Totally Lost.

[Derbysaddle]

I was hoping I could get some suggestions. I'm totally lost on what to do.
I used a cpap machine for the 1st time last Friday and have been trying to adjust ever since. (7 days straight)
My prescription was set at 4-20 so the first 2 nights I was just getting blasted awake as the machine was hitting the top side of 20.
On the third night I backed it down to 14 and had the most success and only woke up twice.
Ever since then it has been a struggle. I'm waking up 5 plus times a night with the following issues.

I'm a side / stomach sleeper and when my face mashes the pillows I spring leaks. so I had a cpap pillow overnighted to me and it has not helped. it too tall so my neck is strained and it still disrupts the mask.
I adjust from side to side also to stretch out my neck.
Also I have the not so pleasant habit of drooling so I'm waking up taking the mask off and whipping the corners of my mouth and chin.
last night I got so frustrated I took the machine and turned it off and slept on the sofa. I woke up with what felt like a hang over without the fun of any drinking.

My questions are :
1) any suggestions for a side /stomach sleep from stopping air leaks caused by adjusting back and forth?
2) any drool control suggestions?
3) now that I have used a cpap am I ruined from the point that if I don't use it i'm going to feel terrible when I wake up? it has never been a issue before

I really just want to be able to sleep next to my fiancé with out snoring and actually be able to sleep.

p.s. the sleep clinic has been no help they are a bunch of asshats.
On the flip side secondwindcpap people are awesome. I was happy to give them money vs. the sleep clinic or crappy DME.
Also my intellipap smart codes are
Day1 fqk1-fpe-bfn6
Day7 3ccj-1fp5-7dnp
Day30 d44x-2f8h-76ng not sure why it gives me a 30 day code since I've only used it 7 days unless it just avg. everything out

[Julie]

To others - I've explained how the Smart Code works to Derby and also added something about the bed...

To Derby - Sent you a PM ...

[JDS74]

Derby,

I use a folded up bath towel so that I can adjust the thickness to meet the distance I want. I tend to sleep on my side and have the towel/pillow placed so that the front of my face is not touching the pillow and therefore not putting pressure on the mask. My mask is an Oracle 452 oral only mask and is different than yours but the principle on not putting side pressure on the mask is the same.

I also use a hose suspension device so the hose goes straight up before going down to the machine. This arrangement helps when moving from side-to-side at night.

No good suggestions about what to do about sleeping on your stomach. Perhaps someone else can chime in about that issue.

The drooling might (???) be coming from you mouth dropping open while asleep. A soft cervical collar might help that by preventing jaw drop. Helps with leaks as well. For a FFM, much better than a chin strap.

[Derbysaddle]

The drooling might (???) be coming from you mouth dropping open while asleep. A soft cervical collar might help that by preventing jaw drop. Helps with leaks as well. For a FFM, much better than a chin strap. [quote][/quote]

I do wear a full face mask.

[Julie]

What? You're replying to your own complaining note!

[Derbysaddle]

Sorry still learning my way. Meant to reply and state I do have a full face mask
That is why the drooling is a issue. Has no where to go.

[palerider]

Sorry still learning my way. Meant to reply and state I do have a full face mask
That is why the drooling is a issue. Has no where to go.

it's good to trim your quotes, *stares at wulfman* but don't delete the quote opener, or it breaks it (or the quote closer).

you can hit 'preview' to see how it'll look before submitting, and you can also go back and edit your posts so they look better and make more sense if things didn't work out on the first try

[Wulfman...]

Sorry still learning my way. Meant to reply and state I do have a full face mask
That is why the drooling is a issue. Has no where to go.

it's good to trim your quotes, *stares at wulfman* but don't delete the quote opener, or it breaks it (or the quote closer).

you can hit 'preview' to see how it'll look before submitting, and you can also go back and edit your posts so they look better and make more sense if things didn't work out on the first try

I didn't realize it was an "issue"........
But, I've had too many incidents in the past where I've responded to an OP (without quoting their post) and then they edit their post(s).......and it makes the response seem out of context or irrelevant. So, I got into the habit of quoting the whole post just in case.


Den

.

