Mask problems... need help

[SleepingUgly]

I am new to CPAP (I will post my story at some point soon). I have tried pillows, full-face, and now the Oracle.

I have been trying to use the Oracle for several nights and am finding it impossible to fall asleep due to a sensation that is difficult to explain. It almost feels like an influx of air, or a pressure change, enough of one to make my cheeks puff out a little for a second, then it resolves. It's not a true pressure change, as it occurs even when my machine is on a set pressure. I thought it may have to do with breathing through my nose, but when I put the nose plugs in, occasionally a sensation occurs with the nose plugs too (I'm too tired when this occurs to encode the memory well enough to explain it). Both sensations conspire to keep me awake. I don't know if my mouth is too open, or it's a nose-breathing problem, or some other problem. I gave up after a couple of hours last night and put on the Quattro with Duoderm. It actually sealed (unbelievable!) and the bridge of my nose felt OK (really unbelievable!) and I was elated. Woke up this morning with a welt on my nose that later broke out (here we go again...). Last night I went back to Swift LT for her because of the welt. I thought on a set pressure my aerophagia may be better. I woke up a couple hours later 5 months pregnant with air! (The pillows are not a good long term solution for me anyway because my nose is too stuffy.) I would like to make the Oracle work, or the full face mask if I could deal with the bridge of the nose issue.

Is anyone out there using the Oracle, and if so, did you experience what I'm describing? Has anyone have significant bridge of the nose issues with the Quattro and find a way to make it work? Any tips would be appreciated.

[LSAT]

You are really not giving us enough information....What machine are you using? Please fill in tour information in the
Control Panel. If your cheeks are puffing out you are using your FF mask and you are breathing with your mouth open.. If you use nose plugs you are definitely breathing through your mouth. If you have a nose problem with the Quattro try moving it down slightly or you may have the head adjustment too tight...try turning it down a few notches. .

[Julie]

What is your pressure set at, and do you use the ramp?

[SleepingUgly]

Sorry about the lack of info and my confusing post. I am using the PR System One Auto. I was using it as an Auto-Pap, but lately have switched to CPAP, on a pressure of 8. I was switched to the Oracle because of my bridge of the nose issues with full face masks. When I said my cheeks were puffing out intermittently with this sensation, that was with the Oracle. The sensation occurs less when the pressure is on 4 or 5, but is more noticeable as the pressure goes up. But even on a constant CPAP pressure, it occurs, indicating that it is not truly a pressure change, but just a sensation that I am having difficulty explaining. But this vacillation/fluctuation/whatever I call it, keeps me from sleeping. It seems to occur less when I use the nose plugs, so I wonder if it has something to do with the soft palate closing off irregularly/incompletely (or whatever is meant to occur!) but the nose plugs either don't completely block the air off or something, so THEY too cause sudden sensations that keep me awake. I do use ramp.

This is a case of the Princess and the Pea trying to use CPAP! Thanks for your help!

[Gerryk]

Just about everyone who uses the quattro has problems with it sealing of hitting the bridge of their nose. That all happens because the mask is not adjusted properly. That mask should pretty much float on your face. I describe the mask as kind of floating on your face like a hover craft on water. If you have the mask too tight it won't float therefore it won't seal properly and will leave marks. I had problems with this mask then I went through the directions on putting the mask on and adjusting it and getting it to seel. I went over this a lot over a few days until I had it right. Now I love this mask.

Gerry

[JohnBFisher]

... That mask should pretty much float on your face. I describe the mask as kind of floating on your face like a hover craft on water. ...

Just a note, Gerryk is absolutely right ... unless you have a higher pressure. My ASV unit ramps the pressure upto the 23cm H2O range. Besides making it feel as if it will blow my ears off my head, it also blows out that seal. So, under higher pressure I need to have it tighter than I would under lower / average pressure. So, if you have a higher pressure, it floats more like a heavily laden barge than a light hovercraft.

