Feel like I'm suffocating

[flyingwithoutwings]

Boy you are just a bundle of information and I so appreciate it. If my present provider won't work with me my doctor has no problem sending me somewhere else. They never called me back today so I will definitely call tomorrow. If push comes to shove I am willing to buy my own mask. According to the provider, my insurance will pay for a mask every 3 mos and headgear very 6 mos (dumb) and tubing every 3 mos. But I've only been on CPAP for 27 days.

[Pugsy]

Sounds like your insurance is like mine.
If you can get your hands on a Nano...send me a private message with your mailing address and I will drop a couple of Swift FX nasal pillows in the mail to you. I only have XSmall and Small though...don't think I have a medium but I will look. XSmall and Small were the sizes I could easily use so swapped out the Medium for one of the others. I have plenty of the XSmalls and a couple of Smalls still new and unused. Enough that you could at least give them a try again.
Do you remember which size felt best to you?

[flyingwithoutwings]

I am going to try my best to have issue me a Nano. I really appreciate your help. I alternated between the small & extra small but I think small will do. I will let you know the outcome.

Again, thanks for all your input.

[freshair]

I to suffer with dry nasal passages at 10cm....the humidifier makes it worst...so in the summer time i turn my home ac down a couple off degrees for overnite and in cool weather i put my heat on 69 degrees.....I breath just fine with the cooler temps....and I get a good nites sleep...

[flyingwithoutwings]

Last night I was able to get a little bit of sleep but I had to put the mask on real loose which caused leakage which of course is not conducive to sleep. So Pugsy, I'm back on the FX pillows. Since I was doing well with them before with the exception of daytime sinus problems, I decided to go with the pillows and see how they work now that I have the heated tubing. Since I didn't do well with the Wisp I decided not to try the Nano and just go back to the pillows for a 2nd try. I'm confident it'll work better with the warmth.

[Pugsy]

I prefer nasal pillows myself...never really ever wanted or needed anything else. I try the other stuff for fun and experience.
Glad you got the FX pillows back. Let me know if I can help with them in any way.
The Nano is nice...for a nasal mask... but if you can get the nasal mucosa happy with added warmth and moisture with the Swift FX nasal pillows they are almost like sleeping without any mask.

[archangle]

I started CPAP on October 1, 2013. Was given the PR REMstar SE with System One Heated Humidifier

You got screwed. Your REMstar SE machine can't give you any information on your therapy other than the number of hours it's turned on.

If you had gotten a PRS1 Pro or Auto model. (Not the PLUS or DS150 model), it would tell you if you're still having apneas, and would record your breathing waveforms all night every night. It will tell you if you're having leaks.

I think it's inexcusable to dispense a non-data capable CPAP these days. For not much more money, you can get a machine that gives you sort of a mini sleep test every night. One that will actually be able to help if you're having problems and will tell if your therapy is working.

If you get the appropriate PRS1 or ResMed S9 machine, you can get free computer software that will let you look at your own data.

Many people on this board have been successful in exchanging machines like yours for data capable machines. Remember, it's usually a "rent to own" machine, so you have some leverage with the DME. Check the links in my signature line.

[flyingwithoutwings]

Geewhiz, first of all, this is all new to me. I had no idea what I was going to get, what choices I had nor what to ask for, etc. All I've learned, after getting my CPAP equipment, I've learned from this website.
Anyway, thank you for the information. I'm sure I can have my Primary work with me to get a different machine from the DME.

[zoocrewphoto]

You need to check with your insurance to find out just what time frame might be involved before they will pay for a new mask.
It varies with insurance companies. I suspect at least 3 months though but never hurts to check.

Definitely give your insurance provider a call. I asked my first DME about trying a second mask a month into my cpap treatment? I wanted to know if they carried a particular mask and how soon I could get one with insurance (as I didn't want to give up my first mask), I was able to get it right away. I have since switched DMEs, and last April, I asked about a mask I wanted to try, and they got it for me the next week even though I had gotten a new mask about 5 weeks earlier. So, you might be able to get another mask with right away from a different DME. Just check with your insurance, and also make sure that your new DME knows what you have, so they will check too and make sure you don't get something that isn't allowed yet.

[flyingwithoutwings]

After the grief the DME gave me at first suggesting I take antihistamines, etc., they let me swap for a nasal mask but when that turned out to be worse they let me swap back to the nasal pillows. Last night was a good night. I used the nasal pillows with the heated tubing. I woke up twice but went right back to sleep and (YAY!) no congestion, no runny nose, no sneezing. I'm a happy camper. Now I'm working on swapping the CPAP machine for a data capable one.

[flyingwithoutwings]

Yay, got my nasal pillows Tuesday and so far have had two good nights with the pillows and heated tubing. You were right Pugsy.

[Pugsy]

Yay, got my nasal pillows Tuesday and so far have had two good nights with the pillows and heated tubing. You were right Pugsy.

That's wonderful news. You are on the downhill side of things now. There may still be a few bumps along the way but at least we have this big bump smoothed out. Things should continue to improve now as your body continues to adjust to having all this "stuff" attached to your face.

With your history (it's an awful lot like mine with the pressure on the nose and humidity needs) should you ever think you just have to have a full face mask...like if you get a bad cold...investigate the Hybrid type of mask that uses nasal pillows and the oral interface.
Anything else will put too much pressure on your nose and cause more congestion.
FWIW...you may not even need it. I have had a couple of bad "colds" and I was able to make do with the nasal pillows. Not the greatest of sleep but when you have a bad cold you wouldn't sleep all that great anyway.
All masks have pros and cons. We just have to decide which cons are worst. For me even the Hybrid mask caused more cons than the cold symptoms did so I gave it away. Everybody is an individual though so that is something you have to sort of figure out yourself.

[johnthomasmacdonald]

I've found that over time I've pretty much had to stick with a full face mask because of my nasal passages clogging up. I prefer pillows or nasal masks but i'd find that after a couple of nights of using them i'd be all congested ( and normally i never have any sinus problems so it seems to be caused by the machine). I've tried the nasal flush with sodium bicarb but it didn't work all that well for me and i found it rather revolting.

[flyingwithoutwings]

I hope to not have to use a full face mask (tho I will if I have to). I rarely gets colds but that could change at any time....not getting any younger. The nasal rinse and Saline spray have helped a lot. Some things work for some and other things for others.

[jamiswolf]

flyingwithoutwings,
My goodness, you sure have had an eventful first month. Pugsy is experienced and knowledgeable and won't steer you wrong. Also, Archangle's comment was valid and I hope you can get your DME to swap you out for a data capable machine.

Regarding humidity, I have found that the difference between your bedroom environment and your cpap environment is important. Keep them as close as possible so that your body isn't shocked by two radically different temp/humidity situations.

And like others have posted, adequate minimum flow is super important. Many people feel like they are suffocating at anything less then 7 or so.

And don't write off FF masks. They solve many problems, and with adequate pressure...no suffocation or claustrophobia is perceived.
Good luck and hang in there,
jamis