Newbie Needing Advice

[gknee]

MY STORY:
I was finally diagnosed with OSA a few weeks ago (40AHI) after experiencing sleep and snoring issues most of my life, even as a small child. But I didn’t realize how extremely fatigued I was until I gave up caffeine on January 1st. I think I’ve been masking my problems for years and just going on fumes & will power, but it’s no longer a sustainable "solution." According to my doctor, I have a VERY small mouth and nose. In fact, I'm concerned that the small nasal pillow I'm using might not be small enough. Does anyone make xsmall? Tonight will be my 3rd night using my new M Series Pro C-Flex CPAP Machine (pressure 7), but I’m nervous because this morning I woke up with a very red and irritated left nostril, which still hurts at the end of the day.

QUESTIONS:
1. Any tips on preventing external nasal irritation? The rep from Lincare suggested using KY or Astroglide, or any kind of water-based lubricant. If so, do I just coat the nostril inside and out with the gel? I tried that last night but am not sure that it worked quite right. Could this be the reason for my irritation?
2. I have fine hair and find it difficult to position the head gear properly. I’m kind of using it like a head band with my long hair pulled up and over the lower strap and the top strap holding my hair in place like a normal head band. Is this ok?
3. I have the humidifier cranked up to the highest level but the air doesn’t feel warm to me. This morning I even checked the temperature of the tank to make sure it wasn’t cold but it was only mildly warm, not hot as indicated in the manual that it would be after a full night in service.
4. What software should I use with my device? I don’t seem to have received any s/w in my kit at all.
5. Will the Swift II nasal pillow be more comfortable and is it really much quieter than its predecessor, which I’m using right now? I’m having a hard time with the noise. As I told my doc, my favorite part of the cpap sleep study was when the technician came in the room in the morning and turned off all the machines – blissful peace and quiet, aaahhhh...
6. What’s the difference between C-Flex level 3 (current setting) and the other settings?

Thanks in advance for all your suggestions!

[JohnMudie]

....
QUESTIONS:
........

4. What software should I use with my device? I don’t seem to have received any s/w in my kit at all.

Welcome gknee

Encore Pro http://sleepapnea.wikia.com/wiki/Encore_Pro is what I use.

You may have some difficulty getting hold of it as there is some sellers have pulled it off the market.
See viewtopic/t19830/Since-Encore-Pro-18-is ... lable.html for one of the discussions.

But have hope and persistence. And if all else fails you can send your cards to me for reading. When my system broke down some-one read my card for me and it was very helpful. I want to return the favor

John M

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Encore Pro

[JohnMudie]

.....
. Will the Swift II nasal pillow be more comfortable and is it really much quieter than its predecessor, which I’m using right now? I’m having a hard time with the noise.

The mesh trick worked for me
viewtopic.php?t=3319

And its real cheap at Walmart . Cost me about 50 cents for a 6" strip.
But my trick was not to lose it down the drain when I washed the mask.
I finally cut it up in such a fashion it got stuck in the barrel.

Enjoy the peace when it comes.

John M

[JohnMudie]

....
6. What’s the difference between C-Flex level 3 (current setting) and the other settings?
.....

Well there are a lot of pictures in
http://cflex.respironics.com/PDF/102456 ... d63005.PDF
which show that the pressure drops more as you turn up the knob.


My experience though is that I get longer to breathe out at higher settings.

At any rate, just fiddle and see what you like best.

John M

[bdp522]

Welcome! You have come to the right place for help. I'll try to answer some of your questions.
Nasal irritation; you can also try ayr gel with aloe or lanolin(I've used Lansinoh, it's found in the baby section of stores, it's for breast feeding mothers), I've also used chapstick and it worked well for me.Given time the nares do toughen up.
My feeling on headgear is...what ever makes it work for you. If you are comfortable(all things considered) and you aren't having lots of leak issues, then it's fine.
The humidifier doesn't really warm up alot. It only warms enough to allow more moisture to be carried in the air to the mask. I use a heated hose to keep the air warm.
The software has to be purchased seperately. You may be able to use the 1.6 Encorepro but i'm not sure. As JohnM said there have been problems getting the software. You may want to get another card and take JohnM up on his very kind offer to read yours for you. I'm sure someone will give you more info on the software later.
I have never used the swift, but reports here show it to be much quieter.
C-flex is a momentary decrease in pressure to make exhale easier. 3 is the highest setting, giving the most relief. 1 is the lowest setting, giving the least. I keep mine on 3, I find it most comfortable.


Brenda

[Slinky]

... According to my doctor, I have a VERY small mouth and nose. In fact, I'm concerned that the small nasal pillow I'm using might not be small enough. Does anyone make xsmall? Tonight will be my 3rd night using my new M Series Pro C-Flex CPAP Machine (pressure 7), but I’m nervous because this morning I woke up with a very red and irritated left nostril, which still hurts at the end of the day.

