Multitudes of mask problems.

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
KittenZero
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri May 26, 2023 10:52 am

Multitudes of mask problems.

Post by KittenZero » Fri May 26, 2023 11:44 am

In the 1st 30 days of starting with a cpap I have successfully made it through 1 night of mask wearing.
I have a nasal pillow mask. It seems like it takes me 30 mins every night to get the holes lined up with my nostrils. I move around a lot during sleep and I think I literally sleep on my face at times. I sleep like the dead generally. Air leaks do not wake me up. Noises do not wake me up. In fact I have an alarm clock for deaf people that goes off at 80 decibles and vibrates the bed that has not woken me up on occasion including the 1st week I was on cpap. (The person who calls me to see how I am doing has told me that's normal?)

I have
1. Woken up multiple times in the morning with my mask around my neck
2. Woken up in the morning with the entire machine in bed with me and the mask off.
3. Woken up most mornings with the mask off and recorded as not more than 1 to 3 hrs at most of mask being worn
4. Woken up with the mask on my eyes like an eye mask twice.
5. Woken up at night because the mask shifted and the holes moved and my nostrils were covered with solid silicone and I couldn't breath.

The 1st time number 4 happened I remember my son waking me up asking "doesn't that hurt your eyes?" I was also sleeping with a eye mask that night so I'm thinking he is referring to that and said no... it's an eye mask, why would it hurt my eyes? A bottle of eye drops later he said no... you breathing machine mask was on your eyes.... I said well. That explains my dry grainy eyes this morning 😒

I have tried sleeping pills, relaxing with my mask watching TV in bed before sleep time, wearing my mask during the day. I feel okay in it. But sleep me has serious issues with it.

I start off sleeping on my stomach, but the way my hair looks sometimes in the morning, I believe that I am basically for lack of a better word- grinding my face into my pillow possibly multiple times a night?

My sleep study was an at home one and my number they gave me that resulted in me getting the machine was a 5. I'm assuming that was the times I have an apnea per hour? My machine is also possessed and doesn't send any info to any app or anyone at all, but I look at it every morning and I have been having anywhere from 1 to 19 episodes per hour. I don't think it records correctly. It also tells me my seal was good when I know for a fact it was blowing in my eye most of the night.

One final thing. I have a chronic cough that I have had as long as I can remember. When I cough (out through my mouth obviously) I am no longer breathing through my nose. My machine was ramping up pressure each time that happened until I would have to turn it off and start again. My doctor made adjustments to the machine, but I am wondering if sometimes it thinks I'm not breathing and really I am just having a coughing fit.

SwirlySauce
Posts: 36
Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2021 5:41 pm

Re: Multitudes of mask problems.

Post by SwirlySauce » Fri May 26, 2023 12:54 pm

Which mask are you currently using? You may need one that has a more secure fit, although sleeping on your stomach is going to make things trickier regardless.

User avatar
Julie
Posts: 19898
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:58 pm

Re: Multitudes of mask problems.

Post by Julie » Fri May 26, 2023 1:29 pm

What has your MD said about your cough (or do you know what it's about?)? Certainly you should not just go on with it not knowing the reason (smoking?) or where it'll end up or what to do about it, never mind how Cpap interferes with it (or vice versa).

User avatar
ChicagoGranny
Posts: 14409
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:43 pm
Location: USA

Re: Multitudes of mask problems.

Post by ChicagoGranny » Fri May 26, 2023 3:54 pm

KittenZero wrote:
Fri May 26, 2023 11:44 am
I have a nasal pillow mask. It seems like it takes me 30 mins every night to get the holes lined up with my nostrils.
As a first step, find the exact model of your mask on youtube and study some videos on fitting and adjusting.
KittenZero wrote:
Fri May 26, 2023 11:44 am
Woken up in the morning with the entire machine in bed with me and the mask off.
Observe how you are managing the hose. The hose and machine should be positioned so that you can change positions in bed without the hose pulling on the mask or the machine. (The machine could be damaged by being pulled onto the floor. If water from the humidifier tank spills into the machine, the electronics could be seriously damaged.)

