New and armed with questions

[MarkWriter]

Hi Folks,

I was diagnosed with apnea two weeks ago and got my machine on Monday. It's a ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet, and I was given a full face mask (as opposed to nose "pillows").

The first night was crappy, with lots of adjusting and not being able to sleep, generally being very aware of the mask.

I'm posting because last night, night #2, was completely different. I put the mask on and it felt fine. I fell asleep quickly and slept... fine. Twice I woke up and wasn't even sure the device was working -- once I unhooked the tube from the mask, and felt/heard air blowing. The second time I lifted the mask from my face and, again, felt the air.

I had doubts about it working for two reasons:
1. I couldn't feel it, and it didn't bother me at all; and
2. I didn't manually hit any buttons on the machine (because it seemed to start up by itself).

This morning my phone's app registered 7.26 hours of usage, noted a Good mask seal, 0.8 events per hour and 2 mask on/off times. So it had to have been working, right?! Did I just get super lucky?

Thanks in advance for any input!

Mark

[zonker]

Hi Folks,

welcome to the forum! yes, indeed, you are the exception that enforces the rule. many, many people here have troubles adapting to cpap, including myself.

congratulations on adapting so quickly!

oh and btw? you didn't need to touch any buttons on the machine because it features an auto start and stop.

[katestyles]

Hi Folks,

I was diagnosed with apnea two weeks ago and got my machine on Monday. It's a ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet, and I was given a full face mask (as opposed to nose "pillows").

The first night was crappy, with lots of adjusting and not being able to sleep, generally being very aware of the mask.

I'm posting because last night, night #2, was completely different. I put the mask on and it felt fine. I fell asleep quickly and slept... fine. Twice I woke up and wasn't even sure the device was working -- once I unhooked the tube from the mask, and felt/heard air blowing. The second time I lifted the mask from my face and, again, felt the air.

I had doubts about it working for two reasons:
1. I couldn't feel it, and it didn't bother me at all; and
2. I didn't manually hit any buttons on the machine (because it seemed to start up by itself).

This morning my phone's app registered 7.26 hours of usage, noted a Good mask seal, 0.8 events per hour and 2 mask on/off times. So it had to have been working, right?! Did I just get super lucky?

Thanks in advance for any input!

Mark

Great to hear! Glad it worked out well for you.

[Pugsy]

Welcome to the forum.

Yes...some people do get lucky and take to this therapy like a duck takes to water.

You might want to download and read this manual....it explains some features on your machine (like that SmartStart/auto on and off thing) that the typical user manual doesn't cover real well.
https://www.respshop.com/manuals/ResMed ... %20her.pdf

Congratulations on a successful night and here's hoping you have many, many more.
But if for some reason you do have a rough night....we all have them from time to time...even myself and next month I will celebrate my 10 yr anniversary of being on cpap.

[MarkWriter]

Thanks so much for the replies. My post kinda reads like I'm bragging but I promise I wasn't, I was genuinely confused. Much appreciate the welcome and the feedback.

[zonker]

Thanks so much for the replies. My post kinda reads like I'm bragging but I promise I wasn't, I was genuinely confused. Much appreciate the welcome and the feedback.

oh, not at all! many of us here brag when we get low numbers or have a very restful night of sleep.

just keep us in mind if you have any questions about anything.

good luck!

[chunkyfrog]

I brag because my sweet hubby makes all the distilled water I need--then HE cleans the distiller.
I also brag because Monday was my 4th anniversary of surviving breast cancer.
Everybody get checked--please.

[zonker]

I brag because my sweet hubby makes all the distilled water I need--then HE cleans the distiller.
I also brag because Monday was my 4th anniversary of surviving breast cancer.
Everybody get checked--please.

oh! i had no idea you were a survivor. good work.

as to that making your own distilled water...have you ever posted about that?

[chunkyfrog]

Yes, I have, on several distilled water threads.
Sears used to sell countertop distillers, and we bought a couple from a clearance outfit--
as they had been returned, and were no longer saleable as new.
Even though Sears is gone, I believe they are sold elsewhere.

[zonker]

Yes, I have, on several distilled water threads.
Sears used to sell countertop distillers, and we bought a couple from a clearance outfit--
as they had been returned, and were no longer saleable as new.
Even though Sears is gone, I believe they are sold elsewhere.

took a quick look at amazon and am confused by their descriptions. i may need to go back and do some further research. but they seem to say that the products i looked at produce PURIFIED water.

is this the same as distilled water?

[chunkyfrog]

Unless it says "distilled", that's not it.
I sent you a PM.

[MarkWriter]

Two more questions (I tried looking for answers here but got bogged down and didn't find any!):

1. My therapist/tech gave me a cheap mask which works OK but turns out puts too much pressure on the bridge of my nose. After three nights, I have a red mark and bruising. It's not just a matter of tightness, any looser the mask slips off. So, I need a new mask but am bamboozled by the choices. Should I just pick one or is there some logical way to choose which is best for me?

2. How do I know if I can switch to nasal pillows? Is that a medical decision?

[Pugsy]

Can you normally breathe through your nose comfortably day or not without having to mouth breath to move enough air?
If so....you can at least try one of the nasal interface masks.
It's not a medical decision....mask preference should be left up the to patient.

Now if you have chronic nasal congestion issues that you just can't ever clear up and you just have to mouth breath to get enough air then a full face mask is the logical choice.

Now if you are a sometimes mouth breather more out of habit or the jaw just drops down a little and allows the mouth to come open a little...you can still use a nasal mask but you may or may not need to add something to your routine to help you keep the mouth closed.
All depends on how bad the mouth opening is and/or how much it annoys you.

Now since you asked about full face masks specifically....if I was going to absolutely have to use one....check out either the Respironics DreamWear full face mask or the ResMed AirFit F30...both of which don't have anything touching the bridge of the nose area at all.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-dre ... k-headgear

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... k-headgear

[MarkWriter]

Thank you, Pugsy, much obliged. This is a new and confusing world for me, a little scary. So let me ask this by way of follow up: I honestly don't know if I breath through my mouth only, my nose, or... a combination. (I have been assuming my mouth since my wife told me I started snoring (only two years ago!!)). So the masks that don't cover the nose, what if it turns out I breath through my nose (to some small or large degree) while I sleep? Will this render the device useless? Will the masks you linked actually prevent me breathing through my nose by blocking it?

[Pugsy]

Full face masks don't prevent nose breathing at all...they have openings that allow for whatever kind of breathing you want to do (nose or mouth).
A lot of people use full face masks and primarily nose breathe...no big deal.
What the full face mask does do is, IF you are a mouth breather, the mouth is part of the sealed circuit so therapy pressure isn't lost out the mouth if you open your mouth.
With a nasal mask the mouth is left uncovered and it is possible for therapy pressure to exit out the mouth and when that happens very much then it can't make it to the airway to hold it open.

Nasal masks have less real estate touching your face....less area that needs to be sealed. Less stuff to mess with in general.

To see if you can breathe easily through your nose....just shut your mouth and breathe through your nose for 5 minutes.
You will know real quick if your nose is congested enough to cause you to need to open your mouth to get enough air.

Just because someone snores doesn't mean that they are a mouth breather.