Dreamwear mask irritation & other newbie questions

[Auntducky59]

except for the part of finding your mask hanging on your bed post, everything you have described is normal. Maybe you had a wild party during the night and you don't remember? You likely took your mask off to use the restroom, hung it on your bedpost, and forgot to put it back on. Sleepwalking? I also use the dreamwear FF, and don't have a problem with rings or marks on my face or mouth. But my situation is different. I have always had to use liners with my mask to prevent leaking, so that may be why I don't experience the rings around my mouth. Maybe you have the mask on too tight? or maybe it is a reaction to the baby wipes. I have never used baby wipes. I use name brand or generic wipes for daily cleaning of my cushion, & Dawn scented with whatever scent floats my boat for weekly cleaning of all equipment.

[Japparis]

except for the part of finding your mask hanging on your bed post, everything you have described is normal. Maybe you had a wild party during the night and you don't remember? You likely took your mask off to use the restroom, hung it on your bedpost, and forgot to put it back on. Sleepwalking? I also use the dreamwear FF, and don't have a problem with rings or marks on my face or mouth. But my situation is different. I have always had to use liners with my mask to prevent leaking, so that may be why I don't experience the rings around my mouth. Maybe you have the mask on too tight? or maybe it is a reaction to the baby wipes. I have never used baby wipes. I use name brand or generic wipes for daily cleaning of my cushion, & Dawn scented with whatever scent floats my boat for weekly cleaning of all equipment.

Hahaha! If only if had a wild night! I may have done it and not realized it. I just thought it was strange that the myAir app thought I slept. Can't wait to get the SD card and use Sleepyhead. What are liners and where would I purchase them? My mask doesn't feel too tight to me. It's oddly comfortable!

[Auntducky59]

Liners are optional and not necessary unless you really need them. If you are not experiencing any leaks or weird "farty" noises when your mouth moves certain ways, then you do not need a liner. I only use liners because I need them. I also need a chin strap which is not normally needed if you have a full face mask. You sound like you are comfortable with your mask just the way it is. I would not worry about liners or chin straps. Probably not necessary for you. As far as taking it off at night, was it a one time thing? If so, no worries. You probably just have to get used to wearing it. If you find yourself removing your mask every night or frequently, I would examine the reason why that is happening and get advice from the forum before you decide to buy additional equipment that may not be what you need.

[Auntducky59]

in answer to your question regarding liners, I just tried the Pad a cheek liner for the first time last night. I highly recommend it (my insurance does not cover this type of liner, I had to pay out of pocket, but it's not expensive). I found it itchy, but not allergic itchy, just ticklish itchy. Remzzz liners are what my insurance WILL pay for and they do work, but tend to slide around and are also itchy. They are more of a pain to use than the Pad a cheek. Pad a cheek can be fastened on with velcro & doesn't move around. Pad a Cheek liners can be washed along with your other equipment with soap & water, & left to air dry. Remzzz are disposable, and have to be bought more often making them more expensive in my opinion. BUT, DON'T BUY A LINER UNLESS YOU REALLY NEED ONE.

[Japparis]

in answer to your question regarding liners, I just tried the Pad a cheek liner for the first time last night. I highly recommend it (my insurance does not cover this type of liner, I had to pay out of pocket, but it's not expensive). I found it itchy, but not allergic itchy, just ticklish itchy. Remzzz liners are what my insurance WILL pay for and they do work, but tend to slide around and are also itchy. They are more of a pain to use than the Pad a cheek. Pad a cheek can be fastened on with velcro & doesn't move around. Pad a Cheek liners can be washed along with your other equipment with soap & water, & left to air dry. Remzzz are disposable, and have to be bought more often making them more expensive in my opinion. BUT, DON'T BUY A LINER UNLESS YOU REALLY NEED ONE.

Thanks for your response. Sounds like I wouldn't need a liner. I'm still getting a little redness (no itching) but it's decreasing day by day. Hopefully, it will go away all together.

[TropicalDiver]

Issue 1: My best guess would be contact dermatitis if it is directly where the mask rested if it remains several hours post use. As others have noted, process of elimination as to what is the cause. Best case, you reacted to the wipes. Worst case, you reacted to the silicone. As others have noted, try a good wash with lots and lots of rinsing.

Issue 2: I personally use autostart. I disconnect the mask at the elbow (leaving the mask on). The air mostly shuts down in a fairly modest period of time. Once I return to bed, insert the elbow and take a few deep breaths.

[Japparis]

Issue 1: My best guess would be contact dermatitis if it is directly where the mask rested if it remains several hours post use. As others have noted, process of elimination as to what is the cause. Best case, you reacted to the wipes. Worst case, you reacted to the silicone. As others have noted, try a good wash with lots and lots of rinsing.

Issue 2: I personally use autostart. I disconnect the mask at the elbow (leaving the mask on). The air mostly shuts down in a fairly modest period of time. Once I return to bed, insert the elbow and take a few deep breaths.

