machine on Wednesday. Doc says I was having 64 apnic episodes per hour I believe. They gave me a Resmed Elite S8 with a heated humidifier with a Mirage Swift facemask thingy. The pressure is set at 14.
The first night I wore it for 2 hours before ripping it off in my sleep, I lasted 4 hours the next night. Last night I think I actually lasted a full 8 hours but that was only after my doctor gave me Ambien. I have two questions. What can I do about the nostril pain in the morning and what humidity level should I be setting this thing at? The DME chick said just to make sure it wasn't so high that vapor condensed in the tubing. Does anyone have experience with this model?
Newbie
First of all, hang in there. Most of us had a rough start. The Ambien should help get you over the startup hump.
For me, I set the heat level to where I could tell it was getting warm, then turned it back one notch.
Tell us more about the nostril pain!
In the long run, you will find you are feeling better, are more alert and with more energy than before. Welcome to the land of the hose heads!
For me, I set the heat level to where I could tell it was getting warm, then turned it back one notch.
Tell us more about the nostril pain!
In the long run, you will find you are feeling better, are more alert and with more energy than before. Welcome to the land of the hose heads!
The nostril pain is just from the nasal pillows I think. Its just raw like its been rubbing on them all night. After last night I already feel better. I look forward to seeing the long term effects. Being a single, 25yo male, the one thing I'm not thrilled with is the conversation I'll have to have next time someone aside from me sleeps in my bed. Guess I'll burn that bridge if/when I come to it.Joe_0206 wrote:First of all, hang in there. Most of us had a rough start. The Ambien should help get you over the startup hump.
For me, I set the heat level to where I could tell it was getting warm, then turned it back one notch.
Tell us more about the nostril pain!
In the long run, you will find you are feeling better, are more alert and with more energy than before. Welcome to the land of the hose heads!
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." Kaiser Soze The Usual Suspects
A second to Joe's comments: "Just hang in there". Perserverance with the system is key. You may have to make a lot of adjustments - most of us did.
A sore nose with the Swift pillows is often an indication that you have the headgear too tight. Try loosening it.
Keep reporting your progress on this site and you will get a lot of good advice.
A sore nose with the Swift pillows is often an indication that you have the headgear too tight. Try loosening it.
Keep reporting your progress on this site and you will get a lot of good advice.
chick?DerDrache wrote:The DME chick
Hmmm. And I thought relationships were based on bridges we built.DerDrache wrote:Guess I'll burn that bridge if/when I come to it.
And have the energy to build bridges and not burn them.Joe_0206 wrote: In the long run, you will find you are feeling better, are more alert and with more energy than before
Good luck, Dragon.
O.
_________________
| Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: Machine: Resmed AirSense10 for Her with Climateline heated hose ; alternating masks. |
Re: Newbie
This is not all science but here is what worked for me on the humidity setting:DerDrache wrote: What can I do about the nostril pain in the morning and what humidity level should I be setting this thing at?
The DME had it set at a "medium" setting. My nasal passages were too dry in the morning at this setting. I turned the humidity setting up one notch each night until I got a lot of rainout. Then I turned it down one notch and this has worked well for me.
There is a little accumulation of moisture in the hose each morning. My humidity setting is just one notch below the maximum. I use a Snuggle Cover on the hose and this not only helps eliminate rainout but also makes the hose quieter when it bangs around in the bed.
Good luck,
rooster
A few words on the nostril discomfort: I, too, started a few days ago with the same mask. Before putting the mask on, I coat my nostrils with a petroleum based antibiotic ointment. This seems to me to allow a smoother glide when/if the nasal pillows shift. I add the ointment again in the morning to sooth the irritation and "heal" any soreness/rawness that develops. After 5 nights, the irritation has diminished 95% without any mask adjustments.
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rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
DerDrache, turn on your charm with the DME chick and ask her to give you an extra mask... a ResMed Mirage Activa mask.
With a bit of luck, you'll have two masks of different types to rotate between. That helps a lot to keep the pressure points from being the same night after night after night, especially until your nostrils get more used to the Swift.
Also helps to smear a little Ayr gel or KY jelly ( not kidding) in your nostrils before using the Swift, or any nasal pillows interface.
With a bit of luck, you'll have two masks of different types to rotate between. That helps a lot to keep the pressure points from being the same night after night after night, especially until your nostrils get more used to the Swift.
Also helps to smear a little Ayr gel or KY jelly ( not kidding) in your nostrils before using the Swift, or any nasal pillows interface.
Re: Newbie
DerDrache wrote:Just got my CPAP machine on Wednesday. Doc says I was having 64 apnic episodes per hour I believe. They gave me a Resmed Elite S8 with a heated humidifier with a Mirage Swift facemask thingy. The pressure is set at 14.
