My gf and I need help using my cpap device

[richardcee]

Any suggesttions for my girlfriend and I? 

I have been using a cpap pretty much consistently for the past 2.5 to 3 years. By consistently, I mean fairly consistently. I do have problems actually putting it on as soon as I go to bed.  I tend to want to wait a while while I read, play online Scrabble or whatever. The problem is that I invariably fall asleep before I think I will. This annoys my girlfriend as she can't sleep over my snoring.   
My gf is very supportive of my cpap use but we both want to find a way of her not nagging me (or waking me up) to use it just as I am about to fall asleep.  

Any suggestions welcome. 

I must add that although my nasal pillow if far more comfortable than other masks I have tried ........... it still feels uncomfortable  when I wake up on the middle of the night. When this happens I just want to take it off and leave it off. Any suggestions how to combat this too? Might be (part of) the same problem above?

 Rich

[cflame1]

Can you give us some more information?

Machine manufacturer, make and model

Mask name

Pressure

Exhale relief or not?

[richardcee]

Machine:
Respironics RemStar M-Series

Mask:
Resmed Nasal Pillow

[ozij]

You must find a mask that does not wake you in discomfort in the middle of tha night. Nobody can sleep when the mask hurts them.

My favorite -- extremely comfortable mask for me --is the Headrest by Aeiomed. I modified it following Rested Gal's suggestions and it works great.

Another very comfortable mask is the Opus 360, by Fisher & Paykel.

Welcome to the forum.

O.

[richardcee]

Thanks for your mask suggestions.

Rich

You must find a mask that does not wake you in discomfort in the middle of tha night. Nobody can sleep when the mask hurts them.

My favorite -- extremely comfortable mask for me --is the Headrest by Aeiomed. I modified it following Rested Gal's suggestions and it works great.

Another very comfortable mask is the Opus 360, by Fisher & Paykel.

Welcome to the forum.

O.

[gasp]

Welcome Richardcee:

You've got a good girlfriend there. My advice to get her to quit nudging you just before you fall asleep is to beat her to it - put on your mask before she can nudge you : ) Is it possible that when you fall asleep before putting on the mask that you wake her up with a snort, gasp, or choke or two? Maybe she's ensuring her own good night's sleep? Anyway, glad you're on the forum. You'll probably get better suggestions than gave - one of the wonderful things abut the forum : )

[Marietjie]

but we both want to find a way of her not nagging me (or waking me up) to use it just as I am about to fall asleep.

Hosehead to another hosehead...! richardcee, it is very nice of your girlfriend to be supportive BUT it is NOT her responsibility to ask/nag you to put on your mask. Get into a proper routine - if not, stress will build up between you two!

it still feels uncomfortable when I wake up on the middle of the night

- maybe you need to adjust the straps. It could be that the straps are too tight. Hope you come right very soon. Have a lovely weekend

[richardcee]

Yes I Do need to get into a routine. Not always easy with a 19 month daughter who also sleeps with us ... but I'll try (harder)

Also i find it hard to adjust the straps just right. If they are slightly off I get leakage of air thus rendering my cpap almost useless. I reall may look into getting another nasal pillow.

Thanks and have a happy holiday.

Rich

but we both want to find a way of her not nagging me (or waking me up) to use it just as I am about to fall asleep.

Hosehead to another hosehead...! richardcee, it is very nice of your girlfriend to be supportive BUT it is NOT her responsibility to ask/nag you to put on your mask. Get into a proper routine - if not, stress will build up between you two!

it still feels uncomfortable when I wake up on the middle of the night

- maybe you need to adjust the straps. It could be that the straps are too tight. Hope you come right very soon. Have a lovely weekend

[richardcee]

Its not that the pillow hurts it's more that when I wake up to pee or whatever I go back to bed, put it on but then get leakage and or hissing. It takes so
long to adjust I just give up and leave it off.

Thanks again.

Rich

You must find a mask that does not wake you in discomfort in the middle of tha night. Nobody can sleep when the mask hurts them.

My favorite -- extremely comfortable mask for me --is the Headrest by Aeiomed. I modified it following Rested Gal's suggestions and it works great.

Another very comfortable mask is the Opus 360, by Fisher & Paykel.

Welcome to the forum.

O.

