napagirl,
I have at least helped the chiropractor make a down payment on a Jaguar! but it is worth it.
I don't really understand why, but my nose is much less stuffy with CPAP. A nice side benefit.
Keep at it until you find the solution.
3wks of CPAP.. now feeling worse!!!
-
CollegeGirl
- Posts: 1038
- Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2005 6:49 pm
- Location: VA
By the way, napagirl, the humidity you describe in your mask is called "rainout." There are several solutions to this.
Starting with the easiest:
Turn your humidifier down, and/or the temperature in your room up. If you can't/don't want to do that, then:
Make sure your machine is *lower* than the level of your head. Also, hang the hose up above your head. Here's a thread with links from rested gal on hose hanging: viewtopic.php?p=32511&highlight=hose+hanging#32511 .I personally use this little 3M Command Cord Bundler: http://cableorganizer.com/cord-bundler/ . You can sometimes find these at hardware stores or in places like Walmart or Target, but if you can't find them locally you can always buy online. They're not expensive. They attach to wall with a strong adhesive that can be removed at will without damage to the wall (or your headboard, whichever you place it on). I find they work perfectly.
What this does is help prevent the water from making it to the top of the hose (through gravity). If it makes it up there, ideally it falls back into the humidifier instead of into the mask.
If that doesn't work, you can either buy a hose cover (you can PM our user Offerocker here on the forum - she makes them) or make one yourself. You can even, in a pinch, cut the toes off of tube socks and use some of those. The idea is to insulate the hose.
And if none of that works, the most expensive remedy, but the one that works for just about everyone, is the Aussie heated hose. This is the link: http://www.sleepzone.com.au . It works with all masks and machines (to my knowledge). Look for the "heated cpap tube."
Hope that helps. And welcome.
Starting with the easiest:
Turn your humidifier down, and/or the temperature in your room up. If you can't/don't want to do that, then:
Make sure your machine is *lower* than the level of your head. Also, hang the hose up above your head. Here's a thread with links from rested gal on hose hanging: viewtopic.php?p=32511&highlight=hose+hanging#32511 .I personally use this little 3M Command Cord Bundler: http://cableorganizer.com/cord-bundler/ . You can sometimes find these at hardware stores or in places like Walmart or Target, but if you can't find them locally you can always buy online. They're not expensive. They attach to wall with a strong adhesive that can be removed at will without damage to the wall (or your headboard, whichever you place it on). I find they work perfectly.
What this does is help prevent the water from making it to the top of the hose (through gravity). If it makes it up there, ideally it falls back into the humidifier instead of into the mask.
If that doesn't work, you can either buy a hose cover (you can PM our user Offerocker here on the forum - she makes them) or make one yourself. You can even, in a pinch, cut the toes off of tube socks and use some of those. The idea is to insulate the hose.
And if none of that works, the most expensive remedy, but the one that works for just about everyone, is the Aussie heated hose. This is the link: http://www.sleepzone.com.au . It works with all masks and machines (to my knowledge). Look for the "heated cpap tube."
Hope that helps. And welcome.
Machine: M-Series Auto
Mask: Headrest
No humidifier
On the hose since 2005.
Mask: Headrest
No humidifier
On the hose since 2005.
I would try changing pillows, or even flipping the headgear upside down, this can change where the headgear rides at the nape of the neck.
If you sleep on your side and have a spare memory foam type pillow, take an electric turkey carving knife to it and cut out a half-moon on one side of it. This can offer a place for your mask to land without putting a kink in your neck.
If you sleep on your side and have a spare memory foam type pillow, take an electric turkey carving knife to it and cut out a half-moon on one side of it. This can offer a place for your mask to land without putting a kink in your neck.
Another pillow aid is using a buckwheat pillow, they are filled with buckwheat hulls and are supposed to be easy to arrange. Mine arrives today, can't wait. I love sleeping on my side, and my current pillow pushes my mask causing leaks and minor pain.Snoredog wrote:I would try changing pillows, or even flipping the headgear upside down, this can change where the headgear rides at the nape of the neck.
If you sleep on your side and have a spare memory foam type pillow, take an electric turkey carving knife to it and cut out a half-moon on one side of it. This can offer a place for your mask to land without putting a kink in your neck.
More like the humidified air bringing the stuffiness relief. At least that's been my experience.
_________________
| Mask: Quattro™ FX Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: PR SystemOne BPAP Auto w/Bi-Flex & Humidifier - EncorePro 2.2 Software - Contec CMS-50D+ Oximeter - Respironics EverFlo Q Concentrator |
Women are Angels. And when someone breaks our wings, we simply continue to fly.....on a broomstick. We are flexible like that.
My computer says I need to upgrade my brain to be compatible with its new software.
My computer says I need to upgrade my brain to be compatible with its new software.
Reading this post may me decide to register with this forum. So, this is my first post.
Napagirl, when I read about your problems, it reminds me of similar problems I had/have. My neck and surrounding area was always so sore during the day. I saw doctors and chiropractors. I would feel good after a chiro visit but it wouldn't last. The doctor put me into physical therapy. They gave me neck rubs which felt good but it still didn't solve the problem.
The problem continued for several months and I had mentioned it to a nurse practitioner while visiting the doctor for something different. She asked me if anyone had suggested a cervical pillow. I said no. She told me I could get one for $10 at a drug store. This pillow is a narrow piece of foam rubber that you put under your neck for support while you sleep. It worked well. After months of chiro visits, doctor appt's and phy therapy visits, I had found a $10 solution. And it was the nurse who found the solution!
The problem was that my regular pillow would collapse during the night and not provide enough support for my neck and surrounding muscles. I'm not sure this is your problem but I thought you might want to hear about what I went through.
Napagirl, when I read about your problems, it reminds me of similar problems I had/have. My neck and surrounding area was always so sore during the day. I saw doctors and chiropractors. I would feel good after a chiro visit but it wouldn't last. The doctor put me into physical therapy. They gave me neck rubs which felt good but it still didn't solve the problem.
The problem continued for several months and I had mentioned it to a nurse practitioner while visiting the doctor for something different. She asked me if anyone had suggested a cervical pillow. I said no. She told me I could get one for $10 at a drug store. This pillow is a narrow piece of foam rubber that you put under your neck for support while you sleep. It worked well. After months of chiro visits, doctor appt's and phy therapy visits, I had found a $10 solution. And it was the nurse who found the solution!
The problem was that my regular pillow would collapse during the night and not provide enough support for my neck and surrounding muscles. I'm not sure this is your problem but I thought you might want to hear about what I went through.
I sleep on my side and turn back and forth during the night and my mirage activa mask doesn't lose its seal. I am only vaguely aware that I am turning and the discomfort of that does not come from the mask but from getting the rolls around my middle to catch up. you barely know you are wearing a mask.