How do YOU test a new mask? Take a nap? Use it all night?

dllfo · Post by **dllfo** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:53 pm

I need my sleep. Period. Double Period. I do not feel well enough many days to have the luxury of missing sleep. Pulling my heliox bottle down the hall is tiring. THAT is dumb, but it might help some of you understand some of us.

That said, I would like to try different masks, just cannot afford to have a bad night where I don't sleep.

I have tried napping with a couple, that is the only way I see doing it.

I just saw one person posting that they have 9 masks. NINE?? I have my
Mirage Swift and the 431 FF mask plus a couple of used masks I was interested in. I would love to sleep on my side again, but it hasn't worked, even for a nap.

So how do you do it? Put on a different mask at bedtime, give it thirty minutes and if you are still awake, go back to your primary?

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): mirage, swift

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:01 pm

Put on a different mask at bedtime, give it thirty minutes and if you are still awake, go back to your primary?

That's exactly the way I do it. If fact, I've been trying once a week to
go back to my previous mask (CL2 + tape), without much success. Put it
on, try to go to sleep, fail, get up, switch to the Hybrid.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:35 pm

"Ditto!", but first I tell myself this will be great. Do you find yourself lieing to yourself too. I have the other mask on the bed ready to save the night. Jim

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:42 pm

Not that I have much experience with new masks but here is the drill
Get new mask
Get rx for Ambien CR or whatever you prefer
Put on-adjust new mask well before lights out-read or watch TV with mask on
Readjust mask as needed-add straps, panty hose
When it feels as good as it gets & feels secure
Take it off and look at your face for any signs of redness anywhere-those are potential sore spots in the AM-mark them lightly with a dot of permanent marker (you can get it off with alcohol later)
Say good night to your spouse
Take a shower after all that hard work
Apply any bandaides to potential trouble spots-use any nasal sprays, gels, Badger Balm etc.
Make a trip to the bathroom
Kiss your spouse....all the rest should have been done before the shower.
Take Ambien
Go to bed
Get up in AM and count your leaks. What to do if it isn't working and you can't sleep. Before you get mad at the thing take it off-put old trusty on and get your rest. Work on it again the next day and repeat procedure.

whatrdreamsmadeof · Post by **whatrdreamsmadeof** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:19 pm

i'm glad i'm not the only one lying to myself....my mantra is..........this will work..........this will work.........

dllfo · Post by **dllfo** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:33 pm

krousseau ---GREAT list. I will email this to my blushing bride. I love that girl to death, but at bed time you would swear you are nesting with "Big Bird".
If I could get her organized...that would be great.

I will print that list and get the other masks out again. I really like the concept of putting it on, wearing it a little bit (however long it takes) then looking for red spots. Sounds like a lady who has done her homework.

I am like whatrdreamsmadeof - - It WILL work. I have worn 3 other masks for a total of 2.5 nights, then I have a few months with the Swift.

Thanks for the great ideas. My wife is the trooper. She put her Swift on, she went to bed and wore it all night. I growled, snarled, threatened the CEO of Mirage under my breath...then went to sleep.

Krousseau's idea is far superior.

JCraig · Post by **JCraig** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:52 pm

Where are you people finding these doctorbs that throw out Ambien like it's candy?

dllfo · Post by **dllfo** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:19 pm

No one around here. I am on morphine and my pain doc would not give me ambien. Maybe he thinks Ambien is addictive ?

I got Rozerem or something like that. It worked fine. I have used something like 3 in a month or two.

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:30 pm

When I went to the Stanford sleep clinic besides the OSA I had fairly severe insomnia. I did not ask for medication I was advised to use it. I won't go through the whole lecture but the docs gave me a lot of info re using it. I did until I got used to the XPAP. then tapered off it per their instructions and by my decision. Now I take it about 1/3 of the time. I keep a log of when I take the Ambien & dose-when I look at my Encore data-my best numbers are usually the nights I take Ambien at full dose (there are a couple other factors that go into a good night) so I no longer worry about it.

The use of morphine should not necessarily preclude the use of Ambien in appropriate dosages and with consideration of all the medications you are using/and all your health problems