New need help

[smg40]

Greetings ,

I'm new and have a few questions.. My RT gave me a Sandman and pillow headgear.. I had a sore nose so he switched me to a hospital nasal mask for 3 days.. I don't like it either..

What is the best machine to use and a mask that would be comfortable for a person who is claustrophobic. I have an awakening issue..

Thanks

[danmc]

Hi Mate,
It's hard when you start but take heart - it really does get to the point that you wont even notice the mask and it is worth pushing through the first few weeks of discomfort. Now I have to feel my face when I wake up to see if I am wearing it. The brain seems to eventually block it out just like it blocks snoring so you don't hear it or feel it. At least for me anyway. I figure this effect took about 6-8 weeks for me but I struggled a bit for the first few weeks - I would wake up with the mask off etc . I just kept trying. I do hear it if the mask gets loose and squeals of course but that is pretty rare now. It's always going to be better than having apnea so keep trying.

I wear a Swift LT nasal mask and find it fantastic. Its light and fits me well. There are 3 sizes of nasal prongs. I use a chin strap to make sure my mouth doesn't open.

It pays to try a few masks, but if you are claustrophobic I would recommend going the nasal mask route first. Also be aware that adjustment can make a huge difference so fiddle with it a lot before bedtime and wear it around the house if you can to try to get used to it. I found with mine that I overtightened them a lot when I started. Also, if you have a beard or a mo consider shaving the contact areas. I shave just a small line about 5 mm wide under my nose so I can keep my beard and my mask does not leak.

I think the choice of machine depends a bit on your diagnosis and budget. I am not up with the current machines nor the associated health problems that would dictate one machine over another ( I have pretty basic obstructive sleep apnea) but I can recommend getting the most feature rich machine you can afford that allows you to check your own progress via software. It is rewarding and gives you back some of the control of your health that apnea seems to erode. I think checking your progress yourself helps you to stay compliant through the first few weeks when it is hard adjusting.

I can tell you that you are in the right place for help on deciding on a machine. Post further details of your diagnosis and the good people here will chime in with recommendations. I used to worry a lot about machine choice but at the end of the day any machine is still going to be a whole heap better than none so don't beat yourself up about it too much. I like the resmed s8 series. My doc told me to just get a straight cpap only machine (no complications in my diagnosis) and save cash but I upgraded to an autopap type so I could use the software to track progress etc. I would still be ok on a straight, cheap as chips cpap and probably I would eventually have ended up with the excellent treatment results I get now. I just wouldn't have had so much fun getting there and it would have taken a bit longer maybe.

For me I have to have a humidifier and a heated hose. In fact if you have a humidifier I would say at least a tube warmer is essential (some cloth wrapped around the hose does the job in a pinch - anything to keep it insulated - just don't cover the machine itself) and a heated hose such as the sleepzone one is almost a necessity. Condensation is a pain and really makes the first few weeks hard. It also causes a lot of the squeaks and squeals you get as the small droplets of water sit on the outlet holes. Personally I don't recommend the home made hose heaters made with reptile heaters but that is another story.

I use a chinstrap as well as I said. Mine is a neoprene one but there are several types around. Anything to put a little pressure on your chin/lips upwards. What I find is that if I get the tightness just right it not only keeps my mouth shut - it lifts my upper lip slightly and this helps hold my mask in place. Lucky face shape I suppose - I knew these big rubbery lips would serve me well one day!

[smg40]

Thanks! Sorry to ramble... I am so frustrated and confused.. My husband has been using Mirage Quattro/S8 Escape II-CPAP for a year and it seemed so effortless for him.. He went to a different RT.. His problem is apnea.. Since I have awakening, shallow breathing problem my neuro sent me to someone else.. My insurance will pay for any (within reason) I want to get something good that will last more than five minutes..
I'm trying to be open to the process, but it is tough with the claustrophobia.. I haven't slept well the last 10 years and it has effected my life and everyone around me.. So I know this is a must for my health..

Thanks In Advance for all thoughts...

P.S. The Sandman seems cheaply made.

Sandman Auto
Sandman Heated Humid
Tubing
Swift LT for Her small NP
LT for her headgear

[RipVW]

Hello & Welcome, smg40! Glad you found this forum—SO much useful info and everyone here is so willing to help!

Best machine & mask is largely a matter of personal preference--there are SO many mask styles, and quite a few machines, too. Key, though, is that the machine you choose be data capable so you'll be able to personally track your CPAP therapy. And, some of us (me!) think an auto machine is preferred, since it gives you the option of running the machine in either regular CPAP or APAP mode. Good luck!

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

[ozij]

I had a sore nose from my nasal pillows mask after 3 days. My RT said to take a break of 2-3 days, she said I could afford it.

Never had to take a break since.

