New User - First Night - Not Sure On What I am Doing

Cancun9 · Post by **Cancun9** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:27 am

Well, that would explain my concerns last night. I just tried it and it is for the nose. The instructions had nothing on how to wear it or anything and I was assuming it was for the mouth (again, no briefing or training when it was issued to me yesterday). So as I finish wiping the embarassment off my face,I will work the adjustments for my nose.

OK, so it is for the nose. Does this mean I try to breath normally through my nosewhile sleeping or through my mouth?

By the way, this nasal mask is crap. I cannot get a good sal on it and I think it is noisy. Of course, I have nothing to base this on sice I have only had one for two days now and have yet to use it except testing.

jqp · Post by **jqp** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:30 am

With a nasal mask, you do not want to breathe through your mouth at all.

Mouth breathing = no treatment.

If you're like me in that my mouth drops open the second I go to sleep, a full face mask (mouth + nose) may be better.

JQP

Cancun9 · Post by **Cancun9** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:35 am

guess I will know that after a few nights with this, but I am a mouth breather at times I think. Thanks for the advice.

jqp · Post by **jqp** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:38 am

They tried a nasal mask on me during my titration sleep study.

The scond I fell asleep, my mouth would drop open, the air would come rushing out, and it would wake me up.

I repeated that 7 or 8 times and told the tech that this wasn't going to work, and that I wanted to try the full face mask.

The funny part is, I was the one that had to suggest this. The tech was perfectly content to let me keep doing that all night.

Cancun9 · Post by **Cancun9** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:42 am

I will look into them. There are so many, but I will investigate. Thanks.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:47 am

I apologize for giving you bum advice for a full face mask when you have a nasal cushion mask. Duh!

With this mask you don't want to tighten the top straps, the ones at the forehead, too tight. Have the bottom straps tighter than the top ones. This helps to avoid a bruised feeling at the bridge of the nose come morning and usually will give a better seal.

You're doing great, Cancun. Sorry again about the bum full face mask advice. Thanks, Den, for getting the mask info correct!! Color me red-faced! Duh. I'm crawling off into the forest to hide.

Cancun9 · Post by **Cancun9** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:50 am

No, mine is a smaller version of the jpg, and it definatetly a nasal....

Bamalady · Post by **Bamalady** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 12:40 pm

Cancun....I have a nasal mask similar to yours. To prevent mouth breathing, I use a chin strap which is nothing more than a piece of Ace Bandage. I cut a piece from a roll, and sewed the ends together. Since I am not usually a mouth breather and just need to keep my lower jaw from dropping open, I didn't have to make the strap very tight. I put the strap on, then the mask to help keep the strap in place. Works for me.

Good ole military. I think there is a written policy somewhere that says: Sink or swim.

You've found a good place for help, though. Let us know how it goes.

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:19 pm

Welcome, Cancun9! As you work to get your machine and mask to work for you, keep coming back and asking questions. I asked tons at first and still do. The people here are very gracious and willing to help.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:32 pm

The chin straps can work if you are opening your mouth to breathe, but many of us have gotten to the state where we do all our breathing thru our nose w/our nasal masks - and encounter the "lip flutters" where we are making no attempt to breathe thru our mouth but some air pressure does build up in our mouths and it will "escape" gently (usually) thru little gaps between our lips which I call "lip flutters". (Trying to be lady-like, some call them "lip farts"). That can be remedied by taping as you will see sometimes mentioned in various posts. I prefer using PoliGrip strips or gel. A thin layer of the PoliGrip gel spread over the entire upper and lower lip. It keeps our lips sealed pretty good but we can easily open our mouths if we need to w/no discomfort and then we can just run our tongue over our lips to moisten them a little and close them and the PoliGrip gel will seal them again.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:34 pm

Thanks for all of your advice. It is late here in Italy and I am actually going to try this tonight. I appreciate all of your support.

DBoone · Post by **DBoone** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 4:46 pm

[quote="Slinky"]I prefer using PoliGrip strips or gel. A thin layer of the PoliGrip gel spread over the entire upper and lower lip. It keeps our lips sealed pretty good but we can easily open our mouths if we need to w/no discomfort and then we can just run our tongue over our lips to moisten them a little and close them and the PoliGrip gel will seal them again.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 5:37 pm

Worked great for me. Let us know how it works for you.

Cancun9 · Post by **Cancun9** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 4:11 am

I also have this part that I have no idea what it is for. It is a clear plastic tube, about three inches long, with plastic black, round stoppers on each end. Any ideas?

Kattitude · Post by **Kattitude** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:10 pm

Cancun9 wrote:I also have this part that I have no idea what it is for. It is a clear plastic tube, about three inches long, with plastic black, round stoppers on each end. Any ideas?

I have no idea what it's real use is but, you might want to use it to konk the Dr. who sent you home with no info over the head.

Glad you found this forum and are asking questions to get it all worked out instead of just giving up!

Kattitude