Cpap Masks...driving me crazy!

[Littlefeather]

I have a deviated septum so I can't use the nose cpaps. I tried one but once the pressure started my ear hurt. I have tried several full face masks and they are all causing issues. The latest issue was I got a Fisher and Paykel mask. It seemed really good, didn't hurt. I went to sleep and woke up with a black and blue bridge across my nose! With any of the masks if I pull them too tight that causes marks and bruises. If I pull them so they are not tight they leak. Along wiht Fisher Pakel I've tried Quattro FX small. I have small face with high cheekbones. I am ready to forget the cpap and that is not good because I have severe obstructive sleep apnea.

[macewa]

I have the same problems as you with masks. Any mask that I don't pull way too tight leaks like crazy, even my total face mask. My new mask was a F&P 432 Ful Face (for summer) or something like that and I woke up with a red mark across my nose and a bruise. Cant wear it or the other full face masksbecause of same thing -- and I have had the septoplasty surgery. The only thing that works for me without pain is a TOTAL face mask and I am dreading it because of summer and the heat. I had to change out the straps from adult ones to the pediatric ones. They help it fit better. I've been struggling with this stuff going on 8 months. Still don't have it figured out, but I've lost weight, am now off my blood pressure meds and if anything my bp is too low for me. My vertigo that was so awful is gone and once in a while I feel good -- but still struggle to get the right AHI - the ever elduing AHI.

I have a deviated septum so I can't use the nose cpaps. I tried one but once the pressure started my ear hurt. I have tried several full face masks and they are all causing issues. The latest issue was I got a Fisher and Paykel mask. It seemed really good, didn't hurt. I went to sleep and woke up with a black and blue bridge across my nose! With any of the masks if I pull them too tight that causes marks and bruises. If I pull them so they are not tight they leak. Along wiht Fisher Pakel I've tried Quattro FX small. I have small face with high cheekbones. I am ready to forget the cpap and that is not good because I have severe obstructive sleep apnea.

[Mary Z]

Finding the right mask is hard. I must have tried 15 masks before I found one that worked. I liked the Quattro, but the hard inner plastic from caused a sore on the bridge of my nose and I can't wear it anymore. I use the Respironics FitLife Total Face Mask (not the one size fits all) with good results. I use the small headgear with the large mask.
Other things you can try are mask liners- RemZzzs, Quietus, or Pad-a-Cheek. You can also use Macks silicone ear plugs. You take some of the ear plugs, roll in your palms until soft and fashion into a rope the size of a pencil and put around the perimeter of the mask where it sits on your face. A mask should never cause sores or bruising, overtightening is counterproductive. There are many masks out there. Try to find someone from your DME or a technician at the doctors office to help with mask fitting. You can usually return a mask that doesn't work to the DME within the first 30 days and get another mask.
Good luck, keep trying. Getting the right mask is the toughest part of therapy for some of us.

[zoocrewphoto]

My vertigo that was so awful is gone and once in a while I feel good -- but still struggle to get the right AHI - the ever elduing AHI.

[/quote]

Can you tell me about your vertigo? Was it related to the sleep apnea?

Last September, I went to my regular doctor for a checkup because I was about to go on a trip, and wanted to make sure my asthma medications were all current. My blood pressure was higher than ever (160s), and I was warned that I was at high risk of a stroke. First blood pressure medication. The very next week, while traveling for just a weekend, I woke up with vertigo. Very bad. I went to the emergency room. A week later, while at home, it started up again. Back to another emergency room and later an ear specialist. No actual diagnosis, just assumption of inner ear virus. I did discover on my trip (which involved hiking in Arches National Park) that the motion sickness medication for vertigo helped with my lifetime fear of heights. Very interesting. I don't feel weak and shaky when next to high edges, not like i do without the medication.

Last week, I started feeling odd just as I was going to sleep, like I was moving when my eyes were closed. Then on Saturday, all day, I felt odd. No actual vertigo, but I felt kinda like I did when I had the vertigo and the medication lessened that feeling. Almost sick, and feeling like I was almost moving, even when I was not. I can't really describe it. I felt it again Sunday night, Monday afternoon, and Tuesday afternoon. Nothing today. I just started using my new apap machine Monday night.

The vertigo is really what scared me into taking my medication better, checking my blood pressure, and then when I learned that sleep apnea was related to high blood pressure, I told my doctor about my undiagnosed sleep apnea. If it is related to the vertigo, I am really interested to know more as I never want that feeling again. This past weekend really worried me as I was afraid it was going to start up again.

[neverbetter]

The drugstore has foam ear plugs that you can roll up and squish and put along the bridge of your nose between the mask and your nose. It's cheaper than the gel some sleep company came out with. The ear plugs are green but I've seen and used the red ones too. It's a foamy mushy material and one ear plug lasts a week or two before it looses it's give. About 40 plugs come in the bag for about $2.99 .I think the red ones might be a dollar more, but the cheap ones are better for this purpose.

[bipapper]

Neverbetter...why didn't you post this when I asked about my nose? Nobody ever answers my posts...hardly ever. I know I'm new and not in the loop but this sounds like the answer to my nose problem...the hubby just happens to have ear plugs...just like the ones you refer to because my mask was making so much noise...well that and the tv too because I can't sleep these days...anyway...will be trying the earplugs tonight!! THANKS!!

[macewa]

My vertigo was diagnosed as positional vertigo as when I moved my head certain ways, or leaned over, the whole world seemed to spin. It was really bad and I had it for months and months. i recently started having some good days re AHI and noticed that no longer was I having the vertigo. Is or was it apnea related? who knows but I tend to think so. Also I use 2L oxygen piped into my BiPap and maybe the extra oxygen has helped. I don't know. There was little I could do when I had the vertigo that didn't set it off. Sometimes it would make me feel queasy. I'm sure my blood pressure was related to sleep apnea, stress in my life and being overweight. I have lost 30 pounds and on me that's a lot of weight since I'm only a tad over 5 feet tall. MY AHI though, the past week has been on a steady upward trend and I have no idea why (no mask leaks) and I fear if this continues it will cause me more problems.

My vertigo that was so awful is gone and once in a while I feel good -- but still struggle to get the right AHI - the ever elduing AHI.

Can you tell me about your vertigo? Was it related to the sleep apnea?

Last September, I went to my regular doctor for a checkup because I was about to go on a trip, and wanted to make sure my asthma medications were all current. My blood pressure was higher than ever (160s), and I was warned that I was at high risk of a stroke. First blood pressure medication. The very next week, while traveling for just a weekend, I woke up with vertigo. Very bad. I went to the emergency room. A week later, while at home, it started up again. Back to another emergency room and later an ear specialist. No actual diagnosis, just assumption of inner ear virus. I did discover on my trip (which involved hiking in Arches National Park) that the motion sickness medication for vertigo helped with my lifetime fear of heights. Very interesting. I don't feel weak and shaky when next to high edges, not like i do without the medication.

Last week, I started feeling odd just as I was going to sleep, like I was moving when my eyes were closed. Then on Saturday, all day, I felt odd. No actual vertigo, but I felt kinda like I did when I had the vertigo and the medication lessened that feeling. Almost sick, and feeling like I was almost moving, even when I was not. I can't really describe it. I felt it again Sunday night, Monday afternoon, and Tuesday afternoon. Nothing today. I just started using my new apap machine Monday night.

The vertigo is really what scared me into taking my medication better, checking my blood pressure, and then when I learned that sleep apnea was related to high blood pressure, I told my doctor about my undiagnosed sleep apnea. If it is related to the vertigo, I am really interested to know more as I never want that feeling again. This past weekend really worried me as I was afraid it was going to start up again.[/quote]

[Sheriff Buford]

Your mask journey was similar to mine. Welcome to my mask... and welcome to my world. Check it out.

Sheriff

[angcor580]

Hi there! I am having the same trouble with masks and I am very petite too. I have stuffy nose and weird skin growth inside my nose...so I am a mouth breather. I remember the first mask I tried at the 2nd sleep study was a nasal mask and I felt like I couldn't breathe due to the pressure. I have tried Quattro and FX full face masks but the air was drying out my eyes. Frustrating!!! They let me borrow the Forma Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear but it seem to pinch my nose and I cannot breathe through nose. I will give it one more try tonight. If does not work, then I plan to go back to the hybrid mask even though the nasal pillows are not effective for my stuffy nose. I am a side sleeper so that always move the mask when lying down.

Sheriff - I noticed that you wear the FitLife Total Face CPAP Mask with Headgear. I tried this mask on before and like it but didn't take it home because I noticed that it would leak if I lay on my side. Are you a side sleeper? What position do you sleep in for this mask to be effective?

Attempting the mask tonight after a long break. Gonna think positive thoughts and give myself a 2 hours goal.

Hang in there Littlefeather!

[zoocrewphoto]

Have you tried the pillows designed for sleeping with a cpap machine? I saw one at my DME, but I forgot to ask about it. It has cutouts so that you can sleep on your side with the mask hitting the pillow.

[need2snooze]

I'm so glad to see these posts. I also have a deviated septum and a small face. I'm still trying to find that perfect mask. So far, I have tried the Quattro FX, the Swift FX, the Mirage FX for Her, and the Quattro FFM. Next week I'm due for a new mask and am trying to decide which kind to get this time. Right now I'm using the Mirage FX for Her with a chinstrap but am having leaks that wake me up. I think I will try the earplug idea for a sealant. Thanks for the suggestion! BTW, I have CPAP pillow and would recommend it, particularly to a side sleeper.

[angcor580]

No I have not tried the CPAP pillow. I know it is pricey so how effective is it?

[need2snooze]

If you sleep on your side, the pillow is cut out where your mask would normally lie on top of the pillow. But this way, the pillow doesn't push or move the mask on your face. It makes it much more comfortable, too.

[Air Force Officer]

Can you tell me about your vertigo? Was it related to the sleep apnea?

macewa - Here is my story.....been having lightheadedness spells off and on for 8+ years. Finally went to the doctor last year and they started with full cardio workup - everything was fine. Then they went to the neurological side. Full brain MRI revealed that I had some sort of "silent stroke" in my past, no way to know exactly when. I have a wedge-shaped section of my brain tissue that is dead, in my left cerebellum area. This is the area that controls balance. Neurologist then sent me for a sleep study and I came back with severe OSA. Theory is that my severe OSA led to silent stroke which is causing my dizziness.

Needless to say I am so thankful for CPAP now!!!

[Sheriff Buford]

[quote="angcor580"]
Sheriff - I noticed that you wear the FitLife Total Face CPAP Mask with Headgear. I tried this mask on before and like it but didn't take it home because I noticed that it would leak if I lay on my side. Are you a side sleeper? What position do you sleep in for this mask to be effective?

I sleep on my side, and I have found that if I cram my mask into the pillow, it will leak. So, I tilt my head up a little while I sleep on my side.

Sheriff