3 nights

[oumoose]

Hello everyone, I am new to the forum and new to CPAP therapy. I am 32 year old male that is struggling so far with both the idea of doing this, and the actual process. I know its only been 3 nights, and I suspect it will get easier, but so far I make it around 4 hours a night with the mask before I remove it. My biggest problem, I hope someone can help me with, is I am getting a lot of pressure right below my nose that is causing some pain. I have tried to adjust my mask several times to alleviate this, but I can't seem to figure it out. I get good seal, good airflow, and I seem to breathe well with it...its just this pressure under my right nostril that is bothering me. This causes me to wake up every 30 min to hour to try to readjust my position to alleviate this pain.

I know I may not have provided enough information, but hopefully someone can help. I have enjoyed the site so far. Their is almost an overwhelming amount of information here!

[gasp]

Welcome! It was 3 months before I remember getting this whole process working for me so that I could say I was getting restful sleep. Keep coming back - and when you find what worked for you, share it with us so that we can all learn : )

I haven't used that mask but I'm sure somebody here has and will have helpful suggestions. I did think of a few questions. Is the pressure caused from a small area of the nasal pillow, or pressure from the entire mask weighing down? Do you mostly sleep on the side that is affected? Is the nasal pillow size correct in that when under pressure is only the soft portion of the nasal pillow puffed up around your nare - or is the pillow perhaps to small and the harder ridge portion (if your nasal pillow has ridges) rubs on your nare?

Best wishes and glad you joined!

[Wulfman]

Welcome to the forum.

My first suggestion (if you haven't already found it) is to go up to the yellow lightbulb icon "Our Wisdom", and start reading.
I'm not an admirer of nasal masks (and haven't used any), so I can't comment on your predicament with your nose/mask situation.

Den

[oumoose]

Welcome! It was 3 months before I remember getting this whole process working for me so that I could say I was getting restful sleep. Keep coming back - and when you find what worked for you, share it with us so that we can all learn : )

I haven't used that mask but I'm sure somebody here has and will have helpful suggestions. I did think of a few questions. Is the pressure caused from a small area of the nasal pillow, or pressure from the entire mask weighing down? Do you mostly sleep on the side that is affected? Is the nasal pillow size correct in that when under pressure is only the soft portion of the nasal pillow puffed up around your nare - or is the pillow perhaps to small and the harder ridge portion (if your nasal pillow has ridges) rubs on your nare?

Best wishes and glad you joined!

I think its caused a little from the nasal pillow and the pressure of the mask. I sleep on the opposite of the affected side. I have yet to change the nasal pillow sizes, that was my next option. I believe its the small harder ridge portion of the pillow that rubs.

[GumbyCT]

1st Welcome
2nd change your equipment listing from those stupid icons to text. Can you tell the different icons apart? I won't even bother to click on those things if you can't tell me what you have, so be it. If I gotta click, I click Next.

4 hrs is not so bad. It does take time to get used to sleeping with a mask on your face. Stick with it for as long as you can. Hopefully increasing a bit each nite. No one ever tells you not to be disappointed if you can't sleep thru the nite for awhile. It is quite normal and everyone is a bit different as for how long it will take. Just stick with it.

Start for bed early. Wear the mask while watching TV. Adjust straps at your highest pressure (before using Ramp). Be sure to wear it if you take naps. Naps can be a good source to try any changes out before you are exhausted for the nite.

Mask pain - contact your DME right away about this. Most have a 30 day policy to replace your mask (FREE) if it doesn't work for you. Since you mask is most critical to your success you should use this policy until you find at least one mask you can wear ALL nite. Then keep searching until you find a backup mask. So this too can take some time.

Personally, I think everyone should be given 2 masks right from the beginning. Choose a different style so if you get a cold or somerthing you can continue to sleep.

