Frustrated - Nasal Congestion & Mask Leaks

mccannon · Post by **mccannon** » Sat May 28, 2005 4:44 pm

I am totally new to this.

I have been trying to use my REMstar Cflex with heated humidifier with an Ultra Mirage full mask
for about a month. I seem to get it set up okay, but wake up with a mask leak on my eyelid
or my nose totally stopped up in about three hours.

At that time of night I don't manage to convince myself that I need to keep this thing on ... and
the mask hits the floor.

I don't know whether more humidity helps or not and I wonder if I should be taking some
decongestant or something to keep my nose open during the night?

Any advice would be welcome - thanks in advance!

Walter

SheepZzzz · Post by **SheepZzzz** » Sat May 28, 2005 5:25 pm

The leaking sounds like mask fit and you just have to keep playing with it, par for the course. For the stuffiness and congestion and to help me breathe through my nose my doctor had me pick up Ayr Saline Nasal Spray or Ocean Nasal Spray and Ayr Saline Nasal Gel. These have helped me with the stuffiness and dryness and I must have my heated humidifier on at all times. Even the summer given the AC temperature. These two products are safe to use as much as you want.
-Shee

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Sat May 28, 2005 6:06 pm

mccannon (DARTH),

Click on the following to read a previous thread with many responses dealing with solutions posted by other users:

viewtopic.php?t=2869&start=0&postdays=0 ... congestant

Good luck!

jdacal · Post by **jdacal** » Sun May 29, 2005 2:16 am

I had lots of problems with stuffiness. Turning up the heat on the humidifier did it for me. That an an occasional alllergy pill or rhinocort.

sue · Post by **sue** » Sun May 29, 2005 1:05 pm

[quote="mccannon"]I am totally new to this.

I have been trying to use my REMstar Cflex with heated humidifier with an Ultra Mirage full mask
for about a month. I seem to get it set up okay, but wake up with a mask leak on my eyelid
or my nose totally stopped up in about three hours.

At that time of night I don't manage to convince myself that I need to keep this thing on ... and
the mask hits the floor.

I don't know whether more humidity helps or not and I wonder if I should be taking some
decongestant or something to keep my nose open during the night?

Any advice would be welcome - thanks in advance!

Walter

Dot · Post by **Dot** » Sun May 29, 2005 2:10 pm

Dr also told me to use the Ayr Saline Nasal mist or the Saline spray to keep my nose from drying out so much. It does seem to help. I also use the heated humidifier and it`s better with it for me. I use the full mask.
As for the fitting of the mask, I still get some nights where it doesn`t fit properly even after over a year using it. One of the worst things I used to do was tighten the bottom too much and loosening it just a bit helped me make it fit better around the eyes. Some days my face seems a little swollen, and then I have to readjust the straps to make it fit better.
The fit sometimes can take quite a few times changing before getting a decent fit.

waltmon · Post by **waltmon** » Sun May 29, 2005 7:42 pm

Walter,

My name is also Walter and I have the EXACT same response to this therapy.
I fall asleep fine but two or three hours later I wake up and the mask is leaking due to movement, rolling over etc. I try to adjust, it doesn't work and off comes the mask. I didn't even bother last night. It's frustrating.

The advice I got here was to experiment with different masks, pillows etc. This is fine if you have the money to blow on this, but i'm on SS Disability with my other health issues and I don't have the money.

I don't know what if anything to do. I hope it works out for you.

walt

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Mon May 30, 2005 8:47 am

Waltmon?

I too am on SSDI. My doctor is working with a medical supply company who sent over a Respiratory Therapist to work with me. So far she has brought three different types of BiPAP machines and two different kinds of masks (nasal pillows and nasal mask). She said that there is one more machine she wants to show me. She works with me on MY settings and on setting the machine's sensitivity. She said that she is learning much from me about my special needs as a polio survivor. I think she has spent a total of maybe 6 hours with me so far.

At this point, nothing has yet been billed. This is all on a trial basis until we get a final Rx from the doctors (two more sleep studies to go.) In fact, she has left both masks and two of the machines here. One machine I really like, but it has no back-up settings. The other machine with the S/T function isn't sensitive enough, but I can change the settings to experiment with pressures and timing.

So far my favorite settings are IPAP 13, EPAP 2, and T around 6 or 7pm. Now if only the EPAP could be set for a longer time so I could get all the air OUT!!! :LOL:

Maybe get in touch with your medical equipment supplier to talk about your concerns? (I guess this is one of the perks of not buying equipment on the Internet - personal service! )

- JB

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Mon May 30, 2005 9:36 am

OK, Here's a new wrinkle..

Whistling nose masks!! :LOL:

Last night I was very tired when I finally got to bed. I held my mask up to my face and turned on the machine, waited for it to cycle up, fastened the last hook, turned out the light and lay down... and the mask began to WHISTLE. My first thought was that it was leaking so I groggily tested around the edges - no leaks. But it would not stop that annoying noise. I tried re-setting the mask. No help. I tried twirling the swivel part of the mask, just in case something had broken. No help. Finally I tried stretching the hose a bit - helped a little, so I sat up & turned on the light and manipulated the hose until I couldn't see the sensory tube up near the exhaust ports of the mask, just in case this was the cause of the noise. The noise stopped!

So my question is, does air come in through that sensory tube also? Was the noise caused by air from that tube blowing through the exhaust ports?

After 20 minutes of tinkering I was finally was able to go to sleep!

- JB

waltmon · Post by **waltmon** » Tue May 31, 2005 9:14 am

ahujudybear

My doctor also sent over an RT. He set up the machine showed me how to work it. Put on my mask, asked me if I had any questions and told me I could get another mask every 6 months and left. Im glad you are getting a higher level of service/care.

Walt

texan27028 · Post by **texan27028** » Tue May 31, 2005 10:09 am

Hey ahujudybear,

My favorite is the middle of the night nasal mask 'fart'. This usually happens around 3-4am when I turn over on my side and the nasal mask shifts a little. I get that 'ever-so-refreshing' stream of air shooting straight into my eyeball. The mask usually doesn't leak anywhere but right below my eye......

hmmm, wonder why that is.......

ahujudybear · Post by **ahujudybear** » Tue May 31, 2005 6:51 pm

Waltmon?

That is terrible.

maybe if you call them and ask a ton of questions, ask to try various styles of masks?

Maybe if you tell them you aren't paying for anything that isn't working?

Good luck!!

- JB

Frustrated - Nasal Congestion & Mask Leaks