I hate my machine

zonker wrote:

JulieD wrote:Ok - it's a Philips Respironics REMstar Pro C-Flex+ and the mask is a Respironics Quattro FX for her. The air pressure is set at 12. He machine has a humidifier and it does record data. I really do think the mask is the problem but I've gone through a few of them so I'm nervous about just trying a different one so I was hoping to lurk around here searching for ideas.

hi, julied and welcome! you are going to find all kinds of help here. i know i have!

could you do us one small favor, please? could you go into the control pane and fill out your equipment profile? when you do that, your equipment shows up on the bottom of each of your posts. really helps keep things clear.

oh and if you do that? PLEASE select the text option over the picture option.

and hold on, someone will be with to help shortly.....

Ok I updated the info. It has already helped since I had no idea there were so many masks out there. Thank you!

Thank you! I'll check out that site. Honestly it just helps to know there are people out there to talk to. No one I know has his disorder so I've been a little lost.

JulieD wrote:Ok - it's a Philips Respironics REMstar Pro C-Flex+ and the mask is a Respironics Quattro FX for her. The air pressure is set at 12. He machine has a humidifier and it does record data. I really do think the mask is the problem but I've gone through a few of them so I'm nervous about just trying a different one so I was hoping to lurk around here searching for ideas.

check on the bottom of the machine (remove the water tank first) and look for the REF number on the bottom of the blower. then put "PR (refnumber) quattro FX 12cm" in the profile equipment comments, so you don't have to keep answering the same questions.

also, quattro FX is a resmed mask, not respironics.

finding the right mask is often the most difficult part of getting to where you're ok with cpap.

I have been on cpap for a little over a week now. I was literally falling apart health wise. I had all of the classic indications of apnea, and I also was developing vertigo, and other issues. After about one week, the vertigo is almost gone, my BP has dropped to normal, My episodes went from 67 per hour to one or two, I feel better, and I don't keep my wife up all night. Do I like the idea that I need a machine at night? Nope, no one does. But I love my machine for what it is doing for me. It is transforming my life! I wouldn't be without it! Focus on the great benefits that you will be enjoying. We are all in this together on this forum. After a while, you just put it on and go to sleep. Finding a good mask is key.

One question, JulieD. How did you end up with a full face mask instead of the much less "invasive" nasal mask/pillow types ? The nasal ones are far more preferable for those who don't actually need a FFM, due to an inability to breathe from their nose consistently. (me ) A nasal mask or pillow might be Waaaay less overwhelming for you. Or not. Good luck.

Gasper62 wrote:One question, JulieD. How did you end up with a full face mask instead of the much less "invasive" nasal mask/pillow types ? The nasal ones are far more preferable for those who don't actually need a FFM, due to an inability to breathe from their nose consistently. (me ) A nasal mask or pillow might be Waaaay less overwhelming for you. Or not. Good luck.

How? It's what they handed to me. Lol. Im a mouth breather so that was probably why. I've tried a nasal pillow with a chin strap but that didn't really help much. There are new options out there I'm going to check out.

I started with the Quattro FX full face mask since I'm a mouth breather. I couldn't stand it. I could not wear my reading glasses when needed .... like when I tried to see the APAP manual to change settings. I switched to the Amara View and really like it. It's still a full face mask. It covers the mouth and sits up under the nose. My AHI went down the first night I wore it too.

Good luck,
Dani

mandrew wrote:I have been on cpap for a little over a week now. I was literally falling apart health wise. I had all of the classic indications of apnea, and I also was developing vertigo, and other issues. After about one week, the vertigo is almost gone, my BP has dropped to normal, My episodes went from 67 per hour to one or two, I feel better, and I don't keep my wife up all night. Do I like the idea that I need a machine at night? Nope, no one does. But I love my machine for what it is doing for me. It is transforming my life! I wouldn't be without it! Focus on the great benefits that you will be enjoying. We are all in this together on this forum. After a while, you just put it on and go to sleep. Finding a good mask is key.

