Apnea combined with tear duct problem

I was just telling my tech the other day that there should be a forum for this. I'm so glad to find you!

I had all the usual challenges of getting used to the C-PAP (it's a solution, not a problem...it's a solution, not a...) but also I have an artificial tear duct in one eye with a tiny, mostly unobtrusive glass tube. Problem is that it drains directly into the nose. That meant that most of the masks I used blew air directly through that channel into the eye. As you can imagine, this meant double trouble, trying to avoid this. Sometimes it worked.

Several months ago, my problems increased when I had to get a shorter glass tube for the eye. (Office procedure; not as bad as it sounds.) For some reason, this made the airflow even more direct. No sleep with the machine. I went back and forth for a solution between the eye surgeon and sleep doc, to no avail.

This odd story has a happy ending, however. Now that I am using a full face mask rather than other options, the air is diffused enough so it doesn't blow directly into my eye. The tech suggested it! Bravo to the techs and engineering types who are constantly improving this stuff for us.

As far as I can tell, I sleep all night every night with my machine purring right along. Spouse sleeps well too.

Brag:
I was able to get off all arthritis medication and half of my blood pressure medicine fairly quickly. Now I am dropping the other bp med because my pressure is so low. This has been since I switched to the full face mask a few months ago.

I would like to provide all the particulars, but I lent my documentation to a friend -- new patient -- and won't have it back until next week. Will resubmit details when I have them.

I enjoyed reading your post. Welcome to the forum, there are very knowledgable and caring people here. I'm a newbie, still waiting for my equipment, but have taken a crash course on cpap, here.

greetings, dragonnap,

Your thread is the type people enjoy reading. You had a problem, you had help finding a solution. You have a great attitude, and it is encouraging to read a success story. Thanks a bunch.

Jan

I appreciate the supportive messages I have received! This is a great site. By the way, I think at least one of the "smilies" should be smiling, eyes closed in sleep.