Abandon Ship!!!

[pherretaus]

I am almost at the point of abandonding the good ship "CPAP" for the last month I have applied myself to finding a happy tolerable solution to machine settings and mask adjustments all to no avail. I am convinced that there is no solution and if I continue I will always live in this world of air leaks and settings that work one day but not the next - our recent weather spell with 40C has not helped. Surely someone can make a mask that is comfortable and does not "fart" all night. I also suffer emyphsema and asthma and purchased my machine with "A" flex that should have taken care of the pressure build up that I could not tolerate. At this moment in time I look like going down with the good ship "CPAP" as I do not have the energy to abandon ship.

[Todzo]

I am almost at the point of abandonding the good ship "CPAP" for the last month I have applied myself to finding a happy tolerable solution to machine settings and mask adjustments all to no avail. I am convinced that there is no solution and if I continue I will always live in this world of air leaks and settings that work one day but not the next - our recent weather spell with 40C has not helped. Surely someone can make a mask that is comfortable and does not "fart" all night. I also suffer emyphsema and asthma and purchased my machine with "A" flex that should have taken care of the pressure build up that I could not tolerate. At this moment in time I look like going down with the good ship "CPAP" as I do not have the energy to abandon ship.

Greetings,

Well at least the technology has improved so there may be hope. Go to the doctor and pursue a better machine.

If that is simply not possible type back and I will try to work with you as a poor man who has made CPAP work for nine years in nation with a crazy medical system.

I do hope you find good care and good health!

Todzo

[Chikorita]

Oh no. That is awful. I'm only new and don't have any suggestions for you but I strongly encourage you to keep seeking a solution that works. Your health is important. I'm hoping wiser people will be along soon to help you.

[Sheriff Buford]

I don't know if you will believe me or not, but there is a mask out there for you that will be comfortable and doesn't leak. Some people stumble on it from the "git-go" and for some people, it's a journey. Once you've "had it" with a mask that will never stop leaking, you need to get another one. You can exchange masks within 30 days for free and you'll know within those 30 days if the mask will work for you or not. Don't give up. It's a journey.

Sheriff

[ChicagoGranny]

I also suffer emyphsema and asthma and purchased my machine with "A" flex that should have taken care of the pressure build up that I could not tolerate.

I found that feature counterproductive.

At this moment in time I look like going down with the good ship "CPAP" as I do not have the energy to abandon ship.

Do you know what your untreated AHI is when you are sleeping on your sides or stomach? It might be low enough that you would get significant relief without CPAP by avoiding backsleeping.

This info might be available in your sleep study or you might need another sleep study where you do not sleep on your back.

[johnthomasmacdonald]

how about trying a dental appliance? - either alone or in combination with cpap - I use mine in combination with cpap and it has allowed me to bring the pressure way down - from 12 to 5 - and i get consistently much lower ahi numbers - I need to test the dental appliance on its own to see if it can do the job by itself but for that i need to pay for another home sleep test

[kimbo]

I had a horrid time with leaks for my first several weeks of CPAP. Invested in a chin strap, hose buddy and hose warmer and my leaks are very low now. Feel like my jaw closes how its supposed to after wearing the chinstrap for a few months - first few days my jaw was very sore.

[chunkyfrog]

It took me 20 masks before I finally found one that is right for my face.
I wish I could spend that much on shoes.
Oh, well, barefoot and healthy beats having your family fight over your footwear.

[Sir NoddinOff]

There's a solution for virtually every problem, especially the ones you mentioned. Stick with it.

[jencat824]

Please, please don't give up! I have been on CPAP 12 yrs with a pressure of 19. I have a straight CPAP, and I adjusted to the pressure as part of life. Giving up means you are not going to get the benefit of sailing on the good ship CPAP - good health. Now I have other health problems, but without CPAP I don't think I would still be alive. Please let us on this forum try to help you.

I know its frustrating, it took me more masks than I can remember to get one that worked. I felt like I'd been to hell & back before I found the right mask. Look at my signature line, I still change around masks & I have a recently found problem of mouthbreathing & am trying to combat that. I would never give up, that means you don't have a will to live & I do believe it is in each one of us to find that will to live. In your case, that means finding the right mask and sticking it out when the going gets rough.

