FED UP with cpap...

[chunkyfrog]

Swift FX pillows give me my best therapy.
Nice thing is they are the closest thing to sleeping with a naked face.
Our hosts , cpap.com, sell many masks, and for a lot less than DME prices.
Most have return insurance, which is priced lower for easier to fit styles.
The cloth mask, Sleepweaver. has FREE insurance.
Your poor nose deserves a break.
It appears you are within your 30 day trial period--insist on a different mask--try a nasal pillow
if you're not a mouth breather.

[jasper]

There's a lot of great advice posted here. I couldn't agree more with obtaining the software and taking control of your own therapy. You have a great machine, and to reiterate, the mask is the hardest part. I had terrible sores on the bridge of my nose from a number of different full face masks. Tried all kinds of padding etc. to no avail. I tried a nasal pillow mask or two and seemed to work at first, but I could not keep from breathing through my mouth, even with a chin strap. I finally came to the Innomed Hybrid, and have never looked back since. My leaks are under control and I can sleep all night without thinking about it. This is not to discourage you from trying anything else. Everyone is different, and for every mask on the market there are supporters and detractors. You need to find what works best for you.

Just an afterthought on the prescription. Don’t overlook your PCP for a prescription as another poster suggested. I lucked out to be able to get what I needed from my sleep doc, but my PCP had already told me that she would write a prescription for whatever I wanted. Get this, her husband has OSA and uses CPAP so she was fully in tune with what I was telling her about my therapy and what I was doing to maximize the results.

Good luck. You will succeed!

[Starlette]

Good afternoon T,

I can only comment on one thing - TMJ.
I have TMJ and use a chin strap with my nasal masks. The dental appliance I use is "Silent Nite". Do a google on it.
I have been using it for about two years. I've had no issues except the fasteners have broken twice, no biggie.
Silent Nite is used for folks like you and me who deal with both TMJ and sleep apnea. Recommended by my current dentist.

I had to chuckle when I read "Illegal to change settings." If that were the case the vast majority of us would be in jail.
I commited the "illegal act" again last night The way most of us folks feel on this forum T is that this OUR THERAPY and we'll do WHATEVER it takes to give ourselves the best quality of life possible.

RE: Issues. T, we all struggle with sleep apnea and cpap, that's a given. As others have stated, it's not easy.
However, on the forum you'll find lots of friendly folks, some we consider being the cpap sages. We're all in this together to help one another.

Starlette

*sneaks back to work, lunchtime over*

[archangle]

Sheeesh..... thought I was over being flabbergasted at medical idiocy...

I keep deciding that group "X" has reached the point where they can't surprise me any more with their stupidity.

Unfortunately, I keep finding out that they can.

No wonder us old folks get crotchety.

[chunkyfrog]

The only difference between apnea patients reading their own data and diabetics testing their own blood sugar is....there is none.
The only difference between apnea patients adjusting their machines and diabetics titrating their insulin is....there is none.
The only difference between apnea patients buying equipment where they want and diabetics buying supplies where they want is....there is none.
Illegal? -----Just very wrong to STOP us!

[tmorris]

YEA..thats why im changing doctors! UGH

[Mary Z]

Many of us have tried new masks from the Cpapauction (see link above). It's a way to try different masks without paying and arm and a leg. Glad you're changing docs. He/she should not be the one in charge of what mask you get You may need a pressure adjustment with the daytime sleepiness, but some of us never get over it and need to take a wakefullness drug (Provigil or Nuvigil to name two).
I get fed up with CPAP, too, but a return to my pre CPAP symptoms is not an option. I hope things get better for you. If you get a mask that works that's half the battle.
Plus you have to use it all night every night, and naps. You sound experienced enough to know that.
If you want to try on the mask before signing for it tell the DME (even if you change) next time. I have tried on many masks without hooking up to the machine, just to check the fit. It's hard to tell about leaks until you've actually slept in the mask and gotten it adjusted correctly.
Keep us posted.