Good Luck,
GumbyCT

Hello everyone, I am new to the forum and new to CPAP therapy. I am 32 year old male that is struggling so far with both the idea of doing this, and the actual process. I know its only been 3 nights, and I suspect it will get easier, but so far I make it around 4 hours a night with the mask before I remove it. My biggest problem, I hope someone can help me with, is I am getting a lot of pressure right below my nose that is causing some pain. I have tried to adjust my mask several times to alleviate this, but I can't seem to figure it out. I get good seal, good airflow, and I seem to breathe well with it...its just this pressure under my right nostril that is bothering me. This causes me to wake up every 30 min to hour to try to readjust my position to alleviate this pain.

I know I may not have provided enough information, but hopefully someone can help. I have enjoyed the site so far. Their is almost an overwhelming amount of information here!

[ozij]

Take a look at the "interactive fitting guide" http://optilife.respironics.com/fittingGuide.aspx if you haven't done so yet.

When you start out using a nasal pillows mask, you have firm material touching parts of you face that were hardly touched before. You'll know what I mean if you've ever had a painful red nose after wiping it again and again and yet again when you have a cold. I had to take a 2 night break from therapy after the first 3 nights, because one of my nostrils was sore.

You may want to used AYR Gel, or KY Jelly, or Lansio on the pillows till you get used to it. I used KY Jelly (didn't have the other alternatives ) for about 4 months - then I started forgetting to use it.

I don't know about the Optilife, but for my masks, hanging the hose from a hook in the wall above my head (passing it though a scrunchy) was a big help too.

O.

[oumoose]

Gumby, Thanks, It seems their are a lot of people that use these icons, I like it...


Anyway, Thank for the ideas. I also think that I may be more of a mouth breather. If that is the case, i assume I need to go with a FF style mask?

And, I will definitely check out the fitting guide OZIJ, thank you. I tried changing the pillows last night to a smaller pillow, that made the other side of my nose hurt. And, it seems to not allow me to get good seal. I then tried to switch to the large, and couldn't get a good seal because they were to big. So, i tried to switch back to the medium...all in the dark...and experience major blow-out. So, i gave up for the night and went to bed. Its to hard to make these adjustments in the dark and i didn't want to turn on my light and disturb my wife. So, i gave the nose a break for the night.

I have made an appt for tomorrow to try a new mask. Maybe i will try a FF mask or a mask that covers the nose entirely.

[echo]

Gumby, Thanks, It seems their are a lot of people that use these icons, I like it...

Not to be snooty, but although you may like how the icons look, it's very annoying for those of us who are trying to help, because we can't tell immediately what kind of mask you have. It requires a bunch of extra clicks.

You might want to try an NAII - if i remember correctly it doesn't rest on your lip in the same way. Babette is running a mask test drive where you can try the mask for free - PM her or read this first: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30639

[oumoose]

Not to be snooty, but although you may like how the icons look, it's very annoying for those of us who are trying to help, because we can't tell immediately what kind of mask you have. It requires a bunch of extra clicks

OK, hopefully this pleases everyone. See below...

I initially liked that NAII but it was not offered at the place I went. I will do some diggin.

If I am a mouth breather would I need the FF style masks?

[GumbyCT]

Gumby, Thanks, It seems their are a lot of people that use these icons, I like it...

Next...

[gasp]

Welcome! It was 3 months before I remember getting this whole process working for me so that I could say I was getting restful sleep. Keep coming back - and when you find what worked for you, share it with us so that we can all learn : )

I haven't used that mask but I'm sure somebody here has and will have helpful suggestions. I did think of a few questions. Is the pressure caused from a small area of the nasal pillow, or pressure from the entire mask weighing down? Do you mostly sleep on the side that is affected? Is the nasal pillow size correct in that when under pressure is only the soft portion of the nasal pillow puffed up around your nare - or is the pillow perhaps to small and the harder ridge portion (if your nasal pillow has ridges) rubs on your nare?

Best wishes and glad you joined!

I think its caused a little from the nasal pillow and the pressure of the mask. I sleep on the opposite of the affected side. I have yet to change the nasal pillow sizes, that was my next option. I believe its the small harder ridge portion of the pillow that rubs.

Ah, well that's good news! the next size up should work. Only the thin plastic part of the pillow should touch your nare and when air puffs it up the ridge is away from being able to rub on the nare : )