They Tell Me I Need This Machine

[Chevie]

The machine seems so horribly UNATURAL to me

You are right about that. Natural is stopping breathing and awakening every minute or so.

If you are part of the natural crowd, then be natural.

Nice knowing you.

[Julie]

But you won't give us the details of the mask. After many requests for them. The one feature of your treatment that you hate and seem not to be able to manage. That we can help with. What should we do now?

[ckeith]

But you won't give us the details of the mask. After many requests for them. The one feature of your treatment
that you hate and seem not to be able to manage. That we can help with. What should we do now?

Sorry for the delay - I have been none to swift of late
I could not find Phillips Respironics on the list
I have the mask in my hand - All it says on it is "Phillips Respironics" on the plastic part near the nose piece
the word "Wisp" occurs - I Google "Phillips Respironics Mask" and get this - This is the Mask I have been issued

https://canadacpapsupply.com/index.php/ ... aQod8bkB8A

Found it on the list - under "Wisp" - Thank You

[ckeith]

I'm going to lay off the Eliqis (Apixaban) blood thinner for today and tonight
to see if that relieves my insomnia at all - I have Dr appointments on the 9th -

Waiting to hear from the Sleep Clinic regarding a different Mask

[Cardsfan]

OK, now were cooking. What you have is called a Nasal mask. They have the little cup that goes over your nose. Yours is the Wisp nasal mask.
Your machine is one of the newest models. Remed Airsense 10 Autoset for Her. You will be amazed at what info. you will be able to get from it. That will help you adjust the settings to improve the therapy.
There is so much these machines can tell us, but the Doctors don't seem interested in teaching us how to operate them.

Stick around and take advantage of all the helpful people on here. That's what I did when I started. The more you learn, the better off you will be and the easier it gets.

[Julie]

Yay! It's a Wisp, a nasal mask and that's what we were looking for. Btw, that link's no good, but don't worry about it now. FYI the Wisp is just one of loads of nasal masks available out there and may just have been what your DME had available 'that' day vs what might ultimately suit you (it usually takes at least a few try-ons of various others before you find 'the one').

Ok, what you need to do is a couple of things...

You need to try on a selection of other ones (duh ), and whether or not your DME has any variety is unknown, but there are other ways and many styles.

First of all, you complained about leaks - there are two kinds, the first from around the mask itself, and the others from Cpap air being pushed out of your mouth either because of the pressure from Cpap, or because you are just a mouth breather when sleeping - much more likely if you back- vs side- sleep, but you said you tend to side sleep more (though I hope it doesn't change to back when you're asleep).

You can try on different masks from Cpap.com - look at their policies re time etc. - for only small-or-no fees, and I definitely think you should unless your DME offers a LOT of choices and let's you try them out, even if only at their office.

Have you tried any full face masks - the ones more likely to not let Cpap air out of your mouth?

This is REALLY important - when trying on FF masks you must be lying down because your face changes a lot then and you will get worse leaks if these masks (also a lot of variety) aren't tried on properly - preferably with a machine running, but at least lying down to find one that suits your bone structure best.

I personally think that with a relatively high setting like yours, a FF mask would be more suitable and you'd feel more 'secure' in it... I'm not sure a Wisp is right for you, though possibly other nasal masks could be if you don't mouth breathe once asleep.

Now keep this note someplace (not that I'll get a Pulitzer for it ) to read again when you're awake, if not alert... and see what you can get from it - I suggest getting your wife involved to help out with your keeping track of things anyhow right now. But do NOT just settle for whatever your dealer happens to have on hand this week! It's too important!

[Chevie]

There is so much these machines can tell us, but the Doctors don't seem interested in teaching us how to operate them.

Did you really say that? Do you really think a doctor got all that education to spend time teaching someone how to use a CPAP? Would you pay the going rates for a doctor's time to teach you?

[herefishy]

I'm no insomnia expert, but nowhere do I see a discussion of trying Ambien or such to get one decent night's sleep so maybe you could think better. Or if Doc won't prescribe, something OTC? Sorry if I missed why you haven't tried this.

[ckeith]

THANX to Cardsfan & Julie for the encouragement

Yay! It's a Wisp, a nasal mask and that's what we were looking for. Btw, that link's no good, but don't
worry about it now.

Ok, what you need to do is a couple of things...

You need to try on a selection of other ones (duh ), and whether or not your DME has any variety
is unknown, but there are other ways and many styles.

First of all, you complained about leaks - there are two kinds, the first from around the mask itself, and
the others from Cpap air being pushed out of your mouth either because of the pressure from Cpap, or
because you are just a mouth breather when sleeping - much more likely if you back- vs side- sleep, but
you said you tend to side sleep more (though I hope it doesn't change to back when you're asleep).

You can try on different masks from Cpap.com - look at their policies re time etc. - for only small-or-no
fees, and I definitely think you should unless your DME offers a LOT of choices and let's you try them
out, even if only at their office.

Have you tried any full face masks - the ones more likely to not let Cpap air out of your mouth?

This is REALLY important - when trying on FF masks you must be lying down because your face changes
a lot then and you will get worse leaks if these masks (also a lot of variety) aren't tried on properly -
preferably with a machine running, but at least lying down to find one that suits your bone structure
best.

I personally think that with a relatively high setting like yours, a FF mask would be more suitable and
you'd feel more 'secure' in it... I'm not sure a Wisp is right for you, though possibly other nasal masks
could be if you don't mouth breathe once asleep.

Now keep this note someplace (not that I'll get a Pulitzer for it ) to read again when you're awake, if
not alert... and see what you can get from it - I suggest getting your wife involved to help out with your
keeping track of things anyhow right now. But do NOT just settle for whatever your dealer happens to
have on hand this week! It's too important!

