1 Month with cpap- Mask Frustration!!

[vapat75]

Monday will be my 30 days on my cpap. I started out with a small ff quattro mask and had problems with leaks, and to close to my eyes, so I got a ex small, doing a little better with that one but I still have problems with leaks, especially at the bridge of my nose. Also my pressure was increased from 8 to 9, now I have to pull the straps so tight to get a good seal, pulling it tight causes pain in my neck from the straps, and the frame pushing against my face. The headgear is a medium, I was wondering if a small headgear would help any, my DME, (RT) said it wouldn't. I'm getting so I hate going to bed and starting my cpap. I still cannot get to a full sleep, I got so frustrated I took it off this morning at 4AM, used only 4 1/2 hrs. After taking it off, i went to sleep and slept until 9:30AM without waking up any during that time. I woke up with a pounding headache and parched mouth. I have oxygen and probably should have used that after taking my mask off and going back to sleep. This is the longest I have slept without the mask since I started using it. I am getting so frustrated with the mask and not being able to get to a full sleep. Before starting cpap and woke up 3-4 times a night. My DME said to try bendryl before bedtime. I take Vistral before bedtime, but doesn't put me to sleep. I have Klonapin but it make me feel sluggish all day. Has anyone had success using bendryl to get to sleep. I have tried Ambiem before starting cpap and sleep walked when I took it, so i quit taking it. The mask is giving me a fit: Any suggestions. I had a pulse oxygen saturation with cpap and the RT said I didn't need to have oxygen fed to the cpap, but without the cpap my oxygen drops to 79% during the night. I have some copd (RT) recommended I use oxygen pack during the day which I refused. In reference to my leaks, they are low and my RT said not to worry about the leaks so much, but now with the increased pressure I have to pulled it so tight to prevent leaks at my cheeks and still have the problems at the nose with leaks (air blowing into my eyes). I go back to RT July 6th and I will inform him of the problems; in the mean time any suggestions is appreciated.

[KC5cychris]

I use the Quatro as well, and experienced similar problems. I adjusted the upper forehead setting a little and my eye/nose leaks went away. As for the tightening losen it just a bit then as your pressure comes up pull the mask away from your face to allow the skirt to fill this will help with the leaks some. this is what my DME showed me as a way to get sealed up.

Hang in there it gets better as you work out the kinks
Chris

[JBL]

Is there any danger to the straps being too tight on the back of the neck? Tonight is the first night in a while that I haven't been able to get right back to sleep, but, it feels like I'm cutting off blood flow or maybe too much pressure on neck muscles.

[Mammal]

I have had a problem in waking up 2-3 times throughout the nite, so I tried a experiment last nite. I used masking tape to tape the mask to my face.
I was able to sleep through the entire nite, without waking up once. My software said this morning that I had the lowest amount of leakage from any nites sleep since I started 12 weeks ago. My AHI was 1.9, (been running at 2.1).

I hope this is not a one off for me. Maybe there is something in it for you.

[snuginarug]

Is there any particular reason why you started out with a full face mask? I started out with a quattro also, size medium, went to size small. One was too big, the other too small so i abandoned the Quuattro for that reason. I am very glad I did. I now have mirage nasal soft gel, The softgel makes getting a good seal VERY easy, and I find side sleeping much easier with the nasal mask as opposed to the full face mask. On the other hand, the Quattro is a very good mask and some people swear by it.

Here is a link to a thread all about getting the Quattro to work for you: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=26407&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... ttro+fixes

You might check out this website for clever fixes that you don't have to construct yourself, if you are not the handy type: http://www.padacheek.com/

The bottom line is, you deserve a mask that fits, that doesn't leak and that is comfortable for you. If for some reason the Quattro doesn't end up working out for you, go to your DME and get a new one. (Assuming you are still within the 30 day return period.) Keep working at it, eventually you will find the one right for you.

[JBL]

I know that the last post wasn't aimed at me, but, it did bring up some questions.

I've been having a lot of problems with the masks since I started earlier this year. Some if it was insurance issues which kept me from moving along.

Other than that though, I started with the Swift FX nasal pillows and thought it was great, until I was still having apnea problems. Another sleep study showed that my mouth opens when I hit REM.

I was fitted for a full face Quaatro and it just doesn't seem to fit my face correctly. The only way that I can mostly keep leaks out of my eyes is to crank the bridge knob all the way down until it puts a lot of pressure on my nose. I've been sporting nose blisters and/or scabs since then. My back of my neck is also feeling like it might be getting too much circulation cut off (is this dangerous? Am I cutting blood or oxygen?). I can't seem to get leaks under control and I'm still having apnea events. For the most part I'm able to sleep through the night, but, I am still noticing apnea effects during the day (though not always in the morning anymore).

I'm on a 10 cm pressure. Should I be higher? I still can't sleep on my back without triggering an event.

Might I have better luck with the Swift FX and a chin strap?

[snuginarug]

For those of you reading along who have problems with mouth breathing but do not want a FF mask, here is Rested Gal's compilation of mouth breathing topics: viewtopic.php?t=8011

[Janknitz]

So Vapat originally posted this thread a few months ago. I was wondering how it's going???