Mask Usage Limitations

[becktrev]

Ok, I just looked back with the „search“ and FAQs and found nothing about drinking or other little things with the mask still on. I wonder how much is written here about these ‘quirks’.
Just in case it should be useful, I will risk an entry – repetition doesn’t hurt anyway.
I see that in the US you have mask usage training, so you probably already know – over here there is nothing – you learn from experience.

You have the mask up to pressure, comfortable and wake up needing something that involves ‘no mask’. Perhaps a bit thirsty, mouth dry or want to tell HER that she should stop kicking you.
Unless the roof falls in, you are not going to switch the machine off. It is too much trouble to look for buttons and you know that you are going to have to go through the whole mess of getting back up to pressure with a comfortable fit. So you lie there and weigh up how much you really want to go through the rigmarole anyway, think about the lottery, fall asleep and are awake an hour later with the same problem.

Know what? Just take the glass and swallow a drop – your throat will deal with it just like it does when you swallow saliva anyway. Practice if you like by closing the back of the throat with the tongue, open the mouth – pour in a bit – close it – swallow. No problem.
You can drink as much as you like – eat a chocolate – world’s your oyster.

The talking bit is harder – needs a bit of practice and more courage (yes, that is the word!)
You can switch over from nose to mouth breathing with the machine still delivering full power (12cm with me) and back again.
The technique:
Close the throat with the back of the tongue. Open the mouth. Exhale hard through the mouth
The nasal air passage automatically closes somehow – don’t ask me how – and you can breath in and out through the mouth – shout at the dog – whatever takes your fancy.
Switch back by taking a breath, holding it, then exhale hard through the nose. It takes over again and you are back on PAP pressure without taking off the mask or shutting down.

Ok, the end product may be the same as switching off/going on to ramp, but I certainly feel more comfortable doing this, particularly if it is something short.

I don’t do it unless I have to, but like to know it is there when necessary.

[Offerocker]

Thanks for posting that, becktrev!

The instructions were also clear.

Seems that once in awhile my husband just NEEDS to ask me a question immediately after I've 'taped'. Not certain if it's joking or not! I usually let him decipher hy grunts, facial expressions and non-ASL sign language.
But now I'll practice what you've said works for you. ...during the day, and hope the telephone doesn't ring!

[becktrev]

I wrote this, because it’s these little things that bring back a little bit of normality into a world of strapping into the machine and being tied to the wall with the electric cord for 8 hours.
Years later I am still embarassed wearing the thing – I don’t want to be looked at – that doesn’t change. But I try reduce the disadvantages in any way I can. The smallest nasal pillow mask possible, so that I can read for a few minutes whilst settling down – a single headband, so that the closed feeling is at a minimum – in the end I made the thing myself. The more you can improve the situation off your own bat, the better it becomes.
I recently bought a small battery pack strong enough to power the thing for a night. I can now overnight on a train or ferry, without wondering if there would be a power point.
The thing is, be inventive – give it some thought. Look at the disadvantages and don’t expect the meds to work out solutions or improvements – it’s not their field. Work on it yourself and you can slowly find, it’s not as bad as it might be.
These forums are an ideal source of stimulus for ideas. I only wish they had been running long ago, so that the fund of knowledge like here had been more readily available.
Better late than never.