Im so frustrated!

[Mr_Adrian70]

I had really high hopes that my life was going to be so much better after I started treating my apnea! That id start getting a great nights sleep every night, and wake up feeling refreshed, and energized. Now Im not so sure. Im totally frustrated, and I got to the point last night where I was just about ready to throw my machine across the room, and give up. My mask was leaking so bad that I couldn't get to sleep. My wife is even talking about sleeping on the couch tonight because all the noise from my leaking mask kept her awake also, as well as my near constant swearing from having to adjust it yet again. Late in the morning I finally got it to stop leaking only by cinching the mask down on my face so tight that my face and neck were in serious discomfort. My wife was finally able to get to sleep but my face and neck hurt so bad I never really got to sleep. This morning the bridge of my nose is really badly bruised, and my face is bruised where the mask sits underneath my eyes. My poor nose is so sore, and i look terrible! Im dreading the attention ill get at work tomorrow with my face all bruised up. Im wondering if i need to shave in order to get a good seal on my mask, and stop the leaks? I really don't want to. My goatee is apart of my identity. I also wondered if maybe my humidifier is preventing a good seal? I have it set on 5, and that seems to help with my mouth being so dry, but i wonder if that moisture is keeping the mask from getting a seal? My first night i had the humidifier set on auto and i didn't have this big a problem with leaks, but woke up with the worst cotton mouth ever. Think ill put it back on auto tonight, and see if that helps, before i try shaving. Im also going to make an appointment with a tech to see if im doing something wrong, or if need a new mask. I also broke down and ordered a nose bridge protector/forehead pad, an anti leak strap, and a temple, as well as cheek strap from padacheek.com. Hopefully that will help make wearing the mask more comfortable, and the anti leak strap will help with leaks. I hope i get them in the mail soon. Im hoping these products will be just what i need! Anyone else have experience with padacheeck? I know i really need to stay on my therapy, and im determined not to give up. Ive been suffering from severe apnea for years. I just never expected this to be so frustrating, and challenging! I hope it gets easier, and start seeing some of the benefits ive been longing for.

[englandsf]

Is there a reason you went with an FFM? I has similar problems with APAP at 10-20 but solved them by going to pillows (P10)

[Drowsy Dancer]

Hi, it is really frustrating when it turns out to be a "process," isn't it?

How long have you been using your machine?

I've never used a FFM, so I can't offer personal help, but have you looked at this article yet? https://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/tamin ... e-quattro/

[Mr_Adrian70]

Ive been on it for 4 nights now, and getting progressively more frustrated.

[Pugsy]

Can you normally breathe through your nose during the day just fine or do you have some sort of chronic nasal congestion problem that forces you to just to HAVE to breathe through your mouth?

A nasal pillow mask is much easier to get and keep the seal and you can have as much facial hair as you want and even if you did a little mouth breathing with it...it would be better than no sleep or horrible sleep all night long fighting the mask.

Now if your nose is useless and you can't ever breathe through your nose...then you have no choice but you might be surprised with the use of a nasal pillow mask. Did you get a chance to even try one on?

[englandsf]

There is always a chance that you can fix a congested nose with aggressive nasal ringing and cortico steroid sprays. PM me for my regime if you're interested.

[yaconsult]

For those of us on higher pressures - mine starts at 12.5 and autos from there - nasal pillows are often the best solution. It's really hard to keep a good seal all the way around a mask at higher pressures. For me, the Breeze nasal pillow system seems to work best, but we are all different and what works for one doesn't work for another. Don't get discouraged! It's a process of learning what works best for you.

[Wulfman...]

I had really high hopes that my life was going to be so much better after I started treating my apnea! That id start getting a great nights sleep every night, and wake up feeling refreshed, and energized. Now Im not so sure. Im totally frustrated, and I got to the point last night where I was just about ready to throw my machine across the room, and give up. My mask was leaking so bad that I couldn't get to sleep. My wife is even talking about sleeping on the couch tonight because all the noise from my leaking mask kept her awake also, as well as my near constant swearing from having to adjust it yet again. Late in the morning I finally got it to stop leaking only by cinching the mask down on my face so tight that my face and neck were in serious discomfort. My wife was finally able to get to sleep but my face and neck hurt so bad I never really got to sleep. This morning the bridge of my nose is really badly bruised, and my face is bruised where the mask sits underneath my eyes. My poor nose is so sore, and i look terrible! Im dreading the attention ill get at work tomorrow with my face all bruised up. Im wondering if i need to shave in order to get a good seal on my mask, and stop the leaks? I really don't want to. My goatee is apart of my identity. I also wondered if maybe my humidifier is preventing a good seal? I have it set on 5, and that seems to help with my mouth being so dry, but i wonder if that moisture is keeping the mask from getting a seal? My first night i had the humidifier set on auto and i didn't have this big a problem with leaks, but woke up with the worst cotton mouth ever. Think ill put it back on auto tonight, and see if that helps, before i try shaving. Im also going to make an appointment with a tech to see if im doing something wrong, or if need a new mask. I also broke down and ordered a nose bridge protector/forehead pad, an anti leak strap, and a temple, as well as cheek strap from padacheek.com. Hopefully that will help make wearing the mask more comfortable, and the anti leak strap will help with leaks. I hope i get them in the mail soon. Im hoping these products will be just what i need! Anyone else have experience with padacheeck? I know i really need to stay on my therapy, and im determined not to give up. Ive been suffering from severe apnea for years. I just never expected this to be so frustrating, and challenging! I hope it gets easier, and start seeing some of the benefits ive been longing for.

