How good can we really feel with cpap?

[Buddhist Sage]

Hello All,

I've been on CPAP now since May of 2012. I have mixed reviews regarding my cpap therapy, nothing special until lately.

Because of how complicated it can be to deal with insurance and DMEs I went a very long time with a tiny puncture in my tubbing, perhaps over 8 long months this year. I thought nothing much of having an old mask, and a punctured tube since I was still able to fall alseep.

Well about 2 weeks ago I finally recived new equipment. I got new tubing, and a brand new Mirage Quattro small. Boy of boy, did I learn my lesson. I always have a calm demeaner, but the following day after having used the new equipment, I woke up feeling an even deeper level of calm. I also found that my cognitive deficits significantly decreased, and it was so much easier dealing with stress.

But here's were the mystery begins. I only felt good for on 1 day, and then I continued to feel sour. I didn't want to feel moody and anxious anymore because I witnessed how good I can feel on cpap.

These are the circumstances that I believe contribute to me feeling bad.

1) I don't have a good seal dispite having a mask that is only 2 weeks old. I'm one of those that uses potroleum based gels on their face before applying a mask. This is because I always wake up with bruising. I'm not sure if a) I'm allergic to the Silicone or b) if I need to get a smaller mask, (small-Xsmall).

2) I'm now paying attention to posture. I'm a stomach sleeper. I heard this was almost as bad as sleeping on one's back. So now I'm gonna try to sleep on my side.


Please, any suggestions on how to get a good seal? I think I'm shooting myself in the foot with the Potroleum base gels, but I don't want to wake up with irritation.
Does anyone have any positive experience with the Remzzz's or Cpap Seal gel liner??

[Pugsy]

Does anyone have any positive experience with the Remzzz's or Cpap Seal gel liner??

Not me personally as I have never used either but just wanted to share something.
Becky at Remzzzs will send you a free trial package to try to see if it helps. Send her a private message telling here what mask you use.
memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=62662
She works for them and is a forum member and she will gladly send you some free samples.

A lot of forum members prefer Padacheek mask liners because they last for months and months.
http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_Maskliners.html

I haven't read of many success stories with the CPAP seal gel liner...so I can't say much about it.

I am zero help with any fitting ideas for anything but nasal pillow masks so I will defer to those forum members experienced with your mask to maybe offer additional ideas.

BTW...don't ever go with a damaged hose again...there are ways to fix small issues or tears and there are many forum members who have extra brand new hoses that we would gladly send you. I would have been happy to give you one.

[chunkyfrog]

Many of us use unscented baby wipes to clean our mask cushion in between "real" washings.
Since these wipes are packaged to be used up in a much shorter time than when used one a day, I have had a package go dry.
I can cut some of these soft clean wipes into mask liners, and rehydrate the rest with distilled water and repack in a freezer bag.
Nice, and practically free. Best of all, I can use my old t-shirts for something else.

[kwikwater]

Buddist Sage. I can only imagine!! For me I was a poster boy for CPAP from night one. The pressure wasn't a trouble, the mask sealed and I awoke, AWAKE!! after only 8 hours when I'd been sleeping overnight 11-12 and added a 2 hour nap.

I know you're getting good advice from watching this forum. You sound like you live in a situation like me. I do have an Apria related DME in my small town, but I've never approached the idea of testing new masks to find a better one. It scares me if I ever have to. I'm aware of people who can get test masks from their sleep center or their DME, but that is a luxury few experience. Most DME's offer to take back a mask within 30 days. i dont' know how that plays with the insurance companies, but until you keep one, I wouldn't pay. It would surely be a bookkeeping headache!!!

the message is, do what you have to to make it work. It's SO worth it!!!

[Joe Snooze]

Don't put any petroleum based gels or ointments near your mask as they eat the latex.

Water based products only

[Foggy1]

I use the RemZzz with my nasal mask and also when I wear a FFM. Helps me keep a good seal, and prevents marks on my face.

