Some issues I am having

Justme · Post by **Justme** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 8:54 pm

I have been using a c/pap for about 8 months. I am at a setting of 12, which I have no idea what that means I have allergic reactions to the masks, and work on aging them and switching between the nasal pillows and the face mask (I use benadryl when I break out from it). Along with sleep apnea, it appears that I have restless leg syndrome.

When I first started using the c/pap, I slept fine. Now I wake up and find I have to adjust the mask. If the mask is too loose, it leaks, so I end up tightening it.

Is this all normal? Should I go back and get a different mask type? Do I need to be concerned about the restless leg part of this?

I am 48 years old, not overweight, but do suffer from depression, sometimes have trouble sticking to a task, and I work out regularly.

Thanks!

SleepyGuy · Post by **SleepyGuy** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 9:21 pm

The main question is how well do you feel? Restless leg can be a cause of ongoing fatigue. I don't know what to do about the allergies except be sure to change your CPAP's filter often.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 9:56 pm

Your pressure of 12 means that it is enough to push water 12 cm. or about 43/4 inches high up one side of a u shaped tube if your blower were attached to the other side. Although it seems like a lot of pressure, it really is a rather small increase above normal air pressure which will support roughly 32 feet or 384 inches of water. It is just an easy way of measuring small pressures.

I believe that everyone who uses CPAP should try a number of masks until they find 1 that works well for them. I use nasal pillows. Good choices for many are swift, breeze, comfort lite, and perhaps nasal aire. For me, any of these are less troublesome than masks but that is just me.

Everyone SHOULD be sent home with at least 2 pillow type masks, 2 good regular masks and 1 full face mask from the start so that they could find out what works. SHOULD, Oh well.

As cost is usually an issue, treat your masks carefully, and get a new one every time your insurance allows. Find a docter who will write an open perscription for a mask, and if the mask you are using is still serviceable, try something different that may work better.

Also, you probably already know a number of people who are also using CPAP. Talk to them and perhaps trade your failures. What is a failure to one may be perfect for the other. Just be sure to completly clean before using. For the first cleaning of a used mask, I ignore the rules about strong cleaning agents and use something like alcohol in addition to a really good washing. So far, one extra hard cleaning has not destroyed anything.

Good luck, and hang in there.

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:30 pm

Guest wrote:I believe that everyone who uses CPAP should try a number of masks until they find 1 that works well for them. I use nasal pillows. Good choices for many are swift, breeze, comfort lite, and perhaps nasal aire. For me, any of these are less troublesome than masks but that is just me.

OK, having looked up Swift (I assume you mean ResMed Mirage Swift), Breeze and comfort lite, based on looks, I would think the Swift would be the clear winner, in terms of being able to sleep with minimal disruption.

Am I missing something? Somehow, having the hose run up my forehead and over my head seems like it'd be more restricting on me as I roll over in the night.

Before I spend too much money trying a different system, am I missing something? Is it, perhaps, too easy to pull the Swift off of your nose, since the hose is not affixed to your head?

Thanks for any advice!

--Liam.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:40 pm

Looks can be very deceiving. Masks are something that must be tried and different people have their own idea of comfort. What cpap are you using it with. Do you have a good mask such as the resmed ultra mirage or activa.
Just buy 1 of each and give em all a try. Sell the what you dont like.

Welcome to the expensive world of cpap masks or interfaces as some call them.

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:21 am

For all the masks you can't stand and machines you have in your closet you no longer use because they have been replaced, please consider donating them to SLEEP AMERICA. This is a non-profit organization that distributes the equipment to those who are underinsured or cannot afford them on their own. Certainly a worthwhile endeavor.

Machine	Mask