"Failed" CPAPer giving it another try......

Hello, It's now 5 years since I was set up with a Remstar w/C-flex that I tried to get used to for approx. 8 nights, and quit ! I have recently decided that I have to make myself treat my apnea somehow. I dug out the machine and started trying it again about a month ago. The 5 year old blue gel mask wasn't much fun and I've learned it's now obsolete so, I went in for a refit and came away with Swift FX pillows that are also taking some getting used to. My main problem is opening my mouth and LOTS of airflow and drying as a result. I have several chin straps that no matter how tightly I adjust them, I am able to overcome them and lose air/ mouth breathe anyway. I wonder if I'm still experiencing airway collapse with the machine and fighting to get air in through my mouth. I wonder if maybe my pressure setting needs to be higher now.... I know that I need a new sleep study and definitely plan to have one. Earliest I can see the Dr. for just a consult is a month from now. I look forward to learning from the group here, and, learning to manage and live with OSA! I CAN NOT figure out how to load/use SleepyHead on my computer, I hope to figure that out eventually. I'm not sure that my old machine records all the things that the newer ones do anyway. Thanks for being here and for what you all do to help others !

It took me A LOT LONGER than 8 nights to get comfortable with my CPAP. That was about 10 years ago.

I would not worry about raising your pressure until you can sleep through the night with your current setup. Once you are comfortable with using the CPAP raising the pressure is really easy to adjust to but the higher the pressure when you are initially acclimating to a CPAP the harder it is to acclimate.

I initially used a nasal mask for a couple of years. I always fought with that mask. Switching to nasal pillows was a HUGE improvement.

I spent many evenings watching TV in bed with my CPAP on. This is how I learned to breath through my nose and keep my mouth shut. When I fell asleep and opened my mouth the air would come rushing out my mouth and I found it was difficult to get a breath causing me to wake up. It wasn't easy but I eventually got there.

Good luck, and keep at it!

Look on the bottom of the blower unit for a 3 digit model number. Might have DS, REF or P in front or behind the 3 digits.
If you have chosen the correct machine in your profile that would be model 250 and it doesn't collect any useful data for you to use software to evaluate therapy effectiveness.
You would need model number 450 or higher to have a machine that offers full efficacy data.

Do you have any nasal congestion issues that make it necessary for you to breathe through your mouth to get enough air?

You guessed it, Pugsy it's a 250 series machine. I'm planning to see whether a new fixed-pressure or an automatic/variable model is a good idea for me, even if I have to purchase it "out of pocket" due to my history of not using the original one provided by my insurance. As for congestion, I don't think that I've gotten stuffed up enough to force mouth breathing, I do have a "runny" nose during the daytime after using the machine sometimes. Hopefully a new study will give me some answers. I'm almost ready to try duct taping my mouth closed !

I've been on it off and on for the past couple months and can't get everything working right so I can sleep good. First it was the rainout and whistling noise from the S8 I had. Now I've replaced the S8 with an Airsense 10 and my masks don't feel right. I have a Wisp that has to be on perfect or it's uncomfortable on my skin. I can't get my Quattro air to seal at all and I've tried multiple cushion sizes. I'm sticking with it though, partially because I have to for work (DOT requirement) and partially because I watched my mothers health deteriorate from not using the machine the first time. She's now on it but with oxygen this time and her AHI went from 77 to under 5...

Gasper62 wrote:You guessed it, Pugsy it's a 250 series machine. I'm planning to see whether a new fixed-pressure or an automatic/variable model is a good idea for me, even if I have to purchase it "out of pocket" due to my history of not using the original one provided by my insurance. As for congestion, I don't think that I've gotten stuffed up enough to force mouth breathing, I do have a "runny" nose during the daytime after using the machine sometimes. Hopefully a new study will give me some answers. I'm almost ready to try duct taping my mouth closed !

Don't use duct tape, use painter's tape (the "delicate" kind) or Nexcare paper first aid tape.

That's a great tip ! Thanks !

Guest wrote:I've been on it off and on for the past couple months and can't get everything working right so I can sleep good. First it was the rainout and whistling noise from the S8 I had. Now I've replaced the S8 with an Airsense 10 and my masks don't feel right. I have a Wisp that has to be on perfect or it's uncomfortable on my skin. I can't get my Quattro air to seal at all and I've tried multiple cushion sizes. I'm sticking with it though, partially because I have to for work (DOT requirement) and partially because I watched my mothers health deteriorate from not using the machine the first time. She's now on it but with oxygen this time and her AHI went from 77 to under 5...

Good luck ! I guess that it's " better late than never". I'm gonna' stick with it, even if I hafta' buy a dozen masks to find one that works for me. I've gone way too many years without really knowing the true dangers of unmanaged apnea !

Gasper62, I just wanted to welcome you back and give you a link that has a lot of info from machines that will give you data to how to download Sleepyhead and post screenshots. Lots of other useful links on it. It is provided by Krevlin a member here.https://sleep.tnet.com/resources/sleepyhead
I know you can't use Sleepyhead yet but it's good to be prepared by knowing which machines will give you data.
If you decide to not go with a full face mask, there are a lot of posts about taping here. Just do a search to find how others use this to manage their mouth leaks.

Thanks OkyDoky ! I will be doing a lot of reading up on Sleepyhead but, I'm not very computer savvy, unfortunately. It seemed to me like Windows is not the ideal OS for downloading/using the SH software. I won't give up on my goal of healthy sleep, whatever it takes !

Sleepyhead works fine on Windows. I have Windows 7 and others have it on 8.

I am new to cpap world and wonder how one deals with seasonal allergies!

Tjrust2 wrote:I am new to cpap world and wonder how one deals with seasonal allergies!

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