New and Desperate...

[robysue]

Also, Robysue that is the S9 AutoSet. The lady did not read the correct one....<tsk tsk tsk> ...little stinker was a fibber ...shew was a bad bad girl.

Congratulations on successfully avoiding the first pitfall (of many) that leads so many OSA patients to fail at CPAP---being stuck with a data-less brick.

Just make real sure the paper work says AutoSet before you sign it. And that the machine itself says AutoSet on it when you take delivery of it. And if it doesn't, don't accept delivery.

[Pugsy]

Another hurdle jumped.

Now to the big one.... Mask.... We can offer ideas all day long on which one is "best" but this one you have to do yourself.
Whatever works the best for you is what is important.

Nasal pillows have the least amount of surface to have to seal and it goes up from there. More surface, more potential for leaks and more potential for comfort issues. Nasal pillows won't make you have a piggy nose either. Size of nostrils won't change.

No mask should be painful. No mask should create a sore on your face. No mask should have the straps tight enough to cause a headache. We can't be expected to sleep with pain. Defeats the whole purpose of using the machine to get good sleep.

Find out what masks the DME offers and what the trial period is and make good use of it. Try as many masks as you feel you need to. Personally, for me, the less on my face the better. So I made a choice to use nasal pillow mask. I have tried many brands (especially during first 6 months of therapy). The Swift LT which was my first initial mask choice ended up being the primary mask until it was replaced by the Swift FX last summer. Each brand has pros and cons. Each person may have different pros and cons. So this is highly personal choice.

[causticcompliance]

Actually I am glad you mentioned it pugsy...
I have been asking around on the FX one you use and a couple fellow employees say the breeze is similar. I talked to the DME and asked what they have for masks and the lady said they have many different kinds of each type and that they will let me try them as needed. The one thing I am going to ask now that you have mentioned it is if they have a trial. Never thought about that...

One of the ladies at the sleep lab called and thanked me for the bouquet today and as we got to talking she has used both the FX type and the Breeze. The best I can tell is she will use them alternating.

Another thing I was worried about was the tightness and piggy nose now that you have mentioned that too...the tech at titration last night must have had my head gear on pretty snug...I wasn't uncomfortable but like I said in my first post today I had a pretty scrunched up nose. Thats nice to know it will and can be even more comfortable than that...this is getting better and better...

I really did like the nasal pillow one last night though so I think that will be the first one I look at for the differing models and types.

Do you or does anyone here use a heated hose? That was mentioned by the ladies at titration for cold winter nights and the humidifier to keepo the hose condensation down...should I look at that as well? Anyone have feedback on that?

thanks

Cc

[JointPain]

For mask choice, check our sponsor's site https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks.php. Under "Masks" they have various charts listing the different mask types by rating and sales popularity. When I wanted to give a nasal pillows mask a try, I picked a popular one with a high rating. There's no guarantee it'll be the best one, but I figure it's more likely to be. So I would start at the top of the list and work down.

I personally chose the Swift FX and have been very happy with it once I got it setup (all of about a week ago). Previously I used just a nasal mask (Profile Lite) for 9 years and although I was happy enough with it, I much prefer the Swift FX.

Whatever you choose, let us know and check back for specific wearing tips.

[Pugsy]

I don't have a heated hose. I just use a little fleece cover in the winter time. The rest of the time rain out has never been an issue but it sure is in the cold months. I live in SW Missouri and old farm house and like cool bedroom. Also I really like lots of humidity from the humidifier, so I am rain out waiting to happen. I just got this new PR S1 machine about a month ago so I don't know if their new way of "humidifier use" is going to be any different when it gets cold. The ResMed machines offer a different sort of system. I have no experience with it to comment on. It has the Climateline hose which is a heated hose and many report that it works just great.

There can be condensation in the nasal pillows themselves though, even if all other bases are well covered. Our own breath that we exhale contains moisture so.....depending on all the normal physics factors we can still get rain out in just the pillow itself if room is cool enough and enough moisture is in our breath.