Well said

LSAT wrote:If you are looking for sympathy, you are not going to get it here. If you are looking for help, Welcome.

It's answers like this that drive people away from this forum.

Too tall wrote:

LSAT wrote:If you are looking for sympathy, you are not going to get it here. If you are looking for help, Welcome.

It's answers like this that drive people away from this forum.

That's absurd!
When somebody says they "hate" a device that will help them breathe while they're sleeping......and thereby will help improve the quality of their life.......that's not a rational statement.
"Hate" is such an ugly word.......to describe a lifesaving piece of equipment.

You obviously missed the most important part of LSAT's post.


Den

.

JulieD wrote:I hate it. I hate having sleep apnea. I hate that my husband reminds I have it because it wakes him up. I hate the sterotypes about sleep apnea. But I hate my machine the most. For several months (maybe a year) it has been relegated to the closet and ignored. The mask itches and if I tighten the straps enough to keep it from blowing a jet stream of air at me, I end up ripping it off because the compression is so painful. I hate the itching on my face and nose under the mask from the air blowing. I hate that I can't sleep comfortably on my side, I hate that I still snore if I lay on my back. I just plain hate the whole thing.

But...I've been battling migraines and excessive sleepiness and lethargy, not to mention the brain fog. So I need it. It's time to give it another go so I joined this site in hopes of finding some pointers and advice. I'll poke around and see what I find and thank you all in advance!

There may be alternatives to CPAP. I felt the same way you do. Most people quit CPAP therapy because it is so invasive. I tried it for 2 years and when I couldn't deal with it anymore I went to an ENT. You may be able to get off the CPAP or at minimum improve your tolerance of it. Surgery is not always the answer however, but it did work for me.

Surgery worked for me, too, for about 15 years. Now I am on a bi-level machine with high pressure. Hope you have better luck than I did.

Invasive? Invasive is when they give you a tracheotomy because you wouldn't use Cpap, maybe tried UPPP surgery (also invasive) and found it didn't work either, but now your airway's so messed up with scar tissue, etc, that Cpap won't work, and there's just no way left to keep breathing at night.

[quote="JulieD"]I hate it. I hate having sleep apnea. I hate that my husband reminds I have it because it wakes him up. I hate the sterotypes about sleep apnea. But I hate my machine the most. For several months (maybe a year) it has been relegated to the closet and ignored. The mask itches and if I tighten the straps enough to keep it from blowing a jet stream of air at me, I end up ripping it off because the compression is so painful. I hate the itching on my face and nose under the mask from the air blowing. I hate that I can't sleep comfortably on my side, I hate that I still snore if I lay on my back. I just plain hate the whole thing.

But...I've been battling migraines and excessive sleepiness and lethargy, not to mention the brain fog. So I need it. It's time to give it another go so I joined this site in hopes of finding some pointers and advice. I'll poke around and see what I find and thank you all in advance![/quote]

Too tall wrote:

JulieD wrote:I hate it. I hate having sleep apnea. I hate that my husband reminds I have it because it wakes him up. I hate the sterotypes about sleep apnea. But I hate my machine the most. For several months (maybe a year) it has been relegated to the closet and ignored. The mask itches and if I tighten the straps enough to keep it from blowing a jet stream of air at me, I end up ripping it off because the compression is so painful. I hate the itching on my face and nose under the mask from the air blowing. I hate that I can't sleep comfortably on my side, I hate that I still snore if I lay on my back. I just plain hate the whole thing.

But...I've been battling migraines and excessive sleepiness and lethargy, not to mention the brain fog. So I need it. It's time to give it another go so I joined this site in hopes of finding some pointers and advice. I'll poke around and see what I find and thank you all in advance!

There may be alternatives to CPAP. I felt the same way you do. Most people quit CPAP therapy because it is so invasive. I tried it for 2 years and when I couldn't deal with it anymore I went to an ENT. You may be able to get off the CPAP or at minimum improve your tolerance of it. Surgery is not always the answer however, but it did work for me.

CPAP is so invasive...but surgery is not????