Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:27 am
Just a few ideas, my two cents, for you hockeydad,
The Comfort Gel nasal mask, which I believe you said you have, can be customized by heating the gel cusion I think. Instructions can be found on the CD that came with the mask or online from Respironics. Doing that procedure, or doing it again if you've done it already, may help.
I find it important to be very careful what I use to clean the part of the mask that touches my skin. My skin and the mask both need to be dry (in the sense of not being dripping wet), but clean, when I use the mask.
I keep the headgear a touch loose so that when I put the side of my face down on my pillow (An $8 IKEA pillow for side sleepers) the pressure on the pillow against my face takes up some of the slack in the headgear. If I get a leak, I tip the back of my head a little bit backward toward my spine. That takes up some slack in the bottom strap of the headgear. I use an oral appliance, which helps keep my mouth shut.
Little practical things can help to make your set up livable for you. Consider it a game to find ways to make things work--a lifesaving game, but a game nonetheless.
jnk
The Comfort Gel nasal mask, which I believe you said you have, can be customized by heating the gel cusion I think. Instructions can be found on the CD that came with the mask or online from Respironics. Doing that procedure, or doing it again if you've done it already, may help.
I find it important to be very careful what I use to clean the part of the mask that touches my skin. My skin and the mask both need to be dry (in the sense of not being dripping wet), but clean, when I use the mask.
I keep the headgear a touch loose so that when I put the side of my face down on my pillow (An $8 IKEA pillow for side sleepers) the pressure on the pillow against my face takes up some of the slack in the headgear. If I get a leak, I tip the back of my head a little bit backward toward my spine. That takes up some slack in the bottom strap of the headgear. I use an oral appliance, which helps keep my mouth shut.
Little practical things can help to make your set up livable for you. Consider it a game to find ways to make things work--a lifesaving game, but a game nonetheless.
jnk