Sleep techs do seem to tighten things down pretty tight. I can tell you that the Swift FX does NOT have to be very snug at all to seal and if it is squishing the nose into a piggy nose, it is too tight.
There are some comfort items available should you go with the Swift FX or similar product.
I have found that the side straps feel better with extra fleece coverings. The Swift FX and Swift LT both come with a thin fleece side cover but to be honest, not quite thick enough to suit me. Besides I end up a good bit of the time with face down into the bed pillow and I didn't like having a little strap mark on the cheek that was down. The Swift FX silicone side straps don't hurt, but if a person sleeps long enough on it, there will be a little indentation. So a handy person can fix their own or you can do like I did and splurge for something made better than I could do.

I did get the barrel cozy in February. Originally got for condensation prevention but quickly learned that I like the feel of it so I will use it year round. It is a thin sort of fleece product.
http://www.padacheek.com/PACSwiftII_Barrel_cozy.html

Side strap covers. (she makes them for all mask brands)
http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_SwiftFX.html

Before purchasing a lot of comfort features, make sure that the mask is one that suits you. I never tried the Breeze, probably about the only one I didn't try back when I was experimenting. I did find that I don't like having things routed up over my head. Just my preference. Others don't like the hose hanging down and loose. I had more rain out issues when I tried routing the hose over my head. No where for condensation to go except back up my nose. Again, this is going to be a personal preference thing.

Hint regarding using any nasal pillow mask. The nostrils can get sore if the pillows move around (as in too small) or if straps are too tight. I used them from day one and never had anything that remotely was uncomfortable with their use despite the sleep tech telling me it would take "months for my nose to get use to them" but of course this was the same yahoo that told me it was against a FEDERAL law for me to have the software.

Replacement pillow life seems to vary. I have always been able to use the same pillow for months on end but others barely get 2 weeks out of them. Check with insurance company on replacement allowance. I think even Medicare allows 2 per month. Whole headgear package comes with 3 sizes. For the sizes you don't use, you can trade with other forum members.

That's all I can think of right now, I am sure that I will think of something else later.

[cflame1]

if you're going with the S9... you may find that the hoses that come with it are slightly flimsy. There's been a number of folks complaining about them on here.

Doesn't mean that they aren't usable... just that they don't last as long as they should.

There are other ways of getting a heated hose if you'd rather... there is a heated tube that comes out of Austrailia and there is a repti-cord that some folks use.

[NightMonkey]

Some cpap machines have a card that records the usage, which is very helpful. On my last visit to my doctor I carried my machine. I thought that I was using my machine all the time. But when they dumped the recorded information from the card It showed that my usage had dropped form 7 hrs a night down to 3 hrs per night. I am trying to get this usage back up.

Sheeesh!

Yeah, advise a newbie to get a machine with a card that records usage.

[causticcompliance]

I think I am concerned with these "compliance" and "usage" terms mentioned. I don't need my mommy to follow me around and check to make sure I am doing anything so why in the dickens would I want some machine doing that too?
As an I.T. professional I am well aware of how my data can get used in ways I would prefer it not. Can someone elaborate on the "compliance" and "usage" terms a little in reference to the data the machine is recording and who is going to want or need it, besides me of course?

Thanks for the info on the hose for S9 cflame, definitely noted...I may check on something different once I have used it a bit.

Pugsy, Thanks a bunch Awesome stuff there... I think I am just like you on the mask, now that I have looked at them from JointPain's posting (thanks a bunch JP:) ) I don't like anything in my face like that. Ever seen the movie "The Jerk" with Steve Martin? That one reminds me of "the grabber" for glasses he invented in the movie. I know I would end up cross-eyed staring at that goofy hose before and after I fall asleep...<big grin> ...no insult intended to those that use it already. Just a personal preference.
The two that really catch my eye are the Nasal Air II Prong - https://www.cpap.com/productpage/innome ... e-kit.html
and the Swift FX https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html but the prong one may get in my way if I decide to sleep fetal (on my side) with the tubes running behind my ears like that... The Swift FX at least looks to be the most comfy. I think I will need a chin strap though, the tech that did my calibration had to come in once because the pressure caused my mouth to open. She put a "Jaw Bra" on me and no trouble after that. I really can sleep with my mouth closed but boy is there a lot of pressure going into my mouth with this thing. I am only at a 9 too...I couldn't imagine what those with a higher pressure must feel?

