Not sleeping on the sofa

[susiebeth]

I am new to this site, and I hope to find help and encouragement to be successful. I have used my CPAP off and on for two and a half years. Mostly off, because it is sooooo uncomfortable.

3 days ago my husband said he can't take my snoring and gasps for air anymore, that I am keeping him awake all night. He suggested we take turns sleeping on the sofa. Then he said "what happened to that machine that made you not snore".

I decided to get "that machine" out of the closet. The first night I used my comfort gel nose mask. I now have a large sore on the bridge of my nose. The next night I used mirage swift nasal pillows. It kept slipping off and I was up every hour trying to adjust it. Last night I went back to the comfort gel, moving it higher on my nose and using some cotton padding. It worked OK but still my nose is sore. The first sore has not healed. Those are the only 2 masks I have.

Thursday I have an appointment with my RT to get a new mask. I hope there are some better choices for me.

The good news is, even with the pain, I feel better than I have in months. My energy level is through the roof.

Please pray for me, that I will find the right mask and not give up this time.

God is good! Thanks for any help you can give.

Susie

[LinkC]

There are MANY other choices in masks. If your RT is competent, he/she will be able to make some valuable suggestions based on facial structure. It sounds as if your nosebridge cannot handle a full face mask (unless your CG was grossly misadjusted).

Do you breathe thru your mouth at night? Have you tried a nasal pillow mask? Or a hybrid style? (These are all questions your RT should ask you....) Best of luck!

And snoring is NOT the worst result of OSA. Keep on keeping on...

[sleepycarol]

I used a full face mask in the very beginning. It was the Fisher and Paykel 431. After a few months I developed a rash like condition where the seal touches my face. When I asked the doc she said it was probably a reaction to the mask. That started my quest to find a mask I was comfortable with and didn't cause the rash.

I went through many, many mask prior to finding the one I use consistently now -- the Headrest/Aura.

Your DME should work with you and the manufactures allow them to send back masks that don't work out if the exchange is within 30 days. Hopefully your DME will allow you to try several if the first doesn't work out.

Hang in there -- the adjustment period is worth the end results.

[DreamDiver]

susiebeth,

Welcome. Please consider using a full-face mask. One of the most popular is the Ultra Mirage Full Face. You can find it on cpap.com. Many beginners find this one to be a good starter mask.

Good luck with your sleep therapy. You can do this.

[BlackSpinner]

When I use my full face mask I have a cotton knit piece of fabric between me and my skin other wise I get burn marks under my eyes.
There are products available that can help "Remzzz" I believe it is called.

[susiebeth]

I also forgot to mention that my machine makes a gurgling noise and water leaks into my mask.

I have strap marks on my face that last for hours!

This is not fun.

Susie

[torontoCPAPguy]

I am new to this site, and I hope to find help and encouragement to be successful. I have used my CPAP off and on for two and a half years. Mostly off, because it is sooooo uncomfortable.

3 days ago my husband said he can't take my snoring and gasps for air anymore, that I am keeping him awake all night. He suggested we take turns sleeping on the sofa. Then he said "what happened to that machine that made you not snore".

I decided to get "that machine" out of the closet. The first night I used my comfort gel nose mask. I now have a large sore on the bridge of my nose. The next night I used mirage swift nasal pillows. It kept slipping off and I was up every hour trying to adjust it. Last night I went back to the comfort gel, moving it higher on my nose and using some cotton padding. It worked OK but still my nose is sore. The first sore has not healed. Those are the only 2 masks I have.

Thursday I have an appointment with my RT to get a new mask. I hope there are some better choices for me.

The good news is, even with the pain, I feel better than I have in months. My energy level is through the roof.

Please pray for me, that I will find the right mask and not give up this time.

God is good! Thanks for any help you can give.

Susie

Firstly, don't blame your husband. Not only is he watching you snore all night he is watching you slowly kill yourself. Please get back on the nosebag! We are all here to support you. You have freinds and good advice here.