[Marietjie]

it's more that when I wake up to pee or whatever

Rich, another routine to get used to is DO NOT take any liquids after 4pm - this way you will not get the urge to go to the toilet

Not always easy with a 19 month daughter who also sleeps with us

...
your lovely, little daughter of 19months need to sleep in her own bedroom! Do not make the same mistake that we did otherwise it will go on for years! Oh my, it is very hard, I know. Rich, you have lots of things to sort out - I wish you all the luck.

[BlackSpinner]

Try to just disconnect the hose and leave the mask in place. I believe they sell quick disconnects at cpap.com if your mask doesn't have that.

I had no problem with my full face mask but with my hybrid it is a hassle, and I am too sleepy to get the things all properly situated so I disconnect the hose and leave the mask in place.

Try making it a joint project to put your mask on before you go to sleep at night, after "cuddling".
If she has to wake you up - It is not nagging. change your mindset - thank her for guarding your life - Once in a while buy her something nice specifically to thank her for helping you breathe. Create a special phrase that she will only use to get you to mask up, that phrase will only be used to get you to mask up and no other time. Then it becomes not nagging, but a voice command like in sports.

Good luck, if you read some of the other threads you will realize how blessed you are.

[rested gal]

A mask you can actually sleep in is the #1 key, as ozij said.

I have to add an extra strap around any nasal pillows mask, or I experience the same thing you described, Rich. Persistent little leaks springing out - seemingly impossible to stop. Fix it at one spot, and another starts. Some nasal pillows tend to get warmer, softer, and slippery as the night goes on.

Cut off the leg from a pair of pantyhose tights (not regularly pantyhose -- that material is not as thick as "tights" material.) Use that long "leg" as an extra strap to put around just about any mask to help steady the mask, or to stabilize the nasal pillows area of the mask.

Here are drawings of several possible ways to route one or two extra straps:


Tie the "leg" strap behind head with a "doublestart" knot. Unlike other types of knots, this one lies flat, is easy to adjust during the night, easy to remove in the morning:
DoubleStart Knot How to tie a flat knot behind head when using a homemade strap.
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/doublestartknot.htm

It's much easier to move the extra strap slightly, or adjust the extra strap's knot, to get a mask to stop leaking during the night than it is to start fiddling with the mask straps themselves.

The mask ozij mentioned -- Headrest nasal pillows mask by Aeiomed -- has been my favorite mask for years now. With a homemade strap or two.

Unfortunately, most DMEs (home health care supplies stores) have never heard of the "Headrest" mask or the company (Aeiomed) that makes it. The store could certainly order it for you...if they will. Or you could buy it out of pocket from an online store. Don't be put off by the odd look of that mask's headgear. Looks bulky, awkward, heavy. But it's not. It's very lightweight and unobtrusive.

Check out the "Lab Rat" links for the "Headrest" mask to see how some of us have even removed the headgear entirely, replaced with our own homemade straps!
LINKS to Lab Rat Trophy awards
viewtopic.php?t=15104

Hanging the main air hose overhead so that it doesn't tug on a mask when you turn over or move your head can help:
LINKS to Hose hangers and methods of managing the air hose
viewtopic.php?t=10640

[Gerryk]

Rich I put my mask on when I get in bed. I get myself and the bed ready and sit on the edge of the bed. I either put my mask on there or lay down and put it on, but the final adjustment is made once I am laying down. Lately I just lay down and put the mask on, probably because I have been more tired lately. Having a routine does make it easier because it becomes something you just do without thinking about it.

As fas as that mask, find one you are comfortable with. You will get all kinds of suggestions from different people. Their is not one mask on the market that will work for everyone. With that said you need to try different masks on to see what is most comfortable for you.

Good luck.

Gerry

[gasp]

[quote="richardcee"]Its not that the pillow hurts it's more that when I wake up to pee or whatever I go back to bed, put it on but then get leakage and or hissing. It takes so
long to adjust I just give up and leave it off. [\quote]

I don't know if this is the case for you, but when that used to happen to me (when I wore a mask that contacted my face - I wear nasal pillows now) I found it was because I have oily skin. I can go to bed with clean skin, seat the mask and all is well. Then during the night my skin gets a bit oily and the mask won't seal when I put it off and back on. It's a pain, but if you too have oily skin, you can take a warm wash cloth and press it to your face and then press your face with a dry towel. I use the opposite side to wipe the mask and pat it dry with a towel. Then the seal is good again - at least that's how it worked for me.

[sagesteve]

Look into the No Mask! It won't make noise and it won't blow on anything:
http://www.nomask.com
You can also look at: http://www.sleepweaver.com it doesn't make any noise either and is SUPER comfortable.