Thank you! I just turned on Autostart last night. That's good to know that I don't have to take the entire mask off and put it back on again for a short trip to the bathroom!

[Japparis]

For some people the minimum of 4 will do a great job. For others it won't.
Some people have a problem even comfortably breathing at 4 cm...others have no problem.

Doesn't matter what settings are used as long as the person is sleeping good, feeling good and his OSA is under control.
If they are happy then I am happy and I could care less how they get it done.

I realize there were is from another thread. Just trying to keep all my questions in one place! I was feeling a little smothered at 4. So I put it to 7 and the exhalation thing (sorry, new and don't remember the abbreviation) to 3. It was set to off. Last night, I didn't feel smothered or like I was forcing my exhalation. The upper limit is still set on 20. That's okay?? Should I have changed it in increments and not just put it up to 7? Thank you!!

[Pugsy]

For some people the minimum of 4 will do a great job. For others it won't.
Some people have a problem even comfortably breathing at 4 cm...others have no problem.

Doesn't matter what settings are used as long as the person is sleeping good, feeling good and his OSA is under control.
If they are happy then I am happy and I could care less how they get it done.

I realize there were is from another thread. Just trying to keep all my questions in one place! I was feeling a little smothered at 4. So I put it to 7 and the exhalation thing (sorry, new and don't remember the abbreviation) to 3. It was set to off. Last night, I didn't feel smothered or like I was forcing my exhalation. The upper limit is still set on 20. That's okay?? Should I have changed it in increments and not just put it up to 7? Thank you!!

No need to do the increment changes if you are comfortable with what you did and slept better.
If you are happy with the changes then just run with it.

[Japparis]

I have been able to find the clinical settings and make changes. However, it will not allow me to change the date or the time. It is set 1 day ahead and the clock 2 hours behind. Any change I try to make says I can't change things in the past, so it doesn't change. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Pugsy]

The only way to make the change backward for the calendar date is to erase everything and start over.
Either that or not use the machine for 24 hours so there is no data in that day you want to go backwards to.
The machine won't let you go backwards when there is any data in that day.
You can usually make a 2 hour clock time change backwards or forwards easily if you wait and do it right at bedtime and haven't used the machine since noon.
If all you needed was the clock...piece of cake.
The date being wrong makes a bigger problem.
Been there and done that myself. I changed the clock to reflect a Daylight Savings time change once and accidentally also moved the calendar date forward one day. The only way I could fix it was either not use the machine for one full 24 hour period or erase everything and start over. Since I had the data in the software already and I didn't have to answer to anyone I just erased the machine and started over.

[Japparis]

The only way to make the change backward for the calendar date is to erase everything and start over.
Either that or not use the machine for 24 hours so there is no data in that day you want to go backwards to.
The machine won't let you go backwards when there is any data in that day.
You can usually make a 2 hour clock time change backwards or forwards easily if you wait and do it right at bedtime and haven't used the machine since noon.
If all you needed was the clock...piece of cake.
The date being wrong makes a bigger problem.
Been there and done that myself. I changed the clock to reflect a Daylight Savings time change once and accidentally also moved the calendar date forward one day. The only way I could fix it was either not use the machine for one full 24 hour period or erase everything and start over. Since I had the data in the software already and I didn't have to answer to anyone I just erased the machine and started over.

Thanks, Pugsy!! I have an appt with the neurologist on Sept 17th. I'll have been on it around a month by then. I'll just let her know I'm going to erase the data because she will already have seen it. Would missing one 24 hour period do anything regarding compliance, in case she freaks out, especially since I'm so new to this? I don't want to screw up that part.

[Pugsy]

Missing one night isn't the end of the world in terms of compliance requirements as long as you have it well covered all other nights.
But I hate for you to miss a night of therapy and since I saw in another thread you still don't have a SD card to store your data on it I don't recommend erasing the machine right now.
Just run with it being a day off until you see the doctor and/or get a card and you can warn the doc about what you are going to do at some time to fix the date issue whichever way you decide to go in terms of fixing it.
It's not the end of the world for it to be off a day....annoying but hours slept and results are the same no matter what date it says.

[Japparis]

Missing one night isn't the end of the world in terms of compliance requirements as long as you have it well covered all other nights.
But I hate for you to miss a night of therapy and since I saw in another thread you still don't have a SD card to store your data on it I don't recommend erasing the machine right now.
Just run with it being a day off until you see the doctor and/or get a card and you can warn the doc about what you are going to do at some time to fix the date issue whichever way you decide to go in terms of fixing it.
It's not the end of the world for it to be off a day....annoying but hours slept and results are the same no matter what date it says.

Getting the card today. I didn't want to miss a night either and I didn't want to erase it. So, I'll let my OCD have the night off and just deal with it! Thanks for your advice!!

[Janknitz]

How's the face rash doing?