Got my new mask this morning

photogal · Post by **photogal** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:33 pm

I took my size large Ultra Mirage FF mask to the DME and exchanged it for the medium.
Now, this is the medium that fit right but whistled when she tried it on me. There were NO others to bring home. I guess I will see if I can invent words to go with the tune tonight, or maybe manipulate the port or whatever piece you guys say the whistle comes from, like some have said they did to make the whistle stop. (hmmm....the whistle stop is my bed, LOL)
Now just what is it I'm supposed to massage or manipulate? On the mask, that is! (stopping Meister before he starts)
Also, I scheduled my shoulder surgery today. It will be Friday the 13th of May. OH HORRORS, I hope Freddie isn't there! Woops, Freddie is on Elm Street, who the heck am I thinking of? Jason??
Betty

Howkoolguy · Post by **Howkoolguy** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:56 pm

The exhalation port is near the bridge of the nose. It is a oval shaped rubber piece with holes in it. If it is not fully installed, it will leak slightly causing the whistle. Examine it closely and make sure that it sits flat on the mask. Air will come out the holes in the port when working correctly, however, it should not whistle.

Good Luck and I hope you love the mask as much as I do (and my wife since I no longer snore).

Howard

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Tue May 03, 2005 2:24 pm

Hey, tell them you want a nerve block anesthesia in addition to regular when you get the shoulder surgery. I had the exact same thing done, had the nerve block, had NO swelling and had nearly full range of motion when I went back 5 days later. Doc couldn't believe it. Having no swelling really speeds up your recovery. You'll still have pain when you try to lay on that side with your arm extended but during the day it is pretty negligible. The theory is that the nerve block works for about 12 hours. When you get home you start on the Vicodin every 4-6 hours FAITHFULLY, so it can get in your bloodstream and build up to therapeutic levels before the block wears off. BUT because you are having less pain initially this seems to tell the body it doesn't need to build up all that extra fluid to protect the part by makig the tissue swell.

Take you CPAP with your to surgery too, because they really put you under even though I don't think it is a general, you're going to hear "Take a deep breath" about every few minutes when you're half awake. If they'd just strap your machine on you maybe they won't have to do that.

photogal · Post by **photogal** » Tue May 03, 2005 2:49 pm

Howkoolguy and Janelle, thanks for such great help! I'll work on that port.
Meanwhile, I'm working on my new lyrics to go with the whistle if I'm not successful. Or I'll see if I can make the whistle sound like the whistle in "The High and the Mighty." That way, I can dream about The Duke walking across the runway.
As far as surgery goes, I'll tell 'em but we'll see if I get it! That sounds absolutely wonderful.
I was told this would be a very painful surgery fixing the torn rotator cuff and getting rid of the bone spurs. The doctor said I'd probably be sleeping in a recliner for a few weeks. Another person who had it said the same thing. Anything that would lessen that kind of pain would be great. Especially since I'm not real sure I'd get a good seal with my Pap in a recliner, as the head position is different. I've been telling myself I'll make the bed work, but in reality I might not be able to. I think the pain lying in bed is related to the shoulder falling back, as I've had some of that type of pain just with the torn cuff. I thought if I put a small pillow under my shoulder to support it, I could lie in bed. I guess I'll find out, won't I?

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Tue May 03, 2005 4:34 pm

Actually anticipating not being able to lie down to sleep and needing to elevate my arm and shoulder I bought one of those big pillows with arm rest things (found one in Walmart for like $12) I still had to put a few pillow inside the back part, if that makes sense. Later I moved to about 2-3 pillows and with my arm on another one or two. You need to elevate it to about shoulder height or more so a small one isn't going to work. But you will need something under it for quite a while. You'll also have your arm in a sling for a few weeks.

Call your ortho and ask him or the nurse about a nerve block. This is done by the anesthethiologist before they take you back for the surgery. I had about 1/4" of my clavicle removed because of a bone spur and they "cleaned out" my shoulder capsule. Not exactly the same thing as a rotator cuff tear but probably about the same in recovery and pain level. After the first 24 hours they have you bend over from the waist and let you arm dangle from the shoulder and you are supposed to swing it back and forth. That's a lot of fun.

christinequilts · Post by **christinequilts** » Tue May 03, 2005 5:29 pm

I had my first surgery since being diagnosed with CSA last week- I posted about it at the TAS forum. I'll say all the nurses & doctors were very aware of OSA...I just had to make sure they realized I didn't have OSA so most of their suggestions weren't going to help much. Usually they give you something either in the pre-op room or once you get to the OR to relax you while they put you under but they didn't want to chance anything with me until I was fully hooked up to all the monitors and they were ready to intubate me so it was little weird compared to all the other surgeries I've had. Also the anesthesiologist had told me he would stay with me and monitor me until I was fully awake which usually takes place in the recovery room but they actually woke me up in the OR as they were taking the breathing tube out. Usually you are still drifting in and out of it while you're in the recovery room so it was interesting to actually see what goes on there- I was the only one carrying on actual converstation with the nurses-lol. The other big difference was my surgery was done at the hospital instead of a surgery center just in case anything went wrong. Good luck with your surgery!