The first night I wore it for 2 hours before ripping it off in my sleep, I lasted 4 hours the next night. Last night I think I actually lasted a full 8 hours but that was only after my doctor gave me Ambien. I have two questions. What can I do about the nostril pain in the morning and what humidity level should I be setting this thing at? The DME chick said just to make sure it wasn't so high that vapor condensed in the tubing. Does anyone have experience with this model?
I'm also a newbie (about 3 months so far) with the same setup (FYI your profile says you have an S8 Compact).
nostril pain: I also had nose pain with the Mirage Swift, but loosening the straps made it stop. I haven't tried any kind of lubricant for fear of damaging the mask.
Check out the FAQ section on the Swift. There are a lot of good posts (especially this tip on the hose placement that helped me a lot).
removing mask at night: Pulling the mask off at night was also a problem for me, but I found it was mainly caused by mask discomfort (it was much worse before I switched to the Mirage Swift from a regular nasal mask) and nasal congestion. For the congestion, my doctor prescribed Flonase and recommended a daily sinus rinse that both help a lot. I also take a prescription sleep med for parasomnia that helps me sleep through CPAP discomfort, so your Ambien will probably help you similarly.
Browse the FAQ for lots of tips on this problem.
humidity: I usually start the humidity in the middle and increase if I wake up with a dry throat (decrease if I wake up with a wet nose). I also have a neat little humidity sensor that came free with a humidifier I bought at the drug store. I keep it in the bedroom and adjust my CPAP humidifier on particularly moist or dry days.
A recommended cleaning schedule for the humidifier tank is widely debated on this forum, but I definitely recommend at least emptying it every morning and letting it air dry. I got lazy and let the tank sit filled with water for about a week and ended up with a severe sinus infection.
Good luck and stick with it. It gets easier and is worth the work. The people here are friendly and a great resource (I wish I'd discovered this place earlier when I was having a tough time adjusting myself).
Last edited by rasputin on Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
trying to catch up to rested gal
Rested Gal - Had such a fabulous Friday night with pressure 7-14. Now last night my mask leaked all around it at different times for what seemed like all night. Tightening the headgear did not help. There are 2 things I did
different last night:
1) used moleskin under silicone pads on forehead, as have a sore place about to become open sore
2) rinsed mask late yesterday (because I slept SOOOOOOOO good I got up late - did not realize until I went to "mask up" for bed last night that inner seal still had a lot of moisture. Got what I could out with a soft cloth, but could this be why it just wouldn't make a good seal?
I just now changed pressure 7-10 and have taken mask completely apart to dry...................any other suggestions??
Bad day in Wyoming
Ellen
different last night:
1) used moleskin under silicone pads on forehead, as have a sore place about to become open sore
2) rinsed mask late yesterday (because I slept SOOOOOOOO good I got up late - did not realize until I went to "mask up" for bed last night that inner seal still had a lot of moisture. Got what I could out with a soft cloth, but could this be why it just wouldn't make a good seal?
I just now changed pressure 7-10 and have taken mask completely apart to dry...................any other suggestions??
Bad day in Wyoming
Ellen
Both KY and Ayr Gel were specifically recommended by the Swift makers, so there's no need to worry about that.
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-dis ... ftChat.htm
Pain: It's important not to let it the soar spot become a soar - your nose (or forehead) need relief in order to heal and becom a bit tougher. When I started, after my first week on the Breeze my RT recommended a 1-3 night break. I had no altrenative mask, and did that reluctantly, and have never had to take a break since.
Ellen,
You might want to consider owning two Activas, so that when one is not entirely dry, you use the other.
O.
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-dis ... ftChat.htm
Pain: It's important not to let it the soar spot become a soar - your nose (or forehead) need relief in order to heal and becom a bit tougher. When I started, after my first week on the Breeze my RT recommended a 1-3 night break. I had no altrenative mask, and did that reluctantly, and have never had to take a break since.
Ellen,
You might want to consider owning two Activas, so that when one is not entirely dry, you use the other.
O.
_________________
| Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: Machine: Resmed AirSense10 for Her with Climateline heated hose ; alternating masks. |
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sore spots
Ozji - Good suggestion - I do have another type of mask on its way, but it won't be here until probably Wednesday - I will first thing tomorrow order at least a 2nd set of "inner" mask - I'm dedicated to making this work if it means I have to buy more than 1 0r 2 masks before I know what will work.
Thank you though for the good advice - seriously, no joke, I had not considered yet taking a night off for the sore on my forehead - I want to sleep good so bad!!!!!!!!
Ellen
Thank you though for the good advice - seriously, no joke, I had not considered yet taking a night off for the sore on my forehead - I want to sleep good so bad!!!!!!!!
Ellen
That's a great link. Thanks!ozij wrote:Both KY and Ayr Gel were specifically recommended by the Swift makers, so there's no need to worry about that.
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-dis ... ftChat.htm