Hi, Newbe (3wks) and have some ?

[mnealuf]

First off I want to say I LOVE this site. I have recently be diagnosed with apnea and have had my machine for 3wks.
I have learned so much from everyone here and would like some advice. I have slept poorly for years and I am having hard time adjusting to life as a hose head. At my follow up with sleep doc he said my 1st two weeks were miserable due to mask leaks (nasal pillows) and tighten them to the point of way uncomfortable. (I disagree). They seem to expand and seal in my nose and I adjusted the head gear and they seems to fit better without being mashed to my face and hurting. I screwed up and didn't get copies of the data from my study's. I downloaded sleepyheads and I think the leak now I am seeing is the purge. Mask background: I slept with a Quatro Mirage at lab and wasn't great, had large red marks in the morning. The RN gave me a Fisher PaykEl Forma to have (said they gave her some samples). I got nasal Pillows from DMP when I got my stuff thru insurance. I try decide if I should swap mask out before my 30 trial is up and I own it all. I have suffered thru almost every night be ause I know I have too but on a couple occasions I removed the mask so I could get some better sleep. (cpap is making me sleep less/worse). Is there a way I can post my sleepyheads data, as I am sure there is stuff there that will help people diagnostic it better then me.

Thanks in advance.
Mike

[Pugsy]

Hi Mike
Welcome to the forum.

Please post one of your "good" nights that is recent so we can see about that leak

Here are my standard "how to post images of my reports" instructions.

Open the image to full size so it is easily read.
I use Vista snipping tool to create a screen shot and crop the image at the same time.
Prt/scr key will also take a screen shot if using XP. If laptop is used sometimes the Fn key has to be pushed at the same time as the prt/scr key
I think windows 7 Home Premium has the snipping tool, Basic may not.

Once the screen shot is created save it in jpg format.
Upload the image to a host site. I use Photobucket it is free, there are others.
Once the image is uploaded then copy the ENTIRE IMG address. Be sure to include the opening and closing IMG in brackets. Paste that copied address into a post here.
If you want to use Photobucket they provide a box with the various url addresses and you just choose the last one in the box.
Copy/paste that last line url address into the body of your post.
Use the preview button. If you can't see the image try again because if you can't see it we can't.

[Sloop]

Seems to me you are having a lot of mask issues -- uncomfortable ones.

Are you absolutely stuck with a FF mask or can you try a good nasal mask?

IMO -- and I've tried my fair share of masks over the years ... THE most comfortable nasal mask EVER is the Resmed Soft Gel. It requires almost zero headgear tension and will NOT leave any red marks on your face. Another neat feature of this mask is that it uses the same mask frame as the Mirage ACTIVA LT, so you can switch out the membranes.

[mnealuf]

I started off trying a full face because I am a mouth breather and figured nasal wouldn't work. The positive pressure seemed to help and most nights I can breath with cpap. I will work on the image uploads

[Xney]

You can still get a copy of your sleep study by calling them and asking for it. I think in most states (all?) they're required to give you a copy if you request it.

Plus it's just nice if they do!

[mnealuf]

Here are some screen shots of a typical night. Super curious to see what the experts say.

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh4 ... PS0000.jpg
http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh4 ... PS0001.jpg
http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh4 ... PS0002.jpg
http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh4 ... PS0003.jpg

Thanks ,
Mike

[lazer]

Hi Mike, I just bracketted your image posts to show up better and giving your thread a bump






Edit: Never mind, it didn't work

[Pugsy]

I did the first one and second one so we could see leak..copied the url addy....clicked the IMG button on the editor here..inserted the url addy and I get the image.
Other than the leak line things look pretty good. A few short lived excursions past 24 L/min but not lasting very long. Most of the time below 24 L/min. Are the leaks waking you up?

[jweeks]

I started off trying a full face because I am a mouth breather and figured nasal wouldn't work.

Hi,

Lucky you...having been branded as one of those dreaded "mouth breathers". I got stuck in that category, too, and had to endure 9 months of trying one full face torture device after another. I finally discovered nasal pillow masks, and life has been good since that time. Yes, keeping your mouth from leaking is a challenge, but it can be done. In fact, it is worth it in order to be able to wear such a lightweight and comfortable mask.

-john-

[Xney]

In my case, i wouldn't mind wear a FFM. There just aren't any that fit me!

Nasal pillows + taping does work, though.

BTW with nasal pillows, you definitely do NOT want to strap them in hard. They will leak more that way. They need to inflate and seal to your nose, while the headgear is to keep them located in the right place - NOT to create a seal. If they don't stay sealed while the headgear doesn't let them move around, then they are the wrong size or wrong pillows.

[mnealuf]

Tried to take a nap today ( long story)!with my Fisher PaykEl Forma and I officially hate it. I have an appointment Thursday morning at DMS to look at all their masks/pillows. Do you think I am leaking thru my mouth? I tried to open mouth and the back flow was way weird and I didn't think I was doing that but now second guessing if the leak is actually T my nose.