When you've had a bad night, post here - both the details & your frustration. Members here will help you with both. We all can suggest masks, and changes to the ones you have. We can commiserate with you, having all been thru bad nites before. Sherrif noted that you can keep taking those masks back & swapping them out for the next mask that might work! Please let all the souls who ride the good ship CPAP to help you, please don't jump overboard.
Jen

[Gerald?]

I think I saw somwehre you said you were a mouth breather, but have you tried a set of nasal pillows?

They really get around the face farting issues. There are also plenty of suggestions on here about how to encourage nasal breathing.

[avi123]

It took me 2.5 years to tame the beast called CPAP. Contact Dr Michael Berthon Jones at the ResSmed company in Australia, to help you, instead of asking for advice from laymen like us.

[jencat824]

It took me 2.5 years to tame the beast called CPAP. Contact Dr Michael Berthon Jones at the ResSmed company in Australia, to help you, instead of asking for advice from laymen like us.

I take offense at your statement. I have been helped by the caring individuals who post on this forum. Many have gone out of their way to help me learn to interpret my data, hell, how to even get my data! Without all these good folks, I would not have found a problem I am having, goodness knows my dr would not have thought to tell me, since I have probably had this long term.

You have some nerve to post such a negative statement to a fellow forum member. He is reaching out to us for help, and you are telling him to call a company that is going to use marketing techniques on him, not help him to find his way with tools from any of the many companies available to us. Do you think ResMed is going to have him get a F&P product? No, they want to sell their product.

Post again when you have something positive to contribute. I thought this forum was about HELPING!
Jen

[avi123]

It took me 2.5 years to tame the beast called CPAP. Contact Dr Michael Berthon Jones at the ResSmed company in Australia, to help you, instead of asking for advice from laymen like us.

I take offense at your statement. I have been helped by the caring individuals who post on this forum. Many have gone out of their way to help me learn to interpret my data, hell, how to even get my data! Without all these good folks, I would not have found a problem I am having, goodness knows my dr would not have thought to tell me, since I have probably had this long term.

You have some nerve to post such a negative statement to a fellow forum member. He is reaching out to us for help, and you are telling him to call a company that is going to use marketing techniques on him, not help him to find his way with tools from any of the many companies available to us. Do you think ResMed is going to have him get a F&P product? No, they want to sell their product.

Post again when you have something positive to contribute. I thought this forum was about HELPING!
Jen

Reply,

The fact that you don't know who is Dr Michael Berthon Jones at Resmed shows how poor is your knowledge in sleep disorders. BTW, I usually put bullies like you on my foe list. So please don't be surprised.

[BlackSpinner]

It took me 2.5 years to tame the beast called CPAP. Contact Dr Michael Berthon Jones at the ResSmed company in Australia, to help you, instead of asking for advice from laymen like us.

I take offense at your statement. I have been helped by the caring individuals who post on this forum. Many have gone out of their way to help me learn to interpret my data, hell, how to even get my data! Without all these good folks, I would not have found a problem I am having, goodness knows my dr would not have thought to tell me, since I have probably had this long term.

You have some nerve to post such a negative statement to a fellow forum member. He is reaching out to us for help, and you are telling him to call a company that is going to use marketing techniques on him, not help him to find his way with tools from any of the many companies available to us. Do you think ResMed is going to have him get a F&P product? No, they want to sell their product.

Post again when you have something positive to contribute. I thought this forum was about HELPING!
Jen

Reply,

So what if you took offense b/c I don't care about your view and your ugly cat's look. It took me more than 2 years to achieve an optimal treatment b/c I listened to every poster's "advice" about changing pressure up and down, including that by Rested Gal. The fact that you don't know who is Dr Michael Berthon Jones at Resmed shows how poor is your knowledge in sleep disorders. BTW, I usually put bullies like you on my foe list. So please don't be surprised.

Well I had lots of help from the DME who sat on the other side of the table and told me to hold up my mask and then informed me that it was impossible for the mask to leak because it fit me. From the other side of the desk.
If there is anyone on this site who is a bully it is you with your mostly arrogant and ignorant statements and truly stupid advice. There is much more information on this site then what most DMEs, sleep doctors and RTs provide. I doubt very much if some doctor who runs Resmed is going to concern themselves with someone having a hard time with leaks, he will simply refer them to their local DME or sleep doctor.