I tried the nasal pillows (Swift LT) and they were terrible for me. I smoosh my nose on the pillow and they cut off the air flow. The first mask they gave me was supposed to be great and I had open sores on the bridge of my nose. Then they gave me a Mirage Activa LT Large and when I came home to try it I fell asleep and slept the best I have slept in 20 years. I purchased online three Mirage Activa LT LARGE WIDE nose masks as they are incredibly comfy for me (they are a bellows type mask and it is like wearing a cloud. They have a forehead brace and the pressure on the bridge of my nose is nill). I would highly recomment trying one out. I bought the WIDE version in order to get stability and to miss the creases in my face between my cheek and my nose. Works incredibly well. The width made a big difference.

I have not finished my quest for the perfect mask. As I hear of masks that may be better than what I have I am prepared to drop a few bucks and give them a try.... but the one I have is good for me. Goood luck. Chin up!

[SleepyInIndy]

The 'gurgling' sound probably means you are getting 'rainout'. This is caused by one of two conditions. Your humidifier is set too high or the room termperature is too cold. The cold air from the room is causing the moist air in the tube to reform into drops of water. You can 'insulate' the hose with a cover to keep the room air away, and/or lower the setting on the humidifier (remember this is a confort issue for the patient - you - and not part of your treatement), or do as I do, route the house as much as possible under the bed covers and let your body heat keep things comfy.

The strap marks could be a sign that you have the mask 'cranked down' too tight - a common mistake especially in the beginning. Tighter is not always better. You will be amazed on how little tension it takes for the mask to make a good seal. This may also be why you have the sore on your nose. Start with the straps very loose and only tighten to stop the leaks. The trick is to find that happy spot where the mask does not leak but stays in place during the night.

Getting everything just right is a process. We all have had to do this - some more than others. But just keep plugging away and tackle each issue as your identify them.

[DreamOn]

Welcome to the forum, Susie! You have come to the right place for help and support with CPAP! Many of us are happy to share what has worked (and not worked) for us. Through our experiences, you can learn what will make CPAP more comfortable for you.

There are SO many tips to share! Start searching past forum posts and the CPAP Wiki (at the top of the screen). You'll discover all kinds of information!

As SleepyInIndy said, the gurgling noise you hear is called "rainout". It happens when the water vapor condenses inside the hose. There are several ways to deal with that. It may help if you turn the room temperature up. Or you can try the humidifier at a lower setting and see if you're comfortable. You can purchase a hose cover, which insulates the hose. There are many commerically available, or you can make your own. Even the sleeves cut from an old sweatshirt will do in a pinch. You can try running the hose under the blankets to keep it warmer. Many of us find those tricks solve the problem. Finally, there's a special heated hose, often called the Aussie Heated Hose: http://www.sleepzone.com.au/showitems.a ... %20Tube%27.

As far as strap marks go, Pad A Cheek makes many strap covers: http://padacheek.com/. They also make very nice hose covers, nose bridge protectors, etc. Make sure you're not pulling your straps too tight also. With a mask as old as yours, you may need a new cushion. Or it could be the wrong size. Or you may need a different style. As far as nose bridge soreness goes, the mask may not be adjusted properly at the top, the mask could be too small, or you may need to try a different model. If your mask isn't a bad fit, sometimes a round bandaid over the pressure point can help, if the sore isn't too bad. Some people use moleskin too.

Masks are a very individual thing. Getting properly fitted is extremely important! Try on as many as you can. My three favorites (so far) are the ResMed Mirage Activa LT nasal mask, AEIOMed Headrest nasal pillows mask, and Fisher & Paykel Opus 360 nasal pillows. I find that they're all very comfortable. I like the Activa LT nasal mask because the straps can be worn very loose and the cushion sort of "floats" on your face and stays sealed. I like the nasal pillows masks very much too. Some people find that with the nasal masks they need to also use homemade straps or other fixes to keep the pillows in place. Here are some good fixes: viewtopic.php?t=15104 (scroll down to your mask).

