Somewhat newbie here looking for advice

Hello all,

Like you all I have apnea (OSA), unlike some of you, I denied it for years along with many other things including getting older! I got my cpap machine 3 years ago and instantly hated it, tried it off and on but just kept taking it off, felt claustrophobic and so it sat and sat next to me unused. Of course I got worse, gained more weight, I am now considered obese, on blood pressure medication, have acid reflux, and continued to deny it even though at work, I often nod off, even while typing, struggle in the morning to feel good, used to golf, now no longer feel like I could finish a round. Used to read a dozen or more books a year, haven't read in years other than for work or emails. I sometimes don't even have the energy to play a stupid video game.

I turned 40 last year and this year in March I had a scare with chest pains that had me in the ER and then a cardiologist, everything was good from ekgs and stess test to an event monitor strapped to me for a couple of weeks. I still have pains and now some palpitations but that could be from anxiety and stress from work and m living arrangement though that has never manifested itself physically and could be some of the pain could be from reflux too. Doctor said I should look at this as a wakeup call.

I plan on losing weight and have cut out soda which was probably the main culprit, for years that was all I drank and I averaged probably anywhere from 2 to 3 20 oz and a liter a day, about 950 to 1200 calories a day alone from that not to mention crappy eating.

And I have turned back to that machine that has sat there for years and first I got used to the mask and I am now, I got used to breathing with it on and I did but trying to sleep, I can't seem to win that one.
I have a Resprionics Remstar Plus with C-Flex at a setting of 12. The mask is a Mirage Quattro Full Face that is comfortable enough.

I can start to fall asleep, at least I think I am only to suddenly come full awake and feel anxious like I am not getting enough air. Is that something standard with trying to adjust or is it possible and maybe probable that the setting is now too low?

On the mask, it has a forehead rest to help with fitting, there is a knob to tighten or loosen it, seems like I need it real tight in conjunction with the straps to prevent leakage but it gives me a headache, any advice or thoughts with that?

Since it finally hit me that I am neither 20 nor invulnerable, I have come to my senses and I am going to give this my all though I just hate looking at it.

Thanks

badbadgolfer

You might try a nasal pillow mask. Leaks seem to be less of an issue.
Jim

badbadgolfer wrote:Hello all,

On the mask, it has a forehead rest to help with fitting, there is a knob to tighten or loosen it, seems like I need it real tight in conjunction with the straps to prevent leakage but it gives me a headache, any advice or thoughts with that?

Thanks

badbadgolfer

The Quattro mask should be fitted with the forehead rest relatively loose. Follow the fitting instructions that come with the mask.

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/

Since its been 3 years, the mask cushion my have become old & no longer pliant. In other words, dry rotted. Perhaps not visually but this is delicate material. I would start over with a new mask. If you aren't a mouth breather I would suggest a nasal pillow mask, specifically the AirFit P10. If you are a mouth breather you could try the AirFit F10. You might want to browse the cpap.com site & see what mask you would prefer.

Since you are starting over I would also replace your hose. Hoses usually can last several years, when being used, but just sitting idle, it also may have hardened. Inspect it for cracks & if it seems OK, then disregard my suggestion to replace it.

Welcome to the forum, with the help of this forum, you can succeed, you just have to keep trying & want it bad enough. You now have friends here who will help you.

Jen

jencat824 wrote:Since its been 3 years, the mask cushion my have become old & no longer pliant. In other words, dry rotted. Perhaps not visually but this is delicate material. I would start over with a new mask. If you aren't a mouth breather I would suggest a nasal pillow mask, specifically the AirFit P10. If you are a mouth breather you could try the AirFit F10. You might want to browse the cpap.com site & see what mask you would prefer.

Since you are starting over I would also replace your hose. Hoses usually can last several years, when being used, but just sitting idle, it also may have hardened. Inspect it for cracks & if it seems OK, then disregard my suggestion to replace it.

Welcome to the forum, with the help of this forum, you can succeed, you just have to keep trying & want it bad enough. You now have friends here who will help you.

Jen

He said his mask was comfortable

LSAT wrote:

jencat824 wrote:Since its been 3 years, the mask cushion my have become old & no longer pliant. In other words, dry rotted. Perhaps not visually but this is delicate material. I would start over with a new mask. If you aren't a mouth breather I would suggest a nasal pillow mask, specifically the AirFit P10. If you are a mouth breather you could try the AirFit F10. You might want to browse the cpap.com site & see what mask you would prefer.

Since you are starting over I would also replace your hose. Hoses usually can last several years, when being used, but just sitting idle, it also may have hardened. Inspect it for cracks & if it seems OK, then disregard my suggestion to replace it.

Welcome to the forum, with the help of this forum, you can succeed, you just have to keep trying & want it bad enough. You now have friends here who will help you.

Jen

He said his mask was comfortable

Sorry, missed that. But I would still replace the cushion.

Since tightening the forehead straps so much gives you a headache but you need to do that to curtail the leaks, you might want to try the AirFit F10 as Jencat suggested. It is a FF mask without a forehead strap. I switched to it from the Quattro Air, and I absolutely love it! It uses the same cushion as the Air, but it feels wonderful not having the strap around the forehead.

You mentioned leaks as the reason you are tightening the mask so much. One way to do that, if you have not tried them yet, is to use mask liners. I use Remzzzs, available at most DMEs or online at cpap.com, but many people here use Pad-A-Cheek liners, available online. They are the only thing I've found to truly curtail my leaks; what leaks I still have I mostly sleep through or occasionally wake me very briefly for a minor adjustment of the mask and go right back to sleep. Perhaps if you try liners with your current mask, since it is comfortable for you, you will find that you can ease up on the forehead strap enough not to wake with a headache.

Appreciate the advice. I think I was getting the headaches from not putting it on right do I was overtightening, I tried it the way LSAT had on the link and that seemed more comfortable.

Jen I get replaclement masks, hoses, and filters every three months, only have the last few and using the newest, its fine.

Nasal Pillows probably would not work as I have become more of a mouth breather.

Library Lady, I will keep that in mind about the other mask and the liners.

Going to try tonight and not looking forward to it but here I am at work and I have nodded onto my keyboard how many times today? Lol.

And I am starting my weight loss, already pretty much quit soda last week but have started the no soda policy today and am now on a diet, starting off at 231 pds.

For those with a full face maks, I was laying on my bed with it on just to get used to it being on, the air wasn't on as I wanted to just find a position that could be good since I am a side sleeper, I noticed as I dozed a bit that I started to drool as I can, is that something I should be concerned about with the mask? I have actually woken up before fiding I had likely inhaled that or choked on it so I always made sure my face and mouth were pointing down. Then again its odd as I would sometimes fall asleep on my back and not have that problem.