New CPAP User Needs Advice

[frostman]

Glad I found this place. I need some advice and to share with the group and see if what I am going through is normal.

I was diagnosed with OSA about a month ago, got my Remstar plus with cflex last week and had a few good nights. I could fall asleep with the ramp set at 45 minutes, but when I woke up at 3:00 Am to do my old guy thing I could hardly fall back asleep. My nurse said if you have 4 hours of treatment that is considered a therapeutic dose.

My eyes apparently open slightly or don't close all the way at night. I have had to use refresh tears for years, mostly at night. Well any air leakage really aggravates the problem, and my throat was extremely dry. My mask is a respironics comfort gel medium size. So I went back and got a size small and a heated humidifier. Well last night with the cold air, not heated, I could hardly breathe at all through my nose. Felt like my nose lived in southern Louisiana. I have had to have the mask so tight to stop leaks, it is uncomfortable. I think I could get used to this if I could get my mask under control.

[jbelnap]

This is my typical routine for mask leaking questions. All masks leak a little, sometimes. However, you can not allow any leaking into your eyes, that's not acceptable and is bad for your eyes (somewhat obvious). did they show you that the forhead assembly tilts? Have you tried tilting the forehead assembly away from your forehead which will then pull the cushion of the mask closer into your eyes. If this is unclear or you've already done this and it's still leaking in your eyes - you need to go back to your DME provider and explain the problem. The answer maybe a completely different mask if the adjustment doesn't work.

You stated you used it cold, not heated. You may breathe more comfortable by turning on the heat. The heat is adjustable 1-5. One is cooler and less humid than five.

Hope this helps,
joyce

[th]

Welcome, I know you will get more advice from others. Mine is to get rid of the mask you are using and try the activa mask. That mask does not have to be tight and is a good mask for not leaking Also try setting your humidifier to a setting of 2 th

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/1795

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): activa

[Niteair]

My nurse said if you have 4 hours of treatment that is considered a therapeutic dose.


You can't get a dose of treatment for apnea and be all set for the rest of the night, unless the nurse meant that 4 hours of sleep was sufficient for the nights total sleep.

[chrisp]

I agree with Niteair. You can get 4 hours of wonderful sleep . Then die in your sleep of a heart attack a few hours later cause you didn't use your cpap.

The untimate test of non compliance for me was when I had to lay in the MRI machine for an hour, no cpap. It was hell.

:twis ted:

[nodding off]

Get a new mask that fits you comfortably. You will sleep better!

[rock and roll]

Go to your DME and remember one name, ACTIVA! Demand it! It will make your compliance so much easier. ALL NEW CPAPERS SHOULD START WITH AN ACTIVA, PERIOD!

[Guest]

Thanks for all the advice. I have good insurance, a primary and secondary. Do you think it is simple to get my doctor to write an rx for an activa mask?? I think the insurance company only replaces a mask every 3 months