3 nights in I'm leaky!

[toryg51]

Hi, everyone - I want to bring everyone up to date with my progress so far, but I also wanted to repost a reply I had put on an earlier thread on Friday - knowing how tricky it can be to have a good experience with a DME (and especially Lincare, it looks like!) I wanted everyone to know that so far I have had a good relationship with them Here it is:

I have had very good service with my Lincare. My PCP put me on supplemental oxygen for a few months after my oximeter test, knowing that it would take awhile to get through the sleep studies, get the machine, etc. So that was my first interaction with Lincare. The one I use is about an hour from my home, and delivers into my area on Thursdays and Fridays. Working with them to get the oxygen up and running was professional and pleasant.

Yesterday I went down to the office itself to get the machine. I had spoken with them by phone 2-3 times in advance to make sure I was getting what I wanted (and what I had the sleep doctor prescribe). Again, very pleasant and professional. I spent about 45 minutes with the respiratory therapist and he was very, very good. Last night was my first night and I had some questions about how the mask was working, leaks, blah, blah, so I called Lincare this morning and spoke to the same RT. He had good suggestions and asked me to give it through the weekend and then call him on Monday to tell him how it was going. In addition, the Lincare driver actually was not supposed to be in my town today, but made a special trip to pick up the oxygen tank, since I no longer need it.

I know I'm lucky, based on the many horror stories I've heard!!!! Fingers crossed!

P.S. I use the Lincare in Vestal, NY

Now on to my adventure so far. I have been able to keep the mask on all night. Sleep has been fragmented. The first night went pretty well. Second night the mask and I had a version of the Friday Night Fights to get any semblance of comfort and no leaks. The mask likes to leak in the lower right hand corner. I also seem to be doing some mouth breathing, I had "sahara mouth and throat" Friday night and even with taping my mouth shut last night air is leaking out. I have been planning to see the dentist again to have the night guard adjusted; I've had it a few months and it needs to be refitted and I am hopeful that will help, but geesh! I feel like like I'm leaking and mouth breathing all over the place, which was NOT the case when I used this mask during titration. I may have mentioned this before, but I have to use either a nasal mask or pillows due to trigeminal neuralgia and during titration this mask worked best, but I have to be very careful that I don't pull the straps tight as this puts too much pressure on my face.

I'm now goint to see if I can download and figure out the sleepyhead software. I'll be interested to see what my stats look like. I feel relatively good and like I say I keep the mask on all night, but the leaky thing seems to be getting worse. Any comments or suggestions are welcome!!

[Sir NoddinOff]

I don't have any big suggestions regarding your post - you described your issues very clearly and concisely, also you seem to have a plan that involves a lot of ingenuity and willingness to solve problems. That's the important thing and something I love to see in a newbie. I predict you'll do just fine. Oh yeah, one tip for the leaks: Try a little bit of Lansinoh lubricant for your mask... available at Walgreen's or on the web. Search this forum for that term, there are dozens of mentions of it.