As for the mask whistling make sure it is assemble correctly. I know when I used my Ultra Mirage or Activa nasal mask if the cushion wasn't snapped perfectly into the frame they whistled like crazy. Check everything- O2 ports, exhaust ports, quick release connection, etc to see if you can figure out were the sound is coming from. Usually I would end up taking the mask completely apart and reassemble it but it might be tricky if you are not familiar with the mask....I can't believe they didn't have anything else & sent you home with a musical mask.

photogal · Post by **photogal** » Tue May 03, 2005 5:44 pm

christinequilts, I'll work that mask over good tonight. If you'd been around my DME young lady, you'd understand why all I got is a whistling mask. When I went to pick up the medium mask today, which was the one I tried on last week that whistled, it still had the makeup from my face on it. You'd have thought the first thing she would do is clean the mask after my try-on, wouldn't you?
I didn't see her today as she was in another town's office. It was dispensed to me by the pulmonologist's nurse. I told her how it had whistled, and if nothing I could do to it would help, I would expect a reorder from Resperonics.
I hope I'm not intubated as that usually makes for a sore throat. I'd much rather strap on my BiPAP and let it keep my airway open.
And to address what another poster told me, I would hope to have the BiPAP on during recovery. After my cancer surgery, all I wanted to do is sleep, and the nurse told my family to not let me sleep as my ox level kept falling. There I was, all comfy and cozy wanting to snooze and people kept slapping my foot and telling me to BREATHE. I got plumb nasty with them after awhile.

ballast949 · Post by **ballast949** » Tue May 03, 2005 5:54 pm

Speaking of the high and the mighty movie, it is supposed to be released on DVD this month - has been unavailable since the 80's, tied up in the Wayne estate & BATJAC productions.

The first time I reassembled my Mirage FF, I got the exhaust port plastic in upside down - the exhaust holes are larger on one side than the other and there is a small plastic bump that goes on the outside (I think) - I had it on the inside and the exhaust air noise was VERY loud. Took half an hour to figure out.

For the first week or so, I got small leakage from the hose/mask connector. Definite whistle. I wiped down every night and after a week or so the whistle disappeared.

Severeena · Post by **Severeena** » Tue May 03, 2005 6:29 pm

I have done everything with the Ultra Mirage to stop it from making obscene noises. I even made my own head gear for it. It still whistles and makes obscene noises.
I can use lukewarm water to wipe it down everything you can think of. I still get obscene noises.

ballast949 · Post by **ballast949** » Tue May 03, 2005 7:32 pm

I still have problems with that - my pressure is supposed to be 23 (I Have the bypap & it goes as high as 25)

I have the straps so tight that it is mid-day before the strap marks disappear. A real problem for me is that my nose starts to itch and I want to lift the mask up to scratch or even un strap for a minute. If I try to set the mask back in place under pressure, the pressure causes the edges of the mask (which normally fold under the mask and act kind of like the cushions on a hovercraft) are blown outwards. Then they act more like the reeds in a wind instrument and I get everything from raspberries to an assortment of squeals. I have learned to turn the machine off - scratch what itches - maybe take a baby wipe from the container by the bed and wipe the mask down quickly - then reinstall the mask and restore pressure.

Last night I tried something new I saw in one of the forums. I cut a liner out of a Kleenex (kind of like a toilet seat liner with the middle removed) and put it on my face under the cushions. First night I have had without elephants trumpeting in my ear.

Jerryh · Post by **Jerryh** » Tue May 03, 2005 7:50 pm

I am new to this CPAP thing. I have a Ultra mirage II and the noises are driving me crazy. My face is very oily and after sleeping 4-5 hours the thin flap makes all kind of noises. I clean off the seal with warm soapy water every night and scrub my face before putting it on. It has been waking me up 4-5 times around 4-6 am with the noise. I have adjusted it every way. tried to tighten the straps until I could not stand it any more and nothing helped.

I am going to try the kleenex under the seal.

Has anyone tried any other mask and had better luck. I was looking at the fisher-paykil one that fits under the chin. Anyone tried it?

meister · Post by **meister** » Tue May 03, 2005 8:53 pm

http://www.scubacityusa.com/detail.aspx?ID=239
http://www.snorkelcity.com/trmase.html

notbigenuf1 · Post by **notbigenuf1** » Tue May 03, 2005 10:09 pm

Dumb reply/question in the event of surgery that involves being put under you still take your pap&mask?

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue May 03, 2005 10:53 pm

Not a dumb question at all, notbigenuf. Yes, do take your machine/mask with you. Preferably have a family member along who understands exactly how to put the mask on you (and who has practiced doing that) in case the nurses are not familiar with how it goes on.

Discuss all of that ahead of time with the anesthesiologist, the surgeon, and whomever will be in charge of you in the recovery room afterwards. The hospital may even have a policy that requires them to check your machine before it can be used there. So, best to talk to everyone that needs to be aware of your breathing disorder and the machine you use, well in advance.

photogal · Post by **photogal** » Wed May 04, 2005 7:15 am

Okay, another dumb question. I haven't had my mask long enough to be familiar with all the parts.
I put the thing on last night and it doesn't whistle. But it also doesn't work. There is air blowing into the mask at a very high volume aimed right at my nose, and it blows with that kind of volume right out the port. I felt around the port, and there is a crescent-shaped opening there. Nothing else, no other part that fits in there or around there.
There was no trigger to my breathing like that was on the larger mask. When I breathe in, the air is still blowing strong, when I breathe out, it doesn't change. Once in a while it felt like it was trying to change volume like it is supposed to, but failed miserably. I never felt the "seating" you are supposed to feel when the machine is turned on and the air starts.
I have a feeling that there is something that is supposed to fit in or around the outtake port, but don't have a clue if that is correct.
After turning on the light and working with the mask, reseating the soft seal about 3 times, snapping and unsnapping the plastic holder, messing with the angle at the top, I finally gave up and took it off at 1:30 a.m.
Somebody let me know if there is supposed to be something that fits into or around that empty crescent-shaped hole where the air comes out.
I feel like killing that DME gal. I'm off to the dentist now, but hopefully when I get back I'll find out something from all you great people.
Betty

Got my new mask this morning

Got my new mask this morning

Exhalation Port needs to be fitting correctly

p

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The High and the Mighty

Obscene noises

Kleenex mask line templates needed

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Mask