If you use a nasal or nasal pillows mask and find that you're losing therapy air from your mouth, you can try a chin strap and/or tape your mouth closed. There's information regarding that elsewhere on the forum. I use the PAPCap chin strap, which works well for me: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pursle ... otton.html. I like it much better than other chin straps. Other people find that they need to use a full-face mask if they're mouth-breathers or they lose too much therapy air due to mouth leaks.

There's LOTS of information regarding machines on the forum too. If yours is capable of reporting full data, we can teach you how to check your nightly therapy results, such as AHI (apneas + hypopneas) and leak rate. We'd need to know which specific machine model you're using. That can help to troubleshoot problems. I suggest that you add your machine profile. That can be done by going to the User Control Panel (top of screen), then click on Profile and Edit Equipment. That'll help us to help you.

Effective therapy can make such a huge difference in our health and the way we feel. And it can make for happier spouses too. Therapy does not have to be uncomfortable. Good to hear that you're feeling better since starting CPAP again! I hope you will now use your machine consistently. I'm sure you already know how untreated sleep apnea can cause many other serious health problems, so I won't go into that.

I hope that some of your challenges have been addressed. Chances are good that if you have a problem with CPAP, someone has found a solution here! We're so glad you found us.

~ DreamOn

[Irene P.]

Susie, if your comfortgel is a nasal mask, it can be heated in boiling water and shaped to your face. You hold the mask in the boiled water for a few minutes, then dunk it in cold tap water for a few seconds and strap it on your face as you usually would, and it will change shape a bit to fit your particular face. Don't push it down hard on your face. You should have received these instructions with your mask. I used my comfortgel for at least a month, and it was okay, but now that I've heated it and shaped it, it is much more comfortable. I can leave it a little looser and don't get any nose soreness now. I also can leave the forehead piece set high so it isn't too tight on my nose.

[susiebeth]

Thanks for all the help.

I set my humidifier to "1" and wrapped the tubing in old tee shirts. That stopped the rainout.

I put a piece of cotton material over the bridge of my nose. It is helping. but still not quite right. The blister is healing, but my nose is still sore.

I look forward to getting a new mask on Thursday. Thanks again.

Susie

[DreamOn]

Thanks for all the help.

I set my humidifier to "1" and wrapped the tubing in old tee shirts. That stopped the rainout.

I put a piece of cotton material over the bridge of my nose. It is helping. but still not quite right. The blister is healing, but my nose is still sore.

I look forward to getting a new mask on Thursday. Thanks again.

Susie

Good to hear that you were able to stop the rainout. That's a very common problem that most of us have had to deal with. Fortunately, there are some very nice hose covers available. I knitted mine. If you're comfortable at the new humidity setting, that's one problem solved!

When I got my first mask about four months ago, I also started developing a sore on the bridge of my nose. My mask has a dial that can adjust the nose bridge in or out. Adjusting helped somewhat, but it still felt raw and painful. I never let it get to the point that it was an open sore, though. I used round bandaids, tape and similar barriers/cushions at first, but my nose sort of "toughened up" after a while. But once it blisters, it's more difficult to get over. I also alternate between nasal pillows and nasal masks, so that different parts of my face/nostrils get a break once in a while.

I tried one particular full-face mask for a few nights. It just chewed into my nose bridge something awful! So I know that it can take a while to find just the right mask. "If at first you don't succeed, try and try again," as they say.

It could be that your mask just isn't the proper size for you. Make sure you're not pulling the straps too tight also. I hope that things get resolved on Thursday, so you can be more comfortable. Make sure they spend LOTS of time fitting you. Try the masks on under full pressure. Hopefully, they have a bed where you can roll around a lot to check for leaks and how the mask feels against the pillow.

At least you've noticed improvement in the way you feel! That helps with motivation to work out the equipment (mask) challenges.

Please let us know how things go!

~ DreamOn

[uperrsc]

Are you sure you aren't putting the mask on too tight. I had the same problem the first night, and then I took some time to make the mask as loose as possible without leaks. The first night, if I rolled over and felt a leak I cranked the mask tighter.... mistake. Now I find a different position or just lift the mask and readjust it to my face. Made a world of difference, and I'm now lovin' my ComfortGel full face mask. Good luck!!