New CPAP user here...

[Grems4ever]

Hello everyone.

I've been diagnosed with mild OSA and am using CPAP on a trial basis. I've only been using my machine for less than a week and I already have a sore spot on the bridge of my nose . I'm working on playing with the straps to try to find a balance between comfort & leaks. As you can see, I'm using a full face mask because I tend to sleep with my mouth open. When they diagnosed me they used the nasal mask, but I found that it disagreed with my mustache and irritated my upper lip. If anyone has some tips to minimize the sore spot on the bridge of my nose, I'd love to hear them. (Not giving up the mustache... don't even go there.)

The only other problem I've got has nothing to do with me. My wife is having a hard time adjusting to the machine running at night. Since I've got c-flex, it cycles up and down as I breathe and just annoys the crud out of her. I've bought her some earplugs & I've moved the unit closer to the floor at night to block some of the noise. I'm not a huge snorer since I sleep on my side, so she's has a lot to adjust to. Not sure what else I can do so I'm hoping that she can adjust to it in a few more days. For you married members out there - how long did it take your spouse to adjust to your equipment?

I already feel much better, so I'm looking forward to getting the last few bugs worked out.

David

[Slinky]

You may well find that top strap more loose and bottom straps tighter (I know that sounds contrary) may well reduce the bridge of the nose soreness.

Placing your mask on your face whilst laying down a skosh lower on your nose than ideal, turning your CPAP on to fill the cushion w/air, then sliding the mask up into correct position turns the edges of the cushion so it is not cutting into your nose bridge.

You might also try hanging your hose above your head, that reduces the tugging DOWN on the mask which tends to turn the edges of the cushion, or cushion cover if your mask has one, into the skin. The cushion edges turn away from the skin if the mask is slid up instead of down.

Meanwhile if there is a sore developing a bandaid over the sore spot should help and buy some Mack's Silicone Earl Plugs at your pharmacy. Roll 1/2 of one in the palms of your hands into a rope or tape and lay that on your mask cushion where it cuts into the bridge of the nose and it serves to both protect the nose from the cushion edge and a seal to prevent leaks.

[garymbsail]

Slinky,
I, too, am a fairly new hose-head with rather mild apnea but loud snoring without the machine. My wife, I think, is happy to trade the white noise of the C-flex for the log-sawing. She also found the silence of the apnic episodes troubling knowing the significance. It sounds like David had some good advice as far as your facemask problems. I'm an inveterate mouth-breather without my nasal pillows. I was quite lucky to adapt quickly and sleep with my mouth closed. I'd like to get a full-face mask for that time when I get a head cold and can't nose breathe -- TG for the flu vaccine. Anyway, I'd encourage you to try the nasal pillows again, especially if you're a side-sleeper. I've not needed it yet, but my tech gave me a light-weight chin strap which is intended to help keep your mouth closed. BTW, the nasal pillows do not cause a problem with my mustache.

Good luck,
Gary in Mass.

[Grems4ever]

Thanks Slinky for the hints on the mask. I'll try those tonight. I loosened the top straps last night and played with the adjustments so there was much less pressure on the bridge of my nose. It felt much better this morning so I must be on the right track. I've already routed the hose so that it runs over my head - makes rolling over at night sooooo much easier. In fact, that was the biggest problem I had with the initial sleep study. I had so many things attached to me that I felt I couldn't even twitch without upsetting the balance of the universe. I'll go looking for the earplugs - that sounds like a great idea for not only the nose, but for any other problem sealing spots.

Gary - I've been eying the nasal pillows. I've already noticed that I'm keeping my mouth closed more since I started Monday (few dry mouth episodes) so maybe I can switch to the nasal pillows soon. I'm not looking forward to my next bout of bronchitis/pneumonia (Flu & Pneumonia shots are my friends) since the face mask really inhibits my ability to cough. Now that I think about it, maybe I need to go speak to the DME people about the nasal pillows on Friday. Maybe they can hook me up with a set.

David

[RipVW]

Hello & Welcome, Grems4ever! Glad you found this forum--SO much useful info and everyone here is so willing to help!

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

[gapwedge]

Hello everyone.

I've been diagnosed with mild OSA and am using CPAP on a trial basis. I've only been using my machine for less than a week and I already have a sore spot on the bridge of my nose . I'm working on playing with the straps to try to find a balance between comfort & leaks. As you can see, I'm using a full face mask because I tend to sleep with my mouth open. When they diagnosed me they used the nasal mask, but I found that it disagreed with my mustache and irritated my upper lip. If anyone has some tips to minimize the sore spot on the bridge of my nose, I'd love to hear them. (Not giving up the mustache... don't even go there.)

The only other problem I've got has nothing to do with me. My wife is having a hard time adjusting to the machine running at night. Since I've got c-flex, it cycles up and down as I breathe and just annoys the crud out of her. I've bought her some earplugs & I've moved the unit closer to the floor at night to block some of the noise. I'm not a huge snorer since I sleep on my side, so she's has a lot to adjust to. Not sure what else I can do so I'm hoping that she can adjust to it in a few more days. For you married members out there - how long did it take your spouse to adjust to your equipment?

I already feel much better, so I'm looking forward to getting the last few bugs worked out.

David

My wife had the same problem as I spent the first week in the guest BR. However, I bought a 6 inch fan and the constant drone of the fan drowns out most of the CPAP operation. Give it a try. I am back in bed with the wife with an AHI of less than 2. Goods times again.

[garymbsail]

David,
I'm glad to hear you're adapting to mouth closure. I think it's a skill many of us can learn. If you get to try the nasal pillows or a nasal mask, there's good reinforcement for a closed mouth. When you open your mouth, you feel a rush of air out of your mouth. Close it, and you feel the pressure return to your airway where it belongs. Our friend gapwedge does point out a good counter to cpap noise for your wife -- white noise of any kind will help. I know my wife won't notice it at all when we use the AC in the warm months.
Good luck,
Gary in Mass

[jnk]

I find that throwing a towel over the machine helps with the noise. Some have made little sound-dampening boxes to put over their machines.

My wife says that before I was on PAP, she used to alternate between putting up with my snoring and then listening to see if I was breathing when I stopped snoring. Now, she says, she finds that my machine has solved both those problems for her--it has stopped my snoring but has amplified the sound of my breathing so that she can hear I'm alive without listening too hard.

Or, wait a minute . . . could she just be saying that to make me feel better? Hmmm! Well, if so, it worked!

[RipVW]

I use the "Whisper Cap" on my M Series. Can't hear that machine running--only thing I can hear is the mask exhaust.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... r-cap.html

[Grems4ever]

Thanks for the link to the Whisper Cap - got one on the way! The wife is using ear plugs, but she's not comfortable with them so I hope the cap quiets it down enough for her not to need them.

I'm adjusting well to the machine (I feel awsome!), but I'm going to try the nasal pillows as soon as I can get to DME and pick one up. I move a lot and wind up waking up more than I'd like to reset it. My supplier called this morning to get my weekly average hours of use and was impressed with 7:42. He also suggested the nasal pillows, so it looks like I'm going to give them a shot.

David