[Ms.Snuffleupagus]

Yes Gerry is absolutely right!!!
Now how's that for a switch on my part, eh Gerry

[SleepingUgly]

How exactly do you adjust it to "float on your face" without it leaking? I watched the Resmed fitting video again, and I tried for hours last night, with both a medium and a large Quattro (the medium is the one that left a welt, and it probably is the more appropriate fit, but I was hoping the large would keep off the bridge of my nose more). I adjusted the straps with the blower off, then attached the blower. Gusts of air blew through the sides, so I tightened the straps as minimally as possible. I seated and reseated a bazillion times, but I just couldn't get either size not to leak without tightening down (even then it leaked later in the night). The large mask with the duoderm didn't cause a welt, just a red mark, I think because it doesn't hit the bridge of my nose as much, but it leaked quite a bit (although frankly, the medium leaks too). Eventually I fell asleep, and woke up a few hours later with it leaking. I tried for an hour to get it to stop, even hit ramp again, but couldn't make it work. Also apparently I had been swallowing tons of air, which is a problem I can't seem to solve (I had hoped by switching from Auto-CPAP to CPAP on a constant pressure, this would be less of an issue, but apparently not). Thanks for the help!

Just about everyone who uses the quattro has problems with it sealing of hitting the bridge of their nose. That all happens because the mask is not adjusted properly. That mask should pretty much float on your face. I describe the mask as kind of floating on your face like a hover craft on water. If you have the mask too tight it won't float therefore it won't seal properly and will leave marks. I had problems with this mask then I went through the directions on putting the mask on and adjusting it and getting it to seel. I went over this a lot over a few days until I had it right. Now I love this mask.

Gerry

[Muse-Inc]

Try the RespCare Hybrid FFM, covers the mouth and has pillows. It'll take care of the mouth leaking and provide the comfort of pillows and yes, you can mouth breathe if you get congested. It does not cover the nose or touch the forehead.

[SleepingUgly]

For some reason my doctor didn't want me to use the Liberty, and I assumed that applied to any hybrid. Not sure why, except she had no luck with it.

Try the RespCare Hybrid FFM, covers the mouth and has pillows. It'll take care of the mouth leaking and provide the comfort of pillows and yes, you can mouth breathe if you get congested. It does not cover the nose or touch the forehead.

[Muse-Inc]

The RespCare Hybrid is the original hybrid-style, has fewer parts than the Liberty (less to wash or break), & doesn't have those sorta delicate clips (I thought I'd break 'em easily if I got in a rush to get the mask off). More than a few of us wear the Hybrid and like it...from mild to high pressures, simple OSA to complex apnea. Sounds like doctor bias to me. Our host has mask insurance so you can return it if it doesn't work out.

[Gerryk]

Yes Gerry is absolutely right!!!
Now how's that for a switch on my part, eh Gerry

Ms. Snuffleugapus I love ya just because you disagree with me once in a while. If everyone agreed it would be a boring world with nothing said.
I used to have a good friend who would disagree with me or others just to stimulate deeper discussion on the subject.



Gerry

[JohnBFisher]

... How exactly do you adjust it to "float on your face" without it leaking? ...

I sure don't have a good answer. All I can answer is what works for me. If you have a fairly constant pressure, then stretch out on your bed, put on the mask. I start with it as loose as possible to inflate the mask, but not allow leaks. THEN, I try to consciously RELAX my face (slack jaw, etc). You know the way you never want someone to see you ... mouth ajar, drooling. That usually leads to leaks. I then tighten the straps to minimize leaks.

With the Quattro you can adjust the forehead pad to back the nose bridge away to keep it from pressing too deeply into the nose. Of course, I have a secret weapon to fight this. I've worn glasses all but four years of my life. So, I suspect the bridge of my nose is much more calloused than most people.

A band aid should help until you become adjusted to it.

By the way, if your machine has EPR (exhalation pressure relief) then if you enable it, that feature might help reduce swallowing air.

Hope that helps.