Hints:
Facial hair can be a big problem with getting a seal. If I don't shave for more than about three days, my leaks can get to be "significant".

Tightening a mask down too tight can exacerbate the leaks and cause the facial bruising you describe. The mask should "float" on the face and NOT cause pain of any kind. Wrong adjustments, wrong size, wrong mask.

Too much warm humidity can cause nasal congestion......which contributes to mouth-breathing and dry mouth. Backing off on the humidity setting can help.
Nasal cleansing before bedtime (so you can breathe through your nose) and using a cooler humidifier setting (including using no heat) can help for those who have persistent nasal congestion problems.

I've grown beards and various forms of facial hair throughout my life, but since starting this therapy, the thought of growing any more has not entered my mind. I'm not that vain and I value the effectiveness of my therapy.


Den

.

[Drowsy Dancer]

Ive been on it for 4 nights now, and getting progressively more frustrated.

Did you take a look at the link I posted? The article is called "Taming the Mirage Quattro" and a lot of folks have found it helpful (I didn't write it, another forum member did).

[squid13]

A small thing but wash your face every night before putting on your mask. It get's rid of your facial oils on your skin and helps with your mask seal.

[Tatooed Lady]

I can't speak for anyone else...but the only time I recall being on steroids (for asthma that was out of control), I was SO angry that I had almost kicked the boyfriend to the curb, AND I was debating if I knew a fail safe location to hide bodies. NOT one of my better weeks.

Not everyone will cope well with a steroid, to get to the point.

[tan]

I had really high hopes that my life was going to be so much better after I started treating my apnea! That id start getting a great nights sleep every night, and wake up feeling refreshed, and energized. Now Im not so sure. Im totally frustrated, and I got to the point last night where I was just about ready to throw my machine across the room, and give up. My mask was leaking so bad that I couldn't get to sleep. My wife is even talking about sleeping on the couch tonight because all the noise from my leaking mask kept her awake also, as well as my near constant swearing from having to adjust it yet again. Late in the morning I finally got it to stop leaking only by cinching the mask down on my face so tight that my face and neck were in serious discomfort. My wife was finally able to get to sleep but my face and neck hurt so bad I never really got to sleep. This morning the bridge of my nose is really badly bruised, and my face is bruised where the mask sits underneath my eyes. My poor nose is so sore, and i look terrible! Im dreading the attention ill get at work tomorrow with my face all bruised up. Im wondering if i need to shave in order to get a good seal on my mask, and stop the leaks? I really don't want to. My goatee is apart of my identity. I also wondered if maybe my humidifier is preventing a good seal? I have it set on 5, and that seems to help with my mouth being so dry, but i wonder if that moisture is keeping the mask from getting a seal? My first night i had the humidifier set on auto and i didn't have this big a problem with leaks, but woke up with the worst cotton mouth ever. Think ill put it back on auto tonight, and see if that helps, before i try shaving. Im also going to make an appointment with a tech to see if im doing something wrong, or if need a new mask. I also broke down and ordered a nose bridge protector/forehead pad, an anti leak strap, and a temple, as well as cheek strap from padacheek.com. Hopefully that will help make wearing the mask more comfortable, and the anti leak strap will help with leaks. I hope i get them in the mail soon. Im hoping these products will be just what i need! Anyone else have experience with padacheeck? I know i really need to stay on my therapy, and im determined not to give up. Ive been suffering from severe apnea for years. I just never expected this to be so frustrating, and challenging! I hope it gets easier, and start seeing some of the benefits ive been longing for.

Could it be that your jaw drop in you sleep so much that your mask lose its seal? It could be that while awake, you have no leaks, but when alseep, your face muscles relax, and your mouth opens excessively and eventually dries out. You could try chinstraps, mouth guard and vertical taping (to keep lips sealed). I use the same mask as you do, after trying a number of those, but I have to use lip sealing tape to make the therapy work.

Also your range of pressures can screw up your seal. You may need to increase your minimum setting

[BlackSpinner]

If you have to cinch it that tight it is the wrong size mask. Masks are like shoes - they must fit right, especially if you plan to wear then 8 hours. They should be fitted laying down with the full required pressure. Most full face masks should float like a hovercraft on your face. If your DME won't provide the fitting service ask them why they should have your business. You wouldn't tolerate that if you were buying a pair of $300 shoes.

[Mr_Adrian70]

After putting machine back on auto my night last night was better. My mouth was super dry with lower humidity but atleast my mask held a seal much better, my mask didn't have to be super tight on my face, and I was able to sleep more. So apparently the humidity setting at 5 did play a role in my inability to get a good seal. Hopefully my sleep will start getting better, and better from now on. Looking forward to getting my order from padacheek, and hopefully making my mask so comfortable I forget its there!

[Nick Danger]

Great!!