Some masks can be found in a Petite size, even a few in Pediatric size.

... 1. Any tips on preventing external nasal irritation? The rep from Lincare suggested using KY or Astroglide, or any kind of water-based lubricant. If so, do I just coat the nostril inside and out with the gel? I tried that last night but am not sure that it worked quite right. Could this be the reason for my irritation?

I, too, had a problem w/the external nasal irritation. Actually, for me it was more the "barrel" of the pillows laying on my upper lip under the nares that was causing the irritation. I switched to the ComfortLite 2 which came w/a Small & Medium nasal pillow AND a Small & Medium simple nasal cushion.

... 2. I have fine hair and find it difficult to position the head gear properly. I’m kind of using it like a head band with my long hair pulled up and over the lower strap and the top strap holding my hair in place like a normal head band. Is this ok?

Hey, if it is comfortable for you and does the trick, that is just fine. Many w/long hair have resorted to the same "hair style" whilst wearing their mask and headgear.

... 3. I have the humidifier cranked up to the highest level but the air doesn’t feel warm to me. This morning I even checked the temperature of the tank to make sure it wasn’t cold but it was only mildly warm, not hot as indicated in the manual that it would be after a full night in service.

I feel like I can't breathe if the air is too warm. In fact, I breathe better if the air is somewhat cool. BUT - I had a terrible time part of this winter when the house was really dry from the furnace running constantly not being able to get ENOUGH humidity w/my integrated humidifer turned as high as it would go. I ended up w/my internal nostrils chapped and raw and really ticked off sinuses. I had to borrow a stand alone humidifier which could provoide more humidity than the integrated humidifiers can. The humidifers aren't to provide warm air they are to provide enough humidity to prevent the CPAP air from drying out and irritating your nostrils and sinuses.

... 5. Will the Swift II nasal pillow be more comfortable and is it really much quieter than its predecessor, which I’m using right now? I’m having a hard time with the noise. As I told my doc, my favorite part of the cpap sleep study was when the technician came in the room in the morning and turned off all the machines – blissful peace and quiet, aaahhhh...

I just recently switched to the Respironics Simplicity Petite Simple Nasal Cushion. Ahhhhhhhh! It FITS! At least the simple nasal cushion does. These simple nasal cushions (the CL2 also has a simple nasal cushion) are smaller, shorter, narrower than the "normal" nasal cushions on nasal cushion masks.

However, the headgear was made for giants I think!! I've had to do a couple of "fixes" to the headgear. There is a center strap going over the head to which the two "forehead" straps attach via a slit in the center strap. The slits in the center strap are too low once I shorten up the center strap to fit so I had to slice slits for them about 1/2"-3/4" higher up the center strap. And for some unknown reason Respironics didn't put "velcro" strips that were narrower than the straps themselves on this headgear. Duh. If you aren't REALLY careful when adjusting the straps the "velcro" can rub your neck almost raw in no time. But that was a simple "fix" too, just take a good pair of scissors and cut the "velcro" narrower.

This Simplicity is EXTREMELY quiet!! I've tried the Breeze nasal pillows, the HC 407 Flex-Fit Small nasal cushion, the Swift nasal pillows, the ComfortLite 2 Small nasal pillows AND Small & Medium simple nasal cushions, the Aclaim 2 Small nasal cushion, the ComfortGel Petite nasal cushion and this Simplicity Petite simple nasal cushion and there is no comparison on noise level. The Simplicity is QUIET!! Like silent.

My 2nd favorite mask after this Simplicity is the ComfortLite 2. I've found I don't care for nasal pillows at all. Even tho my pressure is only at 8 cms still I find the CPAP air so direct into the nasal passages just too drying and irritating so I switched to the simple nasal cushion that also comes w/the CL2. Surprisingly, I found the Medium simple nasal cushion to fit better than the Small. BUT, after 3 months or so I had problems w/the headgear, it tended to shift just enough during the night that it took that long for my hair follicles under the swivel to take offense and protest via a tender scalp plus my hair began thinning under the area of the swivel as well. That may have been due to the swivel on this particular CL2 not being as free swinging as swivels on others masks I have tried. A dab of vegetable oil did free it up to swing more freely but not as freely as the swivel on the Simplicity. It seems to be the individual CL2 and some read have encountered a "sticky swivel" like mine and others have very free swinging swivels on their's.

[gknee]

John, Brenda, & Slinky - thank you so much for your detailed responses. I have so much info now that I'm sure I'll be a happy camper in no time at all. You guys are really phenomenal; snaps to everyone! I'll let you know how I progress and especially with regards to the monitoring.

Jeanne (aka gknee)