Am I a CPAP failure?

RogerSC · Post by **RogerSC** » Sat Mar 03, 2018 8:28 pm

katm wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:53 pm
Any advice on fixing the leaks? I can't change masks. Sometimes I think it's a little too big for my face, but it's already a small.

Assuming that you're using an FFM (Amara View), you could look at mask liners from www.padacheek.com. If your mask is a close enough fit, a mask liner might do it for you.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sat Mar 03, 2018 8:33 pm

You are NEVER a failure unless you quit trying.
Since you are here, there is hope.

Bill44133 · Post by **Bill44133** » Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:03 pm

well after reading your posts... I don't think you are a failure.. I think the system and the doctors failed you..
If they let you go on this therapy for 3 years with NO improvements and didn't bother to look at the data the machine has to offer. That is the failure!

If It was me I would fire the doctor and work on getting my therapy optimized myself with the software that is available.
I would search for a doctor who knows something obviously your doctor is incompetent or a dope or both.

I wish you well

TedVPAP · Post by **TedVPAP** » Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:12 pm

Mikebear wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 03, 2018 8:13 pm

katm wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:53 pm

Mikebear wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:34 am

katm wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:28 am
AHI was 9.5 last night. Also reported significant leaks.

I don't know what to do now. I'm having surgery on Monday and won't be up for getting out for at least a week.
What to do next:

1: Download Sleepyhead software, and install it.
2: Work on fixing your leaks. Until you have a handle on these ASAP, your therapy isn't going to do much good.
3: Post some screenshots here, so people can actually help you without the complete guessing.
Any advice on fixing the leaks? I can't change masks. Sometimes I think it's a little too big for my face, but it's already a small.
Why can't you change masks? My wife told me the same thing. She hung in with her Quattro for years, swearing that she MUST have an FFM. It NEVER sealed, leaked and farted all the time. Her AHI was high all the time, she snored like a trucker, but she just wouldn't listen to me. I finally forced the issue by buying her a Resmed Airfit P10 mask. Her very first night her leaks went down to nothing, and her AHI went below 1. It's been that way for a month now, and she couldn't imagine going back to her old mask.

The reason she wouldn't switch her mask for so long? Yeah, the sleep study people told her she was a "mouth breather" and that she must use an FFM. Since she switched to the P10, she hardly snores, doesn't do anything special to keep her mouth shut, but it stays shut very well.

Me on the other hand, I have to use tape and a soft collar to keep my mouth shut with my P10 mask. I got used to doing that fairly quickly once I found a good soft collar that worked for me.

Congrats to you for pushing your wife to think beyond what she thinks she knows.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:45 pm

Ignorance is often the reason why so many people are told they are mouth breathers.
Providers who are not also patients . . . duh.
When we are suffering from UNTREATED OSA, that is frequently the case.
Once treated, many of us find it easier to breathe through our noses,
so the mouth breathing turns out to be TEMPORARY.
One can only give it a try, to know for sure. A less restrictive mask can be a blessing.
If you nose breathe easily during the day, mouth breathing may only be a habit.

katm · Post by **katm** » Sun Mar 04, 2018 12:19 pm

Mikebear wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 03, 2018 8:13 pm

katm wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:53 pm

Mikebear wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:34 am

katm wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:28 am
AHI was 9.5 last night. Also reported significant leaks.

I don't know what to do now. I'm having surgery on Monday and won't be up for getting out for at least a week.
What to do next:

1: Download Sleepyhead software, and install it.
2: Work on fixing your leaks. Until you have a handle on these ASAP, your therapy isn't going to do much good.
3: Post some screenshots here, so people can actually help you without the complete guessing.
Any advice on fixing the leaks? I can't change masks. Sometimes I think it's a little too big for my face, but it's already a small.
Why can't you change masks? My wife told me the same thing. She hung in with her Quattro for years, swearing that she MUST have an FFM. It NEVER sealed, leaked and farted all the time. Her AHI was high all the time, she snored like a trucker, but she just wouldn't listen to me. I finally forced the issue by buying her a Resmed Airfit P10 mask. Her very first night her leaks went down to nothing, and her AHI went below 1. It's been that way for a month now, and she couldn't imagine going back to her old mask.

