As an update I would like to say that I did get the Resmed UltraMirage Full Face mask and the only way I could keep it from leaking was to get it very tight that it is painful and leaves marks.
My sleep Dr. has said that CPAP is not going to work for me and now wants me to see a Dentist who comes to town once a month to be fitted for a Klearway oral device, http://www.klearway.com/ at a cost of 1500.00
He says I might have to use both the oral device and CPAP to get to a lower level of episodes.
Normally I would just give up and deal with the nighttime choking but I am a truck driver and my sleep Dr. says that he will report to the DOT (even though I don't have daytime tiredness) that I do not respond to treatment (ending my career, livelihood, and retirement) if I do not follow through with the oral device. My problem is I just cant afford it and I found a cheaper oral device that looks as if it does the same and it gets good feedback from users
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 9514753655
it does not look like it is made as well as the klearway but it looks as if they do the same thing. Any experiences with these devices? Any suggestions?
I am ready to give up
-
buckeyered
- Posts: 131
- Joined: Sat Jun 17, 2006 7:56 pm
(HUG)
I haven't been on the forum for a few months, and what a horrible situation to see a fellow Buckeye suffering through.
1. I have had friends go for the throat surgery and oral devices and still need CPAP at or only slightly below previous levels. Your doctor is showing a lack of understanding by insisting you have it done.
2. Pain from a mask means it doesn't fit you - due to bad mask choice or bad fitting of a mask. With so many styles and sizes, you should be able to find something that works either straight from the box or with a few creative modifications as we so commonly chat about 'round here (molefoam, moleskin, the new aftermarket pads and snugglers, creative use of cling film, nylons...). Your insurance should cover at least one, possibly two for you, depending on how it and your DME interact. But call your insurance directly to find out about how you can make direct purchases through places like CPAP.com. You will ultimately save yourself and the insurance company money if they will reimburse you all or part of the mask costs if you direct buy rather than going through a DME. As has been said, the DMEs mark up things 2-4x market price. It's unreal.
3. Lastly, sometimes it just takes a few weeks or months to find the right combination of gadgets AND for your body to adjust to all these new things in bed with you at night. Again, this only shows your doctor's ignorance of the proper treatment.
It's NOT YOU, my friend.
Look here on the forum, cpaptalk-sleep-labs.php and find yourself a different lab and a different set of opinions. Find someone who will help you help yourself, even if it means a bit of a drive.
Good luck!
Tina
I haven't been on the forum for a few months, and what a horrible situation to see a fellow Buckeye suffering through.
1. I have had friends go for the throat surgery and oral devices and still need CPAP at or only slightly below previous levels. Your doctor is showing a lack of understanding by insisting you have it done.
2. Pain from a mask means it doesn't fit you - due to bad mask choice or bad fitting of a mask. With so many styles and sizes, you should be able to find something that works either straight from the box or with a few creative modifications as we so commonly chat about 'round here (molefoam, moleskin, the new aftermarket pads and snugglers, creative use of cling film, nylons...). Your insurance should cover at least one, possibly two for you, depending on how it and your DME interact. But call your insurance directly to find out about how you can make direct purchases through places like CPAP.com. You will ultimately save yourself and the insurance company money if they will reimburse you all or part of the mask costs if you direct buy rather than going through a DME. As has been said, the DMEs mark up things 2-4x market price. It's unreal.
3. Lastly, sometimes it just takes a few weeks or months to find the right combination of gadgets AND for your body to adjust to all these new things in bed with you at night. Again, this only shows your doctor's ignorance of the proper treatment.
It's NOT YOU, my friend.
Look here on the forum, cpaptalk-sleep-labs.php and find yourself a different lab and a different set of opinions. Find someone who will help you help yourself, even if it means a bit of a drive.
Good luck!
Tina
**************
RemStar M Series Auto w/C-Flex, many masks (ComfortCurve, Comfort Lite, MirageSwift, lots of personal mods)
RemStar M Series Auto w/C-Flex, many masks (ComfortCurve, Comfort Lite, MirageSwift, lots of personal mods)
-
Guest
-
Guest
Re: Never give up!
ResMed, the maker of the Mirage Swift, has a 30 day return policy for new masks/interfaces. Thank you again, ResMed. The Swift is a nifty little interface, but just did not work for me. Every time I turned, the Swift dislodged. I was waking up about 7-10 times a night to readjust. Since my sleep study showed that I awoke 7-10 times a night, where was my benefit?
sorry tried to include this w/ q above
sorry tried to include this w/ q above
-
Guest
One of the two DMEs I work with when I don't buy direct online also does sleep studies on site (it's a one stop shop). They will *usually* take back a mask regardless of manufacturer if I've used it for a few days and don't like it. The reality is, they have a pool of masks they use for the titration studies and to help patients test out new masks during the day. Even if you just try it on but don't take it, it has to be sterilized. There are some parts that can't be sterilized, but since most masks can be bought in pieces, they will then only bill my insurance for the piece that couldn't be sterilized, rather than the whole mask.
I know, stunning, isn't it? It can vary with technician, though, whether they're willing to try that. But I'd rather copay a piece than the whole deal.
Tina
I know, stunning, isn't it? It can vary with technician, though, whether they're willing to try that. But I'd rather copay a piece than the whole deal.
Tina
buckeyered: In your original post in this thread you only asked two questions:
"Any suggestions on what to try next to keep my mouth closed?
Is there another full face mask that I should try?"
I will give you my humble opinions: You are asking the right two questions and right now you should focus on answering these two questions only. First the second question, stay away from full face masks at this point.
You had one good night with the Swift mask and the second night was complicated by the chinstrap. Chinstraps are uncomfortable, hot, interfere with the mask headgear and are not effective in stopping most mouth leaks.
Stick with the Swift, put the chinstrap in the drawer and start mouthtaping viewtopic.php?t=9653. Report you results regularly on this forum and get more advise on adjustments.
I found the Swift works very well just as it came. The therapy was ineffective for me with chinstraps but is working very well with taping. The taping sounded horrrible but after a couple of months it has become routine and easy. I only made one other adjustment and that was to go to a mask pillow size that looked too large.
Good luck and keep in contact with the forum.
rooster
"Any suggestions on what to try next to keep my mouth closed?
Is there another full face mask that I should try?"
I will give you my humble opinions: You are asking the right two questions and right now you should focus on answering these two questions only. First the second question, stay away from full face masks at this point.
You had one good night with the Swift mask and the second night was complicated by the chinstrap. Chinstraps are uncomfortable, hot, interfere with the mask headgear and are not effective in stopping most mouth leaks.
Stick with the Swift, put the chinstrap in the drawer and start mouthtaping viewtopic.php?t=9653. Report you results regularly on this forum and get more advise on adjustments.
I found the Swift works very well just as it came. The therapy was ineffective for me with chinstraps but is working very well with taping. The taping sounded horrrible but after a couple of months it has become routine and easy. I only made one other adjustment and that was to go to a mask pillow size that looked too large.
Good luck and keep in contact with the forum.
rooster