You have a few problems to work through. Stick to this one thread and make progress reports.

Welcome!

KittenZero
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri May 26, 2023 10:52 am

Re: Multitudes of mask problems.

Post by KittenZero » Sat May 27, 2023 12:25 am

Julie wrote:
Fri May 26, 2023 1:29 pm
What has your MD said about your cough (or do you know what it's about?)? Certainly you should not just go on with it not knowing the reason (smoking?) or where it'll end up or what to do about it, never mind how Cpap interferes with it (or vice versa).
I have a neuropathic cough. I have been going through many treatments with no results. I ended up on a pap machine because I had to get a full blown breathing test before insurance would pay for at chest CT. So I was sent to a pulmonary specialist. He sent me for the CT scan, a sleep study, and a methacoline challange which showed that the years I have been labeled as having asthma were incorrect and I have been on meds I dont need.
currently I am being treated by a larengologist and voice therapist.

KittenZero
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri May 26, 2023 10:52 am

Re: Multitudes of mask problems.

Post by KittenZero » Sat May 27, 2023 12:32 am

I think I have an airfit N301 mask? They gave me small cushions. Should I try medium?
The hose goes off the top of my head. It seems to pivot pretty well when I am moving around in bed prior to going to sleep.
I think it may be messing with my inner ear too. I ended up at urgent care recently and was told I have fluid in my inner ear. Would that be caused by too high of pressure?

I'm going to try redoing some of my settings as suggested in another post I read on here tonight. Fingers crossed.

Thank you for the suggestions.

User avatar
ChicagoGranny
Posts: 14409
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:43 pm
Location: USA

Re: Multitudes of mask problems.

Post by ChicagoGranny » Sat May 27, 2023 7:11 am

KittenZero wrote:
Sat May 27, 2023 12:32 am
I'm going to try redoing some of my settings
It's best to use OSCAR (or SleepHQ) to guide you.

User avatar
ozij
Posts: 10120
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 11:52 pm

Re: Multitudes of mask problems.

Post by ozij » Sat May 27, 2023 9:20 am

KittenZero wrote:
Fri May 26, 2023 11:44 am
I have a nasal pillow mask. It seems like it takes me 30 mins every night to get the holes lined up with my nostrils.
KittenZero wrote:
Sat May 27, 2023 12:32 am
I think I have an airfit N301 mask? They gave me small cushions. Should I try medium?
Yes.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Machine: Resmed AirSense10 for Her with Climateline heated hose ; alternating masks.
And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Good advice is compromised by missing data
Forum member Dog Slobber Nov. 2023

KittenZero
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri May 26, 2023 10:52 am

Re: Multitudes of mask problems.

Post by KittenZero » Sat May 27, 2023 1:19 pm

I tried the medium mask. It seems to work better.
I think my humidity was too high as it actually woke me up from sleep with congestion with both nostrils completely blocked like I had a major head cold.

I have an SD card on the way to use with Oscar. Will definitely need help after that as looking at others screen shots is very confusing!

What does the EPR setting do? Differences between having it on or off? I also see I can set it for ramp only and change the level.
The person who set the machine up did not give me that option as a user.

User avatar
ChicagoGranny
Posts: 14409
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:43 pm
Location: USA

Re: Multitudes of mask problems.

Post by ChicagoGranny » Sat May 27, 2023 1:41 pm

KittenZero wrote:
Sat May 27, 2023 1:19 pm
What does the EPR setting do?
It lowers the pressure on exhale. When you get your SD card, post an OSCAR screenshot, and members will be glad to help you. Links to OSCAR instructions are in my signature.
KittenZero wrote:
Sat May 27, 2023 1:19 pm
The person who set the machine up did not give me that option as a user.
Find your model on youtube. There are short videos showing how to enter the clinician's menu.