Help For My Husband

I have been using CPAP for several years now and know how much it can help. He on the other hand just got diagnosed with sleep apnea about 6 months ago. He is having a really difficult time using his machine and still hasn't accomplished sleeping with it all night long. I need some tips for him. He is using a REMstar auto with a Respironics ComfortLite 2 mask. He's tried several masks, but that's the one that seems to be most comfortable for him. He has a few main problems.

1. He loves to sleep on his side with his face buried in his people. He feels that when he does this though, it blocks the air or something with his current mask. Any other maks that he's tried to do this with, he hasn't felt it's been comfortable enough. Any advice?

2. He has a slight problem with his mouth opening either while he's using it or waking him up right when he's falling asleep. Unforunately he has a goatee so he can't tape his mouth shut like I do. What do other people do?

3. He has a little bit of a problem with water in his mask. He uses a non-integrated humidifer on it's lowest setting, and we have made a cover for his hose, but he still seems to get a little water just in his mask sometimes. Is there something else we can do?

Thanks for any advice. I know that he could feel so much better if he'd just use his machine. We are willing to spend a little money to help him feel better, we just want something that we know is going to work. Sorry for such a long post!

First, The only mask that will let you get your face right in the pillow(that I know of) is this one;
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/aeiome ... rface.html
It vents by the forehead, blowing the air up.

Second, If his mouth opens and he loses the pressurized air, he needs to tape, use polident strips, try a chin strap(many have trouble getting one to work), or use a full face mask. Polident strips would probably be easiest for him.

Third, He can try turning the humidifier off and using it as passover. He can try the Aussie heated hose(I love mine). You can try covering the hose on the mask that connects to the nasal pillows. If he is blocking the exhaust vent on the mask, the moisture in his breath will collect in the mask.

Brenda[/url]

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, hose, Nasal Pillows

HisServ wrote:1. He loves to sleep on his side with his face buried in his people.

And how do his people feel about this? Hmmm?




(sorry...couldn't resist!)


Seriously...since he mouth breathes occasionally, what about a full face mask?

As for the water in the mask, try turning up the heat in the room (or turn down the humidifier). Water won't condense unless the temps are different. It's the same principal as those fog free shower mirrors. If the mirror is the same temp as the water/air...no fog. It;s only when the hot moist air hits the cold mirror that it fogs up (condenses).

How about a PAPillow? This solved my nose in the pillow problem.

http://www.papillow.com/

Fixing the mouthbreathing will lessen the rainout some as the hose won't cool down as much.

If I was his people, I'd have him lose the Goatee, give him a rag to store his extra food in. It is better to treat your apnea than to be covered with hair. Jim

Another thing - some full face masks (for mouth breathing) have the air vents up near the bridge of the nose or forehead area (Ultra Mirage II) so it's less likely to get buried in bedding.

Claire wrote:How about a PAPillow? This solved my nose in the pillow problem.

http://www.papillow.com/

......................yep, the pap pillow has helped me a bunch for side sleeping.never thought i would take to it soo easy, really good snuggler. used to be a die hard stomach sleeper. anyway,that swift 11 works the best for me. the polident strips work well . i have been trying to train myself to keep pie hole shut without chinstrap or strips..it seems like the less encumbered i feel the better numbers i get. the pad a cheeks make it just that much better .have not had much luck w/ humidifier over a 1-2 setting. GOOD LUCK ! tim