New, it's not working! Help!

I've been using my new cpap system for almost 3 weeks. I have the Sleepstyle 200 machine, and the Opus nose pillows mask. It seemed to work well during my sleep study. Now I hate it... the bands move all over my head, and if I make them any tighter I'll get a headache. The nose pillows are pretty uncomfortable, and the air seems to leak out toward my mouth off and on. The entire thing also moves as I move in my sleep, so I often wake up with it out of one nostril, or my mouth is open. The last few days I've been waking up with a stuffy nose, only to end up with full blown allergies the last 2 days and not able to use the system at all. Not sure if I'm allergic to the nose pillows or how the air is going into my system. Oh, and my ears get blocked up too. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am very picky and do not want to have to use the whole face mask type one. Thanks for any help I can get.

you need to call your doctor and go to the doctor about your nose and especially your ears

you need to go back to the DME and get that full face mask you dread - ask to see the Hybrid and the Liberty too if they have it

you need to get a nasal wash set up and use it (several bottles or a neti pot all use saline you can make yourself you can find a big chain drugstore)

Well, as far as your 'allergies' goes, try turning the humidifier down, or even off, for a day or two because it often causes congestion. As far as the mask goes, either it was not fitted properly, is the wrong size, or you need to try some others (as we all have done). As for a "whole" face mask, if you're referring to the Total Face mask, very few people use or like it, but if you've been told (or suspect) that you might need a Full Face mask, that's a very different story. It's like a regular nasal mask, only a couple are the pillow type though -look on Cpap.com at the different types - that just extends downward by an inch or so to also cover your mouth, through which you may be losing lots of Cpap air when you're sleeping and unaware of it. Unfortunately, we don't get to be too picky when trying to stay alive, and if you're mouth breathing (possibly as a result of Cpap air being pumped in) then you need to deal with it, though there are other ways of doing so apart from just a full face mask. What is your prescribed pressure (I ask because of your ear complaints)? BTW, overtightening a mask can actually create tiny leaks, so I think you need to try other types of masks rather than fight with your present one.

I have used the Opus 360 mask. It sounds as if you may need a different size of nasal pillows or a different mask. After three months on the Opus 360, I just switched to Breeze nasal pillows and find it much more comfortable for sleeping on my side. The Opus 360 straps because uncomfortable for me after a while but I didn't have all the problems you describe. The nasal pillows stayed in my nose just fine, which makes me wonder if you may need a different size nasal pillows if you stick with the OPUS 360 mask.

Hello & Welcome, every_breath_i_take! Glad you found this forum—SO much useful info and everyone here is so willing to help!
You're lucky to have found this forum as you begin CPAP—took me almost year before I found this place and, with the help of folks here, got my CPAP therapy working as it should. It does take time to get everything tweaked and working at its best, so patience is key as one begins CPAP.

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

You may want to consider a nasal mask if you are having difficulty with the pillows. If that does not do the trick than the dreaded Dun Dun Dun......full face mask!

Contact your DMA ASAP as many have a time limited mask return policy.

if your mask is not cutting it for you then you need to get one that does. I have allergies and i love my activa lt but i am mouth breathing so it is not helping. I have to make a change if i am to benefit from the therapy. Monday when i go for a review I dont plan on leaving there without a new mask .