Adventures in CPAP

[diadori]

Hello all! I was diagnosed one week ago with mild to moderate OSA. I am currently on an APAP machine for a week to allow my doctor to gather the data she will need to determine my pressure requirements.

I was started off with a full-face mask, which was miserable. I was unable to sleep on my side and got maybe 7 hours of sleep over a period of 3 nights. On Monday, my sleep doc gave me a nasal mask to try. It is working MUCH better but sometimes I feel air flowing into my eyes. It doesn't seem to be a leak. Could it be my exhaust vents? Is there a way to stop this?

Thanks!

[Pugsy]

It could very well be the exhaust vent blowing air towards the eyes or perhaps bouncing off the bed covers to the eyes.
Which nasal mask were you given?
There may be a way to route the hose to lessen the chance of the vented air getting to the eyes.

[diadori]

I am using the ResMed Mirage FX for Her.

[BlackSpinner]

I was started off with a full-face mask, which was miserable. I was unable to sleep on my side and got maybe 7 hours of sleep over a period of 3 nights.

The trick is to sleep at the edge of the pillow with the mask hanging over he edge. Full face masks are useful if you have a cold/flu or allergies.

[Pugsy]

I am not familiar with the placement of the vent holes on that mask.
But from the image I found it doesn't look like routing the hose will make much of a change in air flow direction.
Some masks we can route the hose over the head and that will let the vent holes change direction and point downward or in a different direction.

Make sure that bed covers aren't causing the air flow to bounce back to the face.
If you are sure no leaks and can't figure out what is causing the air flow to get to the eyes so that you can stop it then perhaps a different nasal mask that will allow a person to change the direction of the air flow.
This one is a nice mask and the only over the nose mask I have been able to use. The vent holes are in the elbow so rotating the elbow allows for directing the air flow to a different direction.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html
The latest from ResMed.

You might also consider a nasal pillow type of mask because the hose movement allows for turning the vent holes to another direction.
I pretty much have never used anything but a nasal pillow mask.

There are lots of masks out there and personal preference varies. Pros and cons with all masks. Just have to find the one that has more pros than cons for your individual needs.