I am going in this morning to get all my results and the prescription for my stuff. Will post back as soon as I can...
oh and I know I say thank you a lot out here but all of you have been so very helpful to a stranger and newbie (even as ornery as Robysue has been, she was so very helpful too <wink> - (That was just a loving ribbing Robysue - Big Hugs to you - your efforts really are greatly appreciated - LOVE your detail when you post) so allow me to continue to say a sincere and very heartfelt thanks to everyone. Talk to you all soon.

Kind regards,

Cc

[mayondair]

You really won't notice the pressure up your nose, pretty soon you'll be checking if the blower is working or not, as for a chin strap, I quickly stopped using one, was able to keep my mouth closed when I wasn't suffocating. You might try an ace bandage for a bit to see if you are indeed going to need a chinstrap, others tape,lots of threads on that, or send me a pm for a slightly used chin strap. good luck ! kathy

[roster]

I think I am concerned with these "compliance" and "usage" terms mentioned. I don't need my mommy to follow me around and check to make sure I am doing anything so why in the dickens would I want some machine doing that too?

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=60874&p=570977

[causticcompliance]

Thanks Roster, that much I understood for me...and I love that thread...just way re-iterates the need for a fully data capable machine...
[...who is going to want or need it, besides me of course?...]

So is that mostly what those terms mean? Or is someone going to be following me around and my insurance coverage cancelled cuz I fell asleep before strapping on my "Vader" face?

Yes I understand to those who are going to say, "don't fall asleep before strapping that on..." but here on planet earth we humans make mistakes ...from time to time of course

Cc

[cflame1]

it's not that they'll cancel your insurance... it's that the insurance won't pay for the machine.

[archangle]

Big brother IS watching.

I'm sure that at some time someone will get convicted of a crime because their CPAP machine says they weren't at home asleep at the time they say they were. Or someone's CPAP records get used against them in a divorce case.

[roster]

So is that mostly what those terms mean? Or is someone going to be following me around and my insurance coverage cancelled cuz I fell asleep before strapping on my "Vader" face?

You might want to ask your insurance co. what the compliance requirement are. Typically it is 4 hours usage on 5 out of 7 nights.

Other than that, no one gives a damn including Big Bro.

[Pugsy]

I actually tried the Nasal Aire II prong. Great idea, not nearly as comfortable as the Swift FX. The prongs must fit exactly up in the nostril (and yes it does go up inside further than the nasal pillow tips) if too large it hurts, if too small won't seal. Wouldn't you know it, I was in between a size. It was a disaster.

I actually have a Nasal Air Freestyle which is similar to the prong .....Bought it back in my experiment days but decided to blow off the rest of the experiments and use the Swift LT which I did till the Swift FX came out. I have given away all my other experiments, just recently found the parts to the Freestyle (I think I have them all).

Get the Swift FX. Practice sealing your tongue to the roof of your mouth. That will prevent the pressure from sneaking into the mouth and causing chipmunk cheeks. When you get good at it you can actually yawn with machine on and no pressure will escape from the open mouth.

Don't worry about compliance unless you are considering becoming over the road truck driver with CDL. Even then it is only 4 hour requirement.

Insurance company wants to make sure you aren't wasting their money and probably after that 6 month rental thing, they won't care at all. You won't have any trouble using it enough to make minimums though. You already see how it helps and it isn't all that hard to use. No reason at all to not make minimal compliance.