newbie, need help!

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
purpleturtle

newbie, need help!

Post by purpleturtle » Thu Aug 18, 2016 8:41 am

I got a cpap about 6 weeks ago, I have osa and csa. my boyfriend cant sleep in the same room with my snoring so we decided to get help and get a cpap to help with my sleepiness and snoring. I didn't have any issues other than gas which I can deal with. I am a mouth breather so they gave me a resmed Quattro mask, size small. my pressure is at 12.0 I try to sleep on my side because that helps with not swallowing so much air and prevents the gas pains usually. lately I have been having problem either it leaks up in through the top of the nose to my eyes or a little bit under the chin. I don't know if its possible to get a nose mask or something smaller, will that help? is that an option as a mouth breather? my doctor is worthless and so is the company that provided the cpap so im kind of at a loss for what to do. does anyone have any suggestions? I am going to buy a new cushion in hopes that might help. I have tried tightening the mask but that's uncomfortable and doesn't really help either.

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 65246
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: newbie, need help!

Post by Pugsy » Thu Aug 18, 2016 9:07 am

Exactly which brand and model machine are you using?
A fixed pressure of 12 cm is a bit unusual setting for someone with both central and obstructive sleep apnea.

Do you mouth breathe because of nasal congestion or habit? If it's nasal congestion causing the mouth breathing and you can't clear up the nose enough to breathe comfortably through the nose with the mouth shut then you need to stick with a full face mask.
If it's out of habit and you normally can breathe through your nose just fine then it might be possible to learn to break the mouth breathing habit and use a nasal interface mask like a nasal pillow or nasal cushion which is a bit easier to keep sealed due to less surface area requiring a seal.

For a full face mask that might be easier to keep a seal you might look at the Amara View.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -mask.html

Alternately with your existing mask you might try adding a mask liner and see if that helps or not.
You can make your own mask liner out of an old T shirt or you can buy them.
I would suggest making one first just to see if it helps or not before spending money on a liner.
You can get an idea what they look like here.
http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_Maskliners.html

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

User avatar
Julie
Posts: 20051
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:58 pm

Re: newbie, need help!

Post by Julie » Thu Aug 18, 2016 9:10 am

I'd also look at a Cpap bed pillow - it has cutouts for the mask (when on your side) and you could probably make one yourself.

User avatar
bettiola
Posts: 30
Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2015 9:23 pm
Location: Cambridge MA

Re: newbie, need help!

Post by bettiola » Thu Aug 18, 2016 5:03 pm

It may also help with leaks if you have the hose suspended above the bed. You can drape it over the headboard or pllow or rig up a loop attached to the wall to hold it in place. I find that I am most apt to have leaks when I am sleeping on my back, not so much sleeping on my side. It could make a difference.
Good luck!

User avatar
Okie bipap
Posts: 3567
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2015 4:14 pm
Location: Central Oklahoma

Re: newbie, need help!

Post by Okie bipap » Thu Aug 18, 2016 5:32 pm

Since I started running the hose up over the headboard and down the side of my head toward the middle of the bed, my leaks have been much less. I use a hose cover which adds weight to it. If the hose falls off the edge of the bed, it pulls the hose sideways and causes a lot of leakage.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Evora Full Face Mask - Fitpack
Additional Comments: IPAP 20-25, ps 4, OSCAR software
Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional.