New to CPAP

Hello to all, Im new to this cpap thing and Im currently waiting on my machine to arrive. I do not like those bulky masks, they freak me out and I dont like my faces being covered with those things. Anyone have any recommandation to this issue? please help...

The smaller the mask the better. Thanks......J

Well, cpap and masks go together like love and marriage. You can't have one without the other (as Frank said). Which mask? what machine?
You'll have to give us more information. Why don't you fill out your profile? Come on in, sit down and stay awhile. Anyway, welcome to the forum. Where you from? It's trying to snow here in the mountains of Virginia. I hope it does.
Cheers,
Jay

Hey Thanks Jay for replying so quick. I here ya bro...Im not sure which machine as yet, its being ordered by my doctor and Im expecting to hear from the med company thats going to deliver it to schedule the full orientation to everything. Will provide info as soon as I get them. Im from SW Florida, but Im currently in Dalton, Ga...Im a Truck Driver, its approx 30 degrees here. I dont like snow too much...I prefer to be warm.

There are quite a few masks that are not bulky - like the NAII, the Swift, the Headrest/Aura, the Breeze... look at these options on cpap.com: Nasal Pillows and Nasal Prongs.

You might find that you're a mouth breather, and for that a full face might be a better option. In that case you can also try the Hybrid or the Liberty - they are a bit less bulkier than the traditional full face masks and also work with the nasal pillows/prongs concept.

There are MANY choices in masks (and many modifications that can be made to these masks), so don't worry that you will be stuck with some huge mask that hangs off your face.

Why don't you register and join us? When you get your eqipment you can fill in your profile. Registering will also allow you to send PM's (private messages) to people.

While you're waiting, you can also do some reading - just go to the "Our wisom" at the top, below the yellow light bulb. Or start here. Welcome!

Yeah, I have a daughter in Riverdale (just below Atlanta), and I laugh at the tales she tells me about those atlantans. If they see a snowflake, they put a sign in the window of their shops - closed until further notice. And, they can't drive if it snows. I know, I visit there a couple of times a year. You truck drivers probably get very frustrated with them. If you drive in Atlanta, you take your life into your hands. I just pray and stay very far in the right lane.
Keep us informed.
Jay

Ur right about the snow thing Jay...However, I dont let them fustrates me. I try to always be in control

Hey, thanks everyone for the warm welcome i get here as new victim to cpap...I really appreciate it. And, yes I will join and setup my profile.

Thank you all

I just wanted to say that, in the beginning (all of four months ago!) I had the same feelings about full face masks as you express. But since I'm a mouthbreather, I have learned to use a full face. I just kept telling myself that once I was asleep, my eyes wouldn't see the thing and I wouldn't be aware of the thing. Now I really like my F&P 432 and wouldn't trade it for anything else.... You may find that you'll do fine with a full face mask, if you end up needing one.

And a 2nd welcome to the forum , "officially"

p.s. check out the CPAP humor section under "Our Forum".. I think it should be mandatory reading for all newbies. It will give you a nice humorous slant on being a "CPAP victim".

echo wrote:p.s. check out the CPAP humor section under "Our Forum".. I think it should be mandatory reading for all newbies. It will give you a nice humorous slant on being a "CPAP victim".

I agree that it is very important to keep a sense of humor about all of this, as echo says. And it is even more important, IMO, to NOT view yourself as a "victim to CPAP," or you will likely hold onto that negative attitude and sabotage your treatment. I urge you to reframe your thinking of this as an incredible opportunity to save your life and to forget that victim stuff! Your attitude toward your treatment has everything in the world to do with how successful you will be with it.

Talk of freaking out - when I started out, I felt ill just looking at pictures of nasal pillows masks. I thought, no way, no way, I'm going to use a nasal pillows mask. But those turn out to be my favorites, they give me the best therapy.

At least part of our freak out response is our unconscious response to being literally choked at night - and the primitive part of our brain waking us up each time to keep our oxygen level high enough. Our primitive brain is by now well trained to be wary of any hint of something about to disturb our breathing - and stuff on our face becomes a major danger signal.

So, the freak out response is to be expected. The primitive part of you brain is not too good at long term thinking, especially when it thinks there's an emergency, and you're not listening. So start educating it now, when there's no emergency.
Two things you can start telling yourself now:

1. The pictures don't show you that there's air blowing in through those masks.
2. That mask is there to help you breathe - that mask and the air coming in through in it are there to take care of the choking - because you are finally aware of it.
   Do that before you put on your mask - any mask. Hold it in your hand and tell yourself: this is here to help be breathe when I'm choking at night, put it on only after you've reminded yourself of the fact.
   
   Welcome to the board, and good luck.
   O.