[jaybeem]

Because I liked the headgear so much, I used a Swift FX mask for months that did not really fit me. I was between a small and a medium pillow. To keep the medium sealed, I used http://www.amazon.com/Mustache-Sealer-S ... B003C7C7DG. I think it is food grade silicone, but am not sure. I could not see that it did any damage to the pillows. I would put just a tiny bit on the tip of my finger and run it around the edge of the pillows. It is amazing at keeping a seal. I eventually decided to find a mask that fit better and switched to the Nuance Pro.

[sleepinow]

Don't put any petroleum based gels or ointments near your mask as they eat the latex.

Water based products only

Would the softsoap product eat at my SwiftFx mask. I use it everyday to clean

[sleeplessinaz]

As far as I know - masks are not made with any latex. I am allergic to Latex so I am always informed about that. I have used the anti bacterial soap on occasion since it was handy. It did not destroy any of my masks since they are made of silicone. On a regular basis I use Dr. Bronner Castile liquid soap in peppermint! It is pure heaven, and makes the mask or nasal pillow smell so good and clean! You can buy it at Target or hi health. It's great stuff and a little goes a long way.....

[chunkyfrog]

I have seen some warnings against antibacterial soaps; but am uncertain why,
unless the antibiotic scent may be as irritating to others as it is to me, and silicone absorbs scent.
I do wonder if the warning against Vaseline is a relic from when cpap masks actually DID contain latex,
as petrolatum does damage latex. I avoid it because it's so cussedly hard to wash off!

[purple]

http://www.cpaphelpdesk.com/allergic-to-cpap-mask.html

[Buddhist Sage]

You guys would not believe what I've been through. I came to the conclusion that I really need a chin strap. When I first started therapy, I began with a nasal mask. I didn't last too long with the nasal mask because I would wake up with mouth leakes. I was given a chinstrap, but I stopped using it when I realized it was making a wrinkle on my face. I was then given the mirage quattro and have been on cpap for over a year with that mask. I always woke up feeling confused, and kept disregarding it because my doc said it was due to sleep debt. And that I needed to sleep it off.

Recently I've been paying more and more attention to my CPAP therapy, because my supervisor has placed me on the executive floor. Being on the executive floor drives me insane not because it can't do the work but because there is no room for cognitive errors on that level. I realized that even though I'm on a full face mask, that I'm still not receiving good therapy. I woke up with my jaw dropped and it all clicked for me. I never breathe through my mouth under any circumstances, even if I were to have allergies I would simply turn the pressure up and that's that. So, I got my old belt from my baseball uniform and tied it around my head. The following day I woke up calmer, more clear minded and my numbers were split in half! 1.4-0.7. I'm gonna make another appointment with my sleep doc and ask for another nasal mask.

I also bought a resmed S9 auto set. I'm a stomach sleeper and I suspect that I need more pressure in that position. Since no one wants to prescribe me an auto set, I just bought one lightly used from Craig's lists. It had 299 hours with the ih5 and it still smelled new. All for $450. When I get my nasal mask I think I can really bring my numbers close to zero.

remzzz's are useless now. I realized I never had seal issues to begin with. Once I started using my belt my leaks went from 1-4 ml per hour to 0. And this is with a mirage quattro that is almost a year old WITH petroleum based gel!,,,,,

[SleepyBobR]

Maybe I'm missing something here but wouldn't smearing Vaseline all over your face make leaks worse? I've always found that the best approach is to wash the mask every morning with shampoo (no conditioner) or body wash and to wash my face thoroughly right before bed. The dry, grease free interface allows the cushions to inflate and seal properly. JMO but if you haven't already, give it a try.

[BlackSpinner]

You can't use petroleum based products with silicon it degrades it.

[Buddhist Sage]

So what gel can I use? My straps are fine and they're not overtightned. I always wake up with irritation. Aquaphor prevents this....