Respronics Comfort Full 2

[jeninAZ]

HI all,

I just got my new APAP after recently finding out I do have sleep apnea. I was so excited to bring it home and try it out I didnt want to wait a week until they could deliver it so I went to their office and picked it up myself. I tried on several masks and decided on the Comfort Full 2. I have to use a full mask because I cant breath through my nose. I didnt even care that I looked absurd (okay, Im 27 and newly married so I cared maybe a little!) But the though of getting a good nights sleep and having more energy, being less grumpy, etc totally out weighed looking a little weird. I waited until I was about to fall asleep like my DME said, then put the mask on, settled in for a good nights rest, and waited.....and waited....and waited..... at about 2:30 am it dawned on me, I CANT SLEEP WITH THIS THING ON! It really was the most comfortable of the 6 or 7 I tried on, but being hooked up to a hose and feeling I was suffocating, especially when I tried to breath out, plus the wooshing of the air, plus the bridge of my nose and my chin getting sore, it was hopeless. I so desperately wanted this to work, and I realize there is an adjustment period, but how do I adjust when I cant even sleep. I am more tired today then I have been in 27 years! Help, any answers or suggestions will be appreicated.

[Moogy]

JeninAZ,

What a miserable experience! Getting accustomed to this therapy can be difficult. Sounds like you are having a rougher time than many people, though.

I know it seems hopeless now, but it WILL get better.

Regarding getting accustomed to wearing the mask: Some people have better luck if they wear the mask while reading or watching tv for a bit. That helps you get over the alien-on-my-face sensation.

Lots of us have to try several masks before settling on one that works well for us, and just the short try-on at the provider's office is rarely enough time to know for sure.

Also, many people find other ways to deal with mouth breathing--Chin straps, mouth tape, training yourself to keep your mouth closed, etc. When you say you cannott breathe through your nose, do you mean there is a medical problem, or that so far you haven't been able to train yourself to do it? Let us know more details, and there are some really experienced folks on the board who can offer suggestions.

Also, tell us what unit you are using and what the settings are. That will help people offer advice about coping.

In general, just remember to take baby steps, and don't believe everything you hear from your medical supplier!

Hang in there!

Moogy

[NightHawkeye]

Hang in there, Jen.

Moogy summed it up nicely. Worst case, you'll have to switch to another mask, but you may find some peace before that. FWIW, I think I've heard other users complain about the Comfort Full hurting the bridge of their nose, so you really might have to switch to another mask.

As for not being able to breath out, you might find a lower pressure more tolerable to begin with. A low pressure on CPAP is better than no CPAP.

As for the swooshing, you just get used to that. Time is your friend for that one.

Regards,
Bill

[Snoozin' Bluezzz]

Don't assume you can't breath through your nose. Plenty of us had the same problems but with heated humidifcation, Flonase (or an equivalent), nasal anti-histamine, and or nasal irrigation the nose can be opened up to the point a nasal interface is feasible and they can be much more comfortable and less obtrusive. While I have required those in the past right now I don't require any of those things to use the nasal interface (heated humidification has made a big difference there). I do have trouble with mouth breathing and I am a "taper" (not tapir - see the link below to understand):

viewtopic.php?t=5541&highlight=tapir

Are you using the Ramp? I had a hard time breathing with Ramp and was much better not using it. Just started at my prescribed pressure. Do you have a Remstar with C-Flex, that can help

Like everyone says, the sound is something you can get used to without too much trouble. I put on some soothing music (to me Bach is soothing) and that helped me ignore the machine.


SB

[jeninAZ]

Moogie: When I say I can't breath through my nose I mean I can't. Been that way my whole life even during the day. I can take a breath or two, but its the equivilent of holding my breath and I have to breath through my nose again to "catch my breath". PRetty sure I'd shrivel up and suffocate if I tape my mouth! LOL....

My machine is a Respronics Pro. My settings are 4-14. This is a short term solution to determine my accurate pressure since I hardly slept at the lab and never even reached REM so they never used a CPAP. They didnt tell my anything about my machine except how to turn it on since I would only have it for 4 nights until they replaced it with a permanent one. It might have a ramp, it might not, I truly dont know!

I did manage to sleep with it last night until about 5:30 am then woke to take it off and "finish sleeping". I did notice at one point last night that it was either leaking because I somehow moved it, or the pressure shot way up, I was half awake and couldnt tell. Any suggestions for dealing with changing pressure, at least at the higher end? I think the pressure had gone up, not that I checked the machine, because that was my first incident with a "leak".

All and all, I feel the same today and I do everyday, tired in the morning, awake until about 11:30 or noon, then tired for the rest of the day. Not giving up though and I have an appt with an ENT about the nose thing this Thursday.


Thanks!

[jeninAZ]

Equipment :
Machine: Respronices Remstar Auto pressure settings 4-14
Mask: Respronics Comfort Full 2

No humidifier
No mention of C Flex (is this even labeled on the machine?)

[Goofproof]

For one thing they have your machine set too low at 4 CM most people don't get enough air, so the first thing to do would have the lower setting moved to 6 CM, the second thing is to make sure the C-Flex is on and set to 3, this will make it easier tom get use to. If you can safely get nasal releif from a drug use it. You need the heated hudimifier too, a DME worth their salt would have gave you one. In the morning call them early and often.

[Moogy]

If you managed to get a little sleep, then you are on your way to success! Lots of people need to start with a little time and gradually move up until they get to a full night.

If you don't have a humidifier, you really need one, especially since you probably have congestion issues, given your difficulty breathing through your nose.

They would probably get mad if you fool with the settings during this trial period. But if you feel like you aren't getting enough air at the beginning, call and ask them if they will increase the bottom pressure.

As to handling the pressure when it spikes, that takes time. It might be going too high because of a mask leak, or it might be increasing the pressure because you are having apneas and therefore you NEED more pressure.

Have you considered asking the doctor to go ahead and prescribe an automatic machine for the long term. It sounds like you need more than a few days to get accustomed to this. Check to see if you have a Respironics Pro or a Respironics Pro 2. The Pro 2 is a newer machine (duh!) and it has cflex capability. If you have the older model, call and ask your supplier WHY you you didn't get the most up-to-date machine. The Pro (no 2) unit is no longer listed on the Respironics site, and cpap.com doesn't sell it, but I think I recall that it does not have cflex?

I am not saying it is a terrible machine. I am sure many people are still using it. But if you are having trouble adjusting, you may need the features available on newer machines.

Cflex makes it easier to get accustomed to the higher pressures.

Just my own opinions, take em or leave em. Keep us posted on your progress!

Moogy