what would u do?

sleepymama · Post by **sleepymama** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 3:16 pm

not sure what i should do. i've been using the RP comfort gel nasal mask for 3 nights so far. i've also taped my mouth to prevent mouth leaking. the first night i used it it was fit just right. i looked at my graph for that night and my AHI was almost 3, but my leaking was high (max of over 60)
so last night and the night before i tightened the mask which left an indent in my nose bridge to see if that helped the leaks. last night i had to use a bandage across the bridge to make sure it didn't hurt. still woke up with a red mark/indent. it feels bruised from the first night. i checked my AHI and it was higher just over 4 for both of those nights. my leaking was the same the other night but higher last night almost 70.

now when i was using the pillows listed in my siggy my AHI ranged from 1.2-5.3 with most days being under 4. the leaking was not bad as it was pointed out for me with the max being just over 30.

i don't know whether i should try the nasal again tonight or whether i should just go back with the pillows. i don't feel any leaks coming from the nasal but when i sleep on my side of course it shifts the mask.

thanks for any suggestions ahead of time

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 3:22 pm

Hi, overtightening rarely works, just creates new (often micro) leaks somehow and shouldn't be necessary if you have the right size and the mask otherwise suits you. How many FF's have you tried? If you need a FF, I don't think reverting to a nasal is the best answer.

sleepymama · Post by **sleepymama** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 3:31 pm

i tried the hybrid (with the pillows and mouth piece) and it didn't work. i'm getting a ff mask in the mail soon so i'll see if that works. i'm just so tired.

elena88 · Post by **elena88** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 3:36 pm

Im sorry you are having some frustrations with the masks..

I tried several ffm, and a couple hybrids, and even a total face mask,

and always came back to the pillows.. just decided to spend more time

trying to make them work, and it paid off..

sleepymama · Post by **sleepymama** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 3:38 pm

what do you do now elena that's different to make them work? i don't like how it feels like someone is jabbing me up the nose. it only feels like that when i sleep on my side which is my favourite position to fall asleep in.

kempo · Post by **kempo** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 3:48 pm

mama, you said your max leak was 60. What was the 95th percentile leak? Thats the one I would be concerned about.

jdm2857 · Post by **jdm2857** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 4:05 pm

Are you changing the mask setting on your machine when you change masks? What settings are you using for the non-ResMed masks?

sleepymama · Post by **sleepymama** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 4:06 pm

oh i don't understand the difference between all the leak titles the median, 95th and max. can u explain it to me?
my 95th percentile leak with the nasal is 19.2-22.8
on the pillows it is 20-22

sleepymama · Post by **sleepymama** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 5:20 pm

when i used the pillows i changed it to pillows and when it's the nasal i change it to nasal.

sleepymama · Post by **sleepymama** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 5:22 pm

my pressure setting is 9 and my epr has been 3 since i got the machine. my ramp is usually around 20 min. i've been thinking about changing the pressure to a 9.5 or 10 to see if that helps as someone had suggested

elena88 · Post by **elena88** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 5:38 pm

sleepymama wrote:what do you do now elena that's different to make them work? i don't like how it feels like someone is jabbing me up the nose. it only feels like that when i sleep on my side which is my favourite position to fall asleep in.

I used to have a ton of leaks too.. every time I turned on my side, disaster..

Most important is to hang your head OFF your pillow so the nose pillows dont get crushed..

I also learned to use two or three bed pillows to make a resovoir, a space for the nose pillows.. I leaned to turn on my side, get all situated,
and then even hold the pillows gently with my hand resting on them as I fell asleep.. I told my self there was a little snowflake on my
nose, and I had to protect it..
I pillow between your knees will keep you on your side longer too...

when I turn, I think now when Im alseep I protect the pillows with my hand, until I get situated again..

It took a long time, but I think its working. I also used to tape my mouth a lot, but I think I have learned to not have
to use it every often.. my trap is moe used to staying shut, which makes my husband ever so content

elena88 · Post by **elena88** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 1:01 pm

hi again sleepymama,

I just remembered some more tips to make the nose pillows work...

I noticed when I went to sleep last night, that if I cup my hand like Im holding an ice cream cone under my chin, this
provides an area of protection for the pillows so they dont get dislodged and leak..
I seem to do that on my right side.. on my left side I place the back of my right hand on the pillow next to my nose pillows, and make
a pressed space for them.. so all this stuff is right handed protection..

I would imagine it youre left handed you could do the same.. I do it without thinking now.. and why I noticed it is when I was sleeping
awhile without my apap, my hands were in the same position protecting nose pillows I wasnt wearing!

it has really helped my leak rate... and I dont breath out of my mouth so much after taping for a couple months.. havent taped in a while...
no dry mouth anymore!

lbw · Post by **lbw** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 3:15 pm

To decrease leaks with nasal pillows I found using a little nasal lubricant around the nares really helped decrease leaks plus prevented irritation. Trick is to tighten just enough to prevent leaks but not to overdue it. I turn my pillow sideways when I sleep on my stomach so that the pillows don't get crushed.

Good luck

sleepymama · Post by **sleepymama** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 7:44 pm

thanks everyone for the tips. last night i slept good except i was still tired from not sleeping much this week i had a nap this afternoon.
my AHI this morning was just over 1. yay!

soxfan426 · Post by **soxfan426** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:43 am

I could never adjust to the mask well. My provider started me off with the comfort select mask and it would always leak no matter what i did. Now I use the opti life nasal pillow and i love it. It works great!

what would u do?

what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Re: what would u do?

Machine	Mask