CPAPtalk.com

Hi,

I am a new CPAP user, female, late 50s. I got a Resmed airsense 11 with Evora full face mask. For a week I seriously couldn't fall asleep with a full mask on. The full mask and headgear are way too intrusive for me. I kept yawning trying to fall asleep and you really could not yawn with the FFM.

I switched to F&P Brevida last night, and for the first time in a week, it took a while but I finally fell asleep with the mask on. I got about 5 hours of sleep last night on and off. But I woke up with sore nose and dents on the face, what can I use to prevent the sore nose? vaseline? My headgear actually half fell off from my head during sleep (I have weird head shape, I guess), but the nasal pillow stayed on all night.

Also I was diagnosed with "severe" sleep apnea from the sleep study. My AHI was only 7.6, but on the study report, the issue seemed to be that my oxygen level dropped to 86% at some point during the night. AHI 7.6 is considered very mild, do I even have to be on CPAP? any idea? I have not seen my sleep doctor yet, the appointment is a few months away!

Thanks for your help in advance

Lanisoh is better for preventing a sore nose.

snoozebunny wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 02, 2022 7:42 am

so I was diagnosed with "severe" sleep apnea from the sleep study. My AHI was only 7.6, but on the study report, the issue seemed to be that my oxygen level dropped to 86% at some point during the night. AHI 7.6 is considered very mild, do I even have to be on CPAP?

Who prescribed the CPAP? Who else knows about your low oxygen levels? Were they related to your obstructive events? If your oxygen dropped to 86 every time your breathing got obstructed (almost 8 time for every hour of sleep) that would be very bad for your health. And if your airway is so badly obstructed, oxygen supplied without a CPAP won't help much.
If CPAP keeps your airway from collapsing, and thus your oxygen level are maintained, that is very good. And if your oxygen levels are not maintained on CPAP then you may need oxygen in addition to CPAP.

A sleep specialist/MD reviewed my sleep study and prescribed CPAP.  My PCP wrote the prescription when she received the report from the sleep specialist/MD,  I will be seeing the sleep specialist in a few months, the appointment is hard to come by.  

I don't know how many times my oxygen level dropped to 86%, I think (or hope) perhaps just once?   In the report, it said oxygen saturation baseline is 98%,  average is 94% and minimum :86%.   

In the report, with the doctor's handwriting highlighting oxygen level dropped to 86%.   "severe obstructive sleep apnea", snoring was noted along with apnea with AHI index 7.6.    

 And also in the report, it said total breath:6918  with 13.8 ave/min  snore 1383

snoozebunny wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 02, 2022 1:44 pm

A sleep specialist/MD reviewed my sleep study and prescribed CPAP [...]
In the report, with the doctor's handwriting highlighting oxygen level dropped to 86%.   "severe obstructive sleep apnea", snoring was noted along with apnea with AHI index 7.6.

quote=snoozebunny post_id=1425184 time=1667418245 user_id=101872]
I don't know how many times my oxygen level dropped to 86%, I think (or hope) perhaps just once?
[/quote]
This should be visible in graphs on the report.
Please read these instructions about how to best share your data with us viewtopic/t172378/Sticky--Newbies-PLEAS ... STING.html

We can help you understand your sleep study and your "sleeping at home with CPAP results" better.
You can then be better prepared for you meeting with the doctor. If you decide to share the copy of your sleep study, make sure to black out any identifying data on the image you upload.

Getting used to CPAP therapy isn't easy at all for some of us - and the temptation to think "maybe I don't need it" is great. But the gains can be tremendous once we've adapted. After all, there was a reason for your having a sleep study to start with.

With our years of successful sleep on CPAP we can probably help your adaptation to the therapy.
Give it (us) a try.

Skin reactions can be an allergy to the materials and/or a too tight mask.

Check the evenness (left vs right) and the relative tightness of the upper and lower straps.

If contact dermatitis is present, try soaking the face piece in vinegar for several hours upon first (or next) use.

snoozebunny wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 02, 2022 7:42 am

Hi,

I am a new CPAP user, female, late 50s. I got a Resmed airsense 11 with Evora full face mask. For a week I seriously couldn't fall asleep with a full mask on. The full mask and headgear are way too intrusive for me. I kept yawning trying to fall asleep and you really could not yawn with the FFM.

I switched to F&P Brevida last night, and for the first time in a week, it took a while but I finally fell asleep with the mask on. I got about 5 hours of sleep last night on and off. But I woke up with sore nose and dents on the face, what can I use to prevent the sore nose? vaseline? My headgear actually half fell off from my head during sleep (I have weird head shape, I guess), but the nasal pillow stayed on all night.

Also I was diagnosed with "severe" sleep apnea from the sleep study. My AHI was only 7.6, but on the study report, the issue seemed to be that my oxygen level dropped to 86% at some point during the night. AHI 7.6 is considered very mild, do I even have to be on CPAP? any idea? I have not seen my sleep doctor yet, the appointment is a few months away!

Thanks for your help in advance

Sounds like you’re determined and off to a great start!
My mask of choice is the Brevida, hopefully I can offer you a few tips. I also felt some soreness in my nose for a few days when I first started out but my nose pretty quickly adjusted and got used to it, hopefully yours will to.
To moisturize your nose I suggest rather than Vaseline you might try lanolin (you can find it in the baby section it’s a cream nursing moms use on their nipples). Another thing I like to keep my nose moist is saline gel, and when in a bind I’ve found coconut oil also works. Also be sure your pillows are the correct size for your nose.

Not sure what was causing the dents on your face, was the problem under the Velcro adjustment? I find if positioned in certain spots the the underside of the Velcro adjustment can bother me. Maybe try moving it around and if that doesn’t work add something underneath it for an additional cushion. Not sure if you have long hair but I do and for me it’s most comfortable to keep my headgear somewhat loose, i pull my hair between the two straps which kind of keeps them in place. Also once you put your mask on and get your machine going pull the mask a bit off your face and gently place it back in place, this will help create a nice air seal.

From the data you report from your sleep study it doesn’t sound like severe sleep apnea, but it’s hard to know without more info. If you want to get advice regarding the sleep study you can scan it and post it, but if you do so be sure to black out all personal data.