The reason she wouldn't switch her mask for so long? Yeah, the sleep study people told her she was a "mouth breather" and that she must use an FFM. Since she switched to the P10, she hardly snores, doesn't do anything special to keep her mouth shut, but it stays shut very well.

Me on the other hand, I have to use tape and a soft collar to keep my mouth shut with my P10 mask. I got used to doing that fairly quickly once I found a good soft collar that worked for me.

My insurance covers one mask a year. Period. I'm on Medicaid and I just don't have the money to try every mask out there. I've already paid out of pocket once and that was a big hit on my finances. I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I'll get the rest of the screenshots later. I'm on my way out the door.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Sun Mar 04, 2018 1:03 pm

katm wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:53 pm
Any advice on fixing the leaks?

---------------------------------------------->

To reduce unintentional mask leak -

- Make sure the mask is fitted properly. (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- Make sure the headgear is adjusted properly (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- If you use a low ramp pressure or a low minimum pressure, you should fit and adjust your mask at the higher pressures it is operating at for most of the night. You would temporarily change the machine pressure settings while you do the fitting and adjusting. It's best to do this well before bedtime before you are tired and ready for sleep. Don't forget to change your settings back to the ones you prefer.

- Make sure to use good hose management - the hose should not pull on the mask. Notice how your hose is positioned between machine and mask. It should be positioned to minimize any pull on the mask. Hose management is an individual practice. How it is done depends on the mask, the position of the machine, your sleeping position and other factors specific to the individual.

- If you still have problems, learn from the forum what mask liners are available.

- Start a thread in cpaptalk asking for help. Subject: Need Help with Mask xxxxxx

- If your mask still has excessive leak, try other masks. Many people report trying several masks before they find one that works well for them.

Note: Links to just some of the mask manufacturers' instructional videos can be found on the forum host's website - https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks.php and https://www.youtube.com/

- CG

gabnina96 · Post by **gabnina96** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 3:04 pm

Chicago Granny,
You're not a failure b/c its obvious you are motivated to try to learn more about OSA by joining this forum.
I too have been using CPAP for about 3 yrs. I was sticking with the status quo of AHI numbers in 6-7 range b/c I didn't think there was anything I could do.
I went back to sleep dr to inquire about surgery b/c I thought that was necessary to TRY to get some lower ahi.
I learned I needed a titrated study- and now i'm still struggling but the ahi numbers have gone down SOME- but I still have daytime fatigue most days. Mild OSA BUT my lifestyle is very hampered and I am sick of it!
I need help from my very nice and MOSTLY understanding hubby to download the SLEEPYHEAD program as I am NOT skilled at technology.
I look fwd to learning MORE about this problem to try to identify strategies to fix it!!!! or at least IMPROVE IT.
I use Full face mask b/c i am a mouth breather! i'm going to an ENT tomorrow with goal of learning if a non invasive prodedure will benefit me - i think my nasal breathing needs help! I'm not sure if the nasal stuffiness every night is to blam for my AHI numbers still being 5-6 range. SO i'm a work in progress!
HANG IN THERE and read these forums- that's my advice!