[Julie]

Also, I sent you a PM explaining about Smart code, etc. in detail - you retrieved it, but didn't respond, so I'm not feeling much inclined to help now.

[robysue]

I'm a side / stomach sleeper and when my face mashes the pillows I spring leaks. so I had a cpap pillow overnighted to me and it has not helped. it too tall so my neck is strained and it still disrupts the mask.

I'm predominately a side sleeper and hubby is a stomach/back sleeper. We're both PAPers. Our solution to the bed pillow problem are thin down pillows. They squash into whatever shape we need for accommodating the mask. A lot of people around here also find buckwheat-filled pillows are squishable, which makes it easy to find a way to accommodate both the mask and your neck and you desire to squish your face (partway) into the pillow.

1) any suggestions for a side /stomach sleep from stopping air leaks caused by adjusting back and forth?

In addition to working on a solution to your bed pillow, you also need to work on making sure your mask is fitted properly. You don't mention what kind of a mask you are using, but each type of mask has its own fitting tips. If you tell which kind of mask you are using, you'll get some specific suggestions. One key idea for all masks, however, is to NOT over tighten the headgear. When the headgear is too tight, it increases problems with leaks and makes the mask more likely to spring a leak every time you turn over in bed.

2) any drool control suggestions?

Did the drooling start with CPAP? Or did you drool before starting CPAP? If you never drooled before, the "drool" may be rainout---condensed water inside your mask---rather than drool.

What to do depends on whether the problem is drooling or rainout. And what kind of a mask you're using.

[palerider]

I didn't realize it was an "issue"........
But, I've had too many incidents in the past where I've responded to an OP (without quoting their post) and then they edit their post(s).......and it makes the response seem out of context or irrelevant. So, I got into the habit of quoting the whole post just in case.

that nearly makes sense

now, if we can just work on your inappropriate use of quotes around words

[Wulfman...]

I didn't realize it was an "issue"........
But, I've had too many incidents in the past where I've responded to an OP (without quoting their post) and then they edit their post(s).......and it makes the response seem out of context or irrelevant. So, I got into the habit of quoting the whole post just in case.

that nearly makes sense

now, if we can just work on your inappropriate use of quotes around words

It's a way of highlighting a word and to prevent ME from substituting VERY INAPPROPRIATE OTHER WORDS to express myself.
For example, in this case, I could have used the phrase which translates to the acronym.......BFD.


Den

.

[Derbysaddle]

I'm a side / stomach sleeper and when my face mashes the pillows I spring leaks. so I had a cpap pillow overnighted to me and it has not helped. it too tall so my neck is strained and it still disrupts the mask.

I'm predominately a side sleeper and hubby is a stomach/back sleeper. We're both PAPers. Our solution to the bed pillow problem are thin down pillows. They squash into whatever shape we need for accommodating the mask. A lot of people around here also find buckwheat-filled pillows are squishable, which makes it easy to find a way to accommodate both the mask and your neck and you desire to squish your face (partway) into the pillow.

1) any suggestions for a side /stomach sleep from stopping air leaks caused by adjusting back and forth?

In addition to working on a solution to your bed pillow, you also need to work on making sure your mask is fitted properly. You don't mention what kind of a mask you are using, but each type of mask has its own fitting tips. If you tell which kind of mask you are using, you'll get some specific suggestions. One key idea for all masks, however, is to NOT over tighten the headgear. When the headgear is too tight, it increases problems with leaks and makes the mask more likely to spring a leak every time you turn over in bed.

2) any drool control suggestions?

Did the drooling start with CPAP? Or did you drool before starting CPAP? If you never drooled before, the "drool" may be rainout---condensed water inside your mask---rather than drool.

What to do depends on whether the problem is drooling or rainout. And what kind of a mask you're using.

I have the air fit f10 ffm. And I drooled before I started the cpap.

[chunkyfrog]

Not everybody was an English major;
and a lot of us embrace "artistic license".

[palerider]

It's a way of highlighting a word and to prevent ME from substituting VERY INAPPROPRIATE OTHER WORDS to express myself.

well, there are lots of ways to highlight words, whereas quotes actually have a contextual meaning.

http://www.thepunctuationguide.com/quotation-marks.html

but, as you mentioned, bfd.