I am waiting for a call from the Sleep Clinic - I think I may have to go Full Face
I do breath through my mouth at times - I have a deviated septum & Rhinitus
resulting in violent sneezing fits - & Occasional heavy discharge
These symptoms do not seem to bother me much at night
Though I do on occasion experience a congested nasal passages

I have most success going to sleep in my Right side - Fetal position - arm under pillow
During the night I am all over the place - I can easily find myself on the floor
That is MORE of a shock than an Apnea attack

My wife is already deeply involved - But her health is more compromised than mine
She came with me when I took the machine back to get further instruction
On a bad day - When the fatigue is really bad I refrain from driving and have to depend on her

.

[ckeith]

I'm no insomnia expert, but nowhere do I see a discussion of trying Ambien or such to get one decent night's sleep
so maybe you could think better. Or if Doc won't prescribe, something OTC? Sorry if I missed why you haven't tried this.

I have a small Prescription for Modgadon - It is suppose to knock me out - They don't work
I took one the night of my sleep study - I slept for only two hours max & woke up with a hang over

The doctor has warned me NOT to become dependent on them - Says they will aggravate the Apnea
& that they or any other sleep aid are NOT a great idea with the blood thinners & blood pressure meds

On a particularly bad run of Insomnia - 2 or 3 days with minimal sleep - I will hallucinate at night




.

[raisedfist]

I can't be bothered to read the past five pages, but the best mask I've found that works for me is the Resmed Airfit P10 nasal pillows. I barely feel the flow of air compared to any other mask and it is super quiet. I sometimes wake up and have to check that I'm still wearing the damn thing. I also don't get any leaks when sleeping on my side or on my stomach with my head turned and hanging off the pillow. There is no air blowing on your face at all. The only noticeable thing is that the way I sleep causes me to have a mask line on my right cheek when I wake up but that isn't a big deal.

A lot of the initial frustration, which I fell victim to as well, is simply the trial and error necessary to find the right equipment for you. I didn't sleep well for several weeks when I started - I would just lay there basically staring at the ceiling praying that I would pass out. I find avoiding all caffeine and alcohol during the day helps a lot.

[yaconsult]

You've got a great machine there. Don't worry about the "for her" part - it just means you've got an extra therapy mode that can be set that works better for some people - whether male or female.

Finding the right mask for you is always the hardest part. Nasal pillow masks have much less stuff on your head and face. The two most popular ones are the AirFit P10 and the Swift FX, so you might want to talk to your equipment supplier to be able to give those a try.

Please be careful about stopping heart-related medications without checking with your doctor first.

The inability to sleep is much more likely to be caused by your sleep apnea. What were the results of your sleep study? You said "severe", but how severe? My measured AHI was 80, so that means I stopped breathing, on average, 80 times per hour. What did they find in your study? My minimum pressure is 13 and I have seen it hit 18 during the night.

[Julie]

I would ask for a referral to a neurologist specializing in sleep disorders because I think you have other problems besides 'just' regular apnea and you need to get a whole picture to put it together and address it properly. Though it would be great if most were resolved by being set up properly with the right machine, mask, and a regimen of meds that worked for all your problems (though I bet some will go - the BP at least - once C- or Apap's working).

It's also important to know that whatever level of 'severity' you were diagnosed as having, it isn't connected to how much pressure your particular airway needs to stay open... some people with 'mild' apnea need a high pressure, others with a severe dx may only need quite a low one... anatomy vs respiratory and/or neurological origins.

[Sylvia54]

.....Wear it during the day while watching tv or reading a book. Get used to it. Let your brain accept it .....

Yes I do that - I can almost tolerate it while if I'm sitting in a chair listening to music

I was not given one to wear during the sleep study - I was able to sleep for only a short time
The attendant was surprised at how much of that little bit of time was spent in REM

Can you tell us what problems you are having?

For example, does the air feel like too much? Or maybe you feel starved for air?

Does the mask leak? If so, does it hiss or belch? Where is it leaking? And which mask is it?

Does the mask hurt? If, so where does it hurt?

Are you using ramp? If so, how long, and what does it start it?

Is your pressure a straight 10, or is it a range?

How is the humidity? Too much?/ Not enough?
Temp of the air? Too warm, too cool?

We can help with all of these.

Also, you can download free data and see what your machine is doing. You can make your own changes.
You can have power over this machine. When you know what is going on and control its settings, you will
feel better about it. Part of the problem with adjusting to cpap is that the doctors really don't tell you
much and just send you home with a frustrating situation. Once you take control, it gets a lot better.
And we can help you take control.

Sometimes I feel like I'm choking for air - Sometimes I feel like "I'm being blown away

It leaks when I move - I have to keep fooling around with it

It sometimes makes a nasty sucking sound when I inhale - Like sucking ice on the bottom of a glass with a straw

Any pain is Psychological one might even say irrational - NO less INTENSE - No less REAL

No RAMP - He took that off when I complained about choking

Pressure seems permanently set at 10 - I don't think there is any range set

" Humidity" - I'll be honest with you - 5 min. is the longest time I have been able to wear it in bed
and then I start to SEETH - I can do a bit longer sitting in a chair listening to music

When my BP gets up around 200 and my RAGE at the THING starts me pumping adrenalin
I have to take it off - I am on a powerful blood thinner - I don't want to pop a tube in that
pudding that sloshes around between my ears and behind my headlights

Or go into Afib
.

[Sylvia54]

Oops, sorry cKeith; The system had logged me out when I submitted and my reply was lost. Can't find it now. Will try posting again later.