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 3:14 pm

gabnina96 wrote: ↑
Sun Apr 29, 2018 3:04 pm
Chicago Granny,
You're not a failure b/c its obvious you are motivated to try to learn more about OSA by joining this forum.
I too have been using CPAP for about 3 yrs. I was sticking with the status quo of AHI numbers in 6-7 range b/c I didn't think there was anything I could do.
I went back to sleep dr to inquire about surgery b/c I thought that was necessary to TRY to get some lower ahi.
I learned I needed a titrated study- and now i'm still struggling but the ahi numbers have gone down SOME- but I still have daytime fatigue most days. Mild OSA BUT my lifestyle is very hampered and I am sick of it!
I need help from my very nice and MOSTLY understanding hubby to download the SLEEPYHEAD program as I am NOT skilled at technology.
I look fwd to learning MORE about this problem to try to identify strategies to fix it!!!! or at least IMPROVE IT.
I use Full face mask b/c i am a mouth breather! i'm going to an ENT tomorrow with goal of learning if a non invasive prodedure will benefit me - i think my nasal breathing needs help! I'm not sure if the nasal stuffiness every night is to blam for my AHI numbers still being 5-6 range. SO i'm a work in progress!
HANG IN THERE and read these forums- that's my advice!

Your motivational speech is directed at the wrong person.

zoocrewphoto · Post by **zoocrewphoto** » Mon Apr 30, 2018 2:45 am

katm wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 03, 2018 11:28 am
AHI was 9.5 last night. Also reported significant leaks.

I don't know what to do now. I'm having surgery on Monday and won't be up for getting out for at least a week.

An ahi of 9.5 is NOT good. No wonder you don't feel any better. You are being disturbed 10 times an hour.

Tell us more about your settings, print some graphs of a typical night, and let us help you get that ahi below 2.

jnk... · Post by **jnk...** » Mon Apr 30, 2018 7:43 am

"CPAP failure" is not, medically speaking, a person, as in "I am" or "he is." CPAP failure is a circumstance that can be documented as a way to get a person more help. "CPAP failure" is short for "failure of CPAP," not "failure of patient." It should never be used to imply that a person has failed the medical system, since it is really more often a matter of the medical system failing the person. Part of the mission of this forum is to be a resource to make up for that common lack of help from the medical system for helping a patient optimize PAP treatment.

So, although the term "CPAP failure" may occasionally (wrongly) be used against someone to make someone feel guilty (as if that were ever an effective motivation for anyone), the term is really supposed to be a term used to the benefit of someone to indicate that further help may be needed or that another form of help may be needed in addition to, or as a replacement for, CPAP. The term can, for example, be a way for a doctor to argue for bilevel or ASV, in some circumstances, since the term can serve as an explanation to a payer why it is that something beyond CPAP may need to be tried.

I firmly believe in giving CPAP/APAP the full shot before moving on, myself. But I agree that the advice simply to 'hang in there and give it more time' is only useful advice once treatment is documented as optimized.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Mon Apr 30, 2018 8:13 am

gabnina96 wrote: ↑
Sun Apr 29, 2018 3:04 pm
Chicago Granny,
You're not a failure b/c

You might want to click on the edit icon (pencil) and direct your comments to the correct member.

jnk... · Post by **jnk...** » Mon Apr 30, 2018 8:22 am

I don't consider you a failure, either, CG.

Lucyhere · Post by **Lucyhere** » Mon Apr 30, 2018 11:09 am

jnk... wrote: ↑
Mon Apr 30, 2018 7:43 am
"CPAP failure" is not, medically speaking, a person, as in "I am" or "he is." CPAP failure is a circumstance that can be documented as a way to get a person more help. "CPAP failure" is short for "failure of CPAP," not "failure of patient." It should never be used to imply that a person has failed the medical system, since it is really more often a matter of the medical system failing the person. Part of the mission of this forum is to be a resource to make up for that common lack of help from the medical system for helping a patient optimize PAP treatment.

I firmly believe in giving CPAP/APAP the full shot before moving on, myself. But I agree that the advice simply to 'hang in there and give it more time' is only useful advice once treatment is documented as optimized.

Plus 1 for me - plus one for Vivian (4er) = 2

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Mon Apr 30, 2018 11:34 am

Where are you getting ?? from 49er? She unfortunately passed away a few weeks ago...

Am I a CPAP failure?

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Machine	Mask	Humidifier