It helped me to user KY-Jelly (yep, a ResMed recommendation) on the pillows, I did that for 4 months or so. People also find AYR Gel helful, or Laniso nursing cream. The tip of you nose isn't used to something touching it for so many hours - but don't worry, the pain will dissappear.

As for the Sandman Auto: it may be cheaply made, but it's a sophisticated machine, and may be very good for your shallow breathing - don't judge it by the physical quality -- it has lots of smarts, and great software - which is wotrh getting.

Some people have had a problem with the machine+humidifier tipping over and water spilling where it has no business - so take care with that.

O.

[Kiralynx]

Thanks! Sorry to ramble... I am so frustrated and confused.. My husband has been using Mirage Quattro/S8 Escape II-CPAP for a year and it seemed so effortless for him.. He went to a different RT.. His problem is apnea.. Since I have awakening, shallow breathing problem my neuro sent me to someone else.. My insurance will pay for any (within reason) I want to get something good that will last more than five minutes..
I'm trying to be open to the process, but it is tough with the claustrophobia.. I haven't slept well the last 10 years and it has effected my life and everyone around me.. So I know this is a must for my health..

Frustration and confusion isn't uncommon when starting on this new health journey. I cried, coming out of the doctor's office when I got the diagnosis, because it was one more thing I had to cope with -- I was only 4-5 months away from major surgery for cancer, and life was sort-of getting back to normal, and now THIS!

I'm also terribly claustrophobic, so the masks were a horrifying thought.

The mask I used at the outset was the Comfortlite 2. It's rather heavier than some other masks, but it has the advantage that you can change from nasal mask to nasal pillows (2 kinds) and trade off if your nose is getting sore.

Another advantage was that I didn't have straps across my cheeks, closing me in, as with so many nasal and nasal pillow masks.

By the way, I also deal with the shallow breathing -- I'm more likely to have hypopneas than apneas. Interestingly, when we dealt with them, my hip and back pain got better!

[jweeks]

What is the best machine to use and a mask that would be comfortable for a person who is claustrophobic. I have an awakening issue..

Hi,

I think you are going to have to look at this from a little more pragmatic point of view. What is less worse...having a mask on your face, or cooking your brain or falling asleep driving and crashing your car and wiping out a few pedestrians in the process? Claustrophobia is something that you can unlearn, while having sleep problems will lead to an early death. Is avoiding the mask worth dying over? I am sorry to be blunt, but that is what it boils down to.

In my case, I used to fly airplanes, including high performance jets. Having an oxygen mask was part of being a pilot. Although all things being equal I wish I didn't have to use a mask to sleep, but I really don't have a choice any more. Once I hit the pillow, I tell myself I am back in the cockpit of a fighter jet, and after I make a few passes over the airfield in my mind, I am sleeping. Yes, it is a game, but it works for me. I all I have to do is get through the few minutes between lights out and falling asleep. You do what you have to because the alternative is far worse.

-john-

[gerrymoorerrtdotcom]

I would do everything in the world to stick with the nasal pillows, what kind of nasal pillow system did he give you? Manufacturer, they are not all created equal. cpap system wouldn't matter much here only just that you have a humidifier. What training did he give you to make changes on your own? also, a new mask is like a new pair of shoes, sometimes you do need to get used to them and suffer a bit but not often. Gerry

[SaltLakeJan]

Mornin' smg40

When I began CPAP in January of this year, my first obstacle was the mask. Like you and Kiralynx I have claustrophobia. Because of my aversion to anything touching my face, both the doctor and the DME wanted me to use a Nasal Pillows mask. I used three of them trying to get one that I could keep on - my pressure kept blowing them off my face. You are fortunate that they gave you relief from the pillows when your nose began hurting. I kept trying with the various nasal pillows until my nares had deep sores in them. I had to take time off from using CPAP

A different R.T. at my DME suggested I use a nasal mask. I didn't think I could stand anything touching my face, the way the Mirage Micro does. I became used to it. When my insurance allowed it I got a second nasal mask, It is a Fisher & Paykel Zest. They are both good masks for me, as light as they can be, and as other posters have said - it is amazing the first morning you awaken, and am surprised you are not aware of the mask. My personal favorite is the F&P Zest mask. I little hard to get on the first few times, but the headgear is comfortable after you realize hooking them is easy.

smg40 -what it comes down to, is perservence. You just have to get a mask you can use, and keep using it.

The feelings you express of not liking the machine or the mask are normal. I can't say I hated the mask at first, but I certainly felt it was a burden. If you are close to your DME, have them fit several masks to you. Lie down, turn on each side checking for leaks. Move around a bit, as though you were lying in your bed. Some people take a small pillow and a throw to lie down on. My R.T never offered to have me lie down, so you may have to take charge.

Post again and let us know how you are doing. Remember, getting a good fitting, comfortable mask is the key to successful Cpap. Most do struggle at first.

Best wishes to you. Jan