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I have really bad apnea and think about the person I was pre-cpap treatment and am grateful to have the problem fixed. I have tried a bunch of masks--I think I'm on number 9-but the difference in my quality of life is amazing.

MrRandom, the eye doctor will have some suggestions if the air is coming through the tear ducts or mask leakage. There is a prescription drop for dry eyes, Restasis. Talk about expensive! Then there are anti-inflammatory drops too, to get you some fast relief. If you use the ointment at night (can't use it during the day because it is smeary), be sure to put it on your tear ducts at the corners of your eyes by your nose. There are also lid scrubs to wash the eyes. Yes, this is all pretty expensive. There is also a treatment where the doctor can put plugs in the tear ducts. Scary!

There are medical conditions which cause dry eyes as well, and you can have reactions to medications. For example, diabetics can have dry eyes, and the stomach medications (the purple pill family) can cause it - particularly in diabetics. Your doctor may be able to help you discover that.

You may not have had dry eyes before to the extent that you do now, but you may have had mildly dry eyes and not really noticed it. CPAP just made things worse.

You can't really stop the CPAP because it affects all your organs not to have oxygen. Your eyes won't do you much good if your heart stops beating.

If you want some sympathy, send me a PM. I suffer with this as well. I was very dismayed to have the tear duct problem. Look in the eye treatment section at your local drug store. There are lots of products, and from that you can guess that you are not alone. People who have lasik surgery often have dry eyes too, especially right after the surgery.

JeffH wrote: Try not having insurance at all and paying for EVERYTHING out of your pocket. When that's the case you get pretty active getting your mask to fit right.....I know, I did.

Tried the ointment that I recommended for your eyes yet?

If I didn't have the insurance I wouldn't get any treatment at all. I would never have been able to walk in the door of the sleep center, let alone get a machine and mask. But since my ins is not paying for another one and the DME won't give me anymore, and my eyes are being destroyed I have tried everything I can think of to fix the problem.

Yes I have tried eye ointment. I have tried masks, goggles, and even making my own mask. I have tried bandaids and tape and silicone putty. And four different masks, two of which I bought myself from the auction site.

This is just a thought and might not help you.

When I developed a reaction to the silicone in my full face mask and I developed a nasty rash where the silicone seal made contact with my face I went to the doctor and asked what I could do. She recommended that I try a different mask and alternate them. I called the insurance and they said if I had a script that stated that it was a medical necessity they would pay for it. I was able to get another complete mask before I was due for another mask.

Of course, I imagine that the insurance won't cover multiple masks on a regular basis. I have you tried you local sleep lab and told them the problem?

MrRandom wrote:

JeffH wrote: Try not having insurance at all and paying for EVERYTHING out of your pocket. When that's the case you get pretty active getting your mask to fit right.....I know, I did.

Tried the ointment that I recommended for your eyes yet?

If I didn't have the insurance I wouldn't get any treatment at all. I would never have been able to walk in the door of the sleep center, let alone get a machine and mask. But since my ins is not paying for another one and the DME won't give me anymore, and my eyes are being destroyed I have tried everything I can think of to fix the problem.

Yes I have tried eye ointment. I have tried masks, goggles, and even making my own mask. I have tried bandaids and tape and silicone putty. And four different masks, two of which I bought myself from the auction site.

> If I didn't have the insurance I wouldn't get any treatment at all.

Who is your insurance company? Is your plan an HMO? Do you have a co-pay for DME? Are you limited to a specific DME or do you have a choice?

What -- exactly -- does your plan say about DME benefits? Call your insurance company and ask them. And at that time tell them you want them to mail you a hardcopy of your benefits.

Be prepared that the CSR may not know much. (That's why you want them to mail it.) Ask them what "DME" stands for. That tells you immediately if they have the training and experience to be helpful to you.

> the DME won't give me anymore

Who is the DME? DMEs are _often_ wrong, intentionally or unintentionally, about what they are required to do for a partucular insurance plan.

This all starts with knowing exactly what your insurance says is allowable, specifically in the area of DME benefits.