Severe Sleep Apnea

[moosie1]

I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. What is the most comfortable mask to wear with this diagnosis. I am also a stomach sleeper and am claustrophobic.

[LSAT]

I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. What is the most comfortable mask to wear with this diagnosis. I am also a stomach sleeper and am claustrophobic.

There is no such thing.....everyone's face is different. there are dozens of masks. Everyone has their favorite. If you ask 10 people you will get at least 8 favorites. If you are claustrophobic you may want to avoid full face masks. Go to cpap.com and review the mask descriptions and user reviews.

[Pugsy]

Can you normally breathe through your nose just fine during the day and night or do you have lots of chronic nasal congestion causing you to have to mouth breathe?

It really doesn't make any difference how severe or not the OSA is in terms of which mask works best...what works best is the mask that works for you in terms of comfort. They will all deal with severe, moderate or mild apnea.

Have you had a sleep study with cpap and a mask to figure out what pressure to use? If so, what is that pressure?

In general when people tend to be claustrophobic the less "stuff" on the face and head will be less likely to promote the uncomfortable feelings and that means nasal pillow masks. Not much in terms of headgear and not much in terms of mask touching the face.
Look at the mask I have in my equipment profile...just click on the link.
These types of masks work best for people that don't have chronic nasal congestion issues.

If you do have chronic nasal congestion issues and you just have to mouth breathe then you will likely need a full face mask that covers both the nose and mouth. The Respironics Amara View is one I would suggest you look at if that is what you need. It has about the least amount of "stuff" on your face when compared to other full face masks.

[zilch]

I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. What is the most comfortable mask to wear with this diagnosis. I am also a stomach sleeper and am claustrophobic.

Will your DME let you try on demo masks?

I recommend trying the Philips Dreamwear (what I use), Airfit P20, Swift Nano, and Swift FX.

Good luck!


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[HopefulNewbie]

I concur - Phillips Dream Station with soft nasal pillows is what I use and love it.

[D.H.]

Severity does not have a strong correlation to mask type. Even the correlation to pressure setting is rather lose.

My case - originally though to be very complicated - turned out to be "garden variety obstructive sleep apnea," except for the severity.

[MudHappy]

I have severe sleep apnea too, and the nasal mask works for me. But whatever you choose, you will slowly get used to it if you just relax.

[moosie1]

Pugsy
Thank you for answering me. I am not a mouth breather and do not have nasal congestion. The tech who did the titration said I need a pressure between 11 and 12. He also said the nasal pillows would not be appropriate for my severe apnea. He also suggested that until my doctor gets around to reading my chart which will probably take several weeks I should try and sleep in a recliner or raise the head of my bed. I am not sure if my insurance company will allow me to to try different masks before the doctor tells me what mask to get.
moosie1

[Pugsy]

He also said the nasal pillows would not be appropriate for my severe apnea.

Bullcrap

My OSA is severe and I see pressures in the upper teens every night and I have used nothing but nasal pillows for over 8 years and my OSA is quite effectively treated without any major (or really minor) issues at all.

Sounds like you had the same idiot tech I had at my titration study.

[zilch]

Pugsy
I am not sure if my insurance company will allow me to to try different masks before the doctor tells me what mask to get.
moosie1

Your doctor won't tell you what mask to get. Your DME might have demos to let you try on. Your insurance company won't pay for more than one mask per X months (depending on your insurance.)

You can pay out of pocket for more masks. Cpap.com has free insurance on some masks if you pay out of pocket and return them.


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[chunkyfrog]

Obviously, the DME makes less PROFIT off the nasal pillows.
DME=devious money extractor.

[zilch]

you may have overconstrained the problem

there may be no comfortable mask for you

The forum troll is at it again.

If you can lie your face on its side, plenty of nasal masks and pillows work for side sleepers, such as what I mentioned. Some full face masks will also work.


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[LSAT]

I have been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. What is the most comfortable mask to wear with this diagnosis. I am also a stomach sleeper and am claustrophobic.

=========

you may have overconstrained the problem

there may be no comfortable mask for you

severe sleep apnea is irrelevant
does the mask fit and not leak is the key item

and is the mask comfy when you sleep on your stomach may depend more on the bed and pillows than the mask

Another STUPID comment from our resident "genius".

[zoocrewphoto]

my comment remains absolutely correct and undisputed by yuor silly comments
there may be no solution for the OPer

Are you trying to sabotage new people? If not, why are you scaring them with worst case scenarios when they have barely even started? Most people *DO* have success if they get a bit of help. Since they are here, they have a great chance of getting the help they need and succeeding.

[zoocrewphoto]

my comment remains absolutely correct and undisputed by yuor silly comments
there may be no solution for the OPer

Are you trying to sabotage new people? If not, why are you scaring them with worst case scenarios when they have barely even started? Most people *DO* have success if they get a bit of help. Since they are here, they have a great chance of getting the help they need and succeeding.

=====

honesty seems to bother you

overconstrain problems and there is no solution

he can have success but probably not with all the conditions he wants to place on how he does it

It sounds like he hasn't even gotten a machine and mask yet. The tech misled him about mask suggestions. He is asking for advice. What makes you think he is unlikely to find a useful mask?