Tired - Physically and figuratively

I am trying both the Quattro and the Liberty masks right now. Can't get either of them to seal all night long unless I sleep on my back all night and I can't do that. Woke up at 1:30am with the nasal pillows leaking even with Lonisoh. Tried adjusting them for about 10 minutes and gave up. Put the Quattro on and turned to my side and that damn thing started leaking....rolled to my back and was fine. I am really trying to stay positive with this whole process but I am really getting frustrated. How the hell can they give yiou the equipment and say..."here you go good luck?" I didn't have a good night last night and it has been a whirlwind at work this morning. Me - sleep + (multiple end users who ate a bowl of stupid this morning) = BAD COMBINATION!

Sorry for the frustration but I consider myself reasonably intelligent good at figuring things out on my own. This is just really pissing me off.

Pillows - the mask needs to hang over the edge. A down like pillow that can be beaten into shape or a foam one hacked into shape with a serrated bread knife. For the foam pillow hack out a curved shape to fit the mask. There are threads demonstration this.

Since I haven't used either of those masks I'll have to leave that topic to others. I just want to say that every time I see your dog I smile. Such a beautiful creature. Looks very much like one we had up till a couple years ago. Hope the mask issues resolve soon.
Kathy

Thanks. I have a memory foam pillow that i fold up on the end so that basically only from my ear back is hitting or I prop my hand under the side of my head so that it is somewhat elevated. I have a memory foam neck pillow coming (hopefully arrives today). It's basically has a channel running down the center of it. I am hoping that this is going to work better. With the Liberty the mask stays sealed but the nose pillows leak. The first night the Linosh seemed to keep them sealed but not last night....Although I just remembered that I didn't put my trick into place. I have a velcro cable tie that I used to tighten up the headgear from side to side that brought the pillows in at a different angle and kept them in there pretty good. Maybe that was my issue. Aftera a day at the zoo yesterday with my family I was exhausted and forgot to put it back on. Busy weekend and without the rest it was a struggle to get through...of course I'm just preaching to the choir....I apologize.

Kathy - Thanks. She makes me smile too. I got lucky with her.

Wow I must type either too slow or too much. I was responding to the first post and after I hit submit there were 2 more posts. I will look into the advice from each post. I appreciate it. My wife loves me but she is overwhelmed with work and I'm not getting a whole lot of support on this...plus there's not really much she can do. I don't really think she gets how this affects me though. Part of my think she thinks that now that I have the machine that I feel all better.....NOT!

Danimal, how did you fit your masks? They will feel/fit differently sitting up and lying down. It helped me a lot to find a time well before bedtime (like after work) to put on my mask, turn on the air at your highest pressure, and lay down on the bed, with your pillow, and see how things go. Roll from one side to the other, and try on your back. Adjust your mask for comfort and leaks that way, and see what happens.

Linda

danimal71 wrote:. My wife loves me but she is overwhelmed with work and I'm not getting a whole lot of support on this...plus there's not really much she can do. I don't really think she gets how this affects me though. Part of my think she thinks that now that I have the machine that I feel all better.....NOT!

Tell her it is like getting a cast on a broken leg - this first few months. It takes time after the cast is on to learn to walk with it and then for the healing to start. It might take up to a month for your mind to allow you to sleep deeply with this on your face. It is still standing "On Guard" just in case... to keep you breathing

Linda - That's exactly what I did when I got the mask. I was like a kid with a new toy when it came. I got hime from work and it was waiting for me. I came in said hi to the family and tore open the box. I put the mask together, sat down on the edge of the bed with the straps somewhat loose and put it on. I tightened them up slightly, took a quick look in the mirror (damn I looked sexy...yea right!) and then went back to the machine and turned it on (I don't use the ramp feature anymore). The mouth portion needed a slight tightening and it stopped leaking. After adjusting the nasal pillows for a minute or so they got quiet with no leaks. I laid on my back for a minute or two and then took a minute or so lying on each side. Then I even tried lying on my stomache....found that won't work (it does with the nose mask I have). I found positions I could lay in without it leaking but then again I do roll around from side to side when I am sleeping so would expect it to leak from time to time. I think if I could do a nasal mask\pillow only I would be good. I got some Afrin to help with the congestion but I am concerned that if I went with a strickly nasal only setup and I got sick what would I do then.

BlackSpinner wrote:

danimal71 wrote:. My wife loves me but she is overwhelmed with work and I'm not getting a whole lot of support on this...plus there's not really much she can do. I don't really think she gets how this affects me though. Part of my think she thinks that now that I have the machine that I feel all better.....NOT!

Tell her it is like getting a cast on a broken leg - this first few months. It takes time after the cast is on to learn to walk with it and then for the healing to start. It might take up to a month for your mind to allow you to sleep deeply with this on your face. It is still standing "On Guard" just in case... to keep you breathing

Thanks. I understand he frustration as she is a high scholl teacher and has a stressful day, brings home work, stays up late either grading papers\tests or making up tests or lesson plans....along with her home life. I try and pull my fair share of the load but as everyone here knows what it's like it's not easy when you feel this way. I feel like I'm at war right now and I'm trying not to let the lack of sleep get the best of me or be used as an excuse.

I aprpeciate evryone's input.....after looking at my first post I kind of feel like a cry baby right now. Just frustrating that's all.

danimal71 wrote:Sorry for the frustration but I consider myself reasonably intelligent good at figuring things out on my own. This is just really pissing me off.

...yea, it does just piss you off.

My suggestions:
1. Work w/your mask and sleep positions when it is
NOT bed time. Figure out where you're going and
how you're going to get there before it is sleepy-by time.
Takes alot of the frustration out of it.

2.viewtopic.php?f=1&t=56475&p=530005&hili ... m+#p530005

The Quattro is a dance w/the devil.
3.viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34880

I'm good a figuring stuff out, too.
...and it really pissed me off, too.

...but I figured it out....you will too.

Jersey Girl wrote:I use a Regenesis Buckwheat hull pillow from http://www.pur-sleep.com. It works on a similar concept as a bean bag chair. You can run your hand over the pillow and make a spot for your mask. I also tried a Contour memory foam cpap pillow. This has generous cutouts on each lower corner of the pillow for your mask. This way, less fighting with the mask to seal while you are sleeping.

Wishing you peaceful, restorative sleep,

Jersey Girl

Jersey Girl - Here's basically the pillow I am getting (it's not the Tempur-pedic brand but a medical quality brand). If it doesn't work out I will look into the pillow you recommended. I was just looking at it now while I was taking a quick break.

http://www.tempurpedic.com/Contoured-Pi ... Pillow.asp

[quote="carbonman
I'm good a figuring stuff out, too.
...and it really pissed me off, too.

...but I figured it out....you will too.[/quote]

Thanks that made me laugh and I needed a laugh this morning. I will check out those links tonight. Time to get some work done now...afterall that's what I'm getting paid for...I think.

danimal71 wrote:I don't really think she gets how this affects me though.

Nope. She doesn't and she won't, unless she's had to go through the same thing. It would be sort of like you having a period

danimal71 wrote:Part of my think she thinks that now that I have the machine that I feel all better.....NOT!

My husband was sort of the same way, it was an adjustment for him, too. It took awhile, but once he realized I was going to make this work no matter what, things got better. And it was a definite plus when I quit snoring like a buzz saw.

Linda

danimal71 wrote:I am trying both the Quattro and the Liberty masks right now.

Just wondering about any other kinds of masks. Are you are a "mouth leaker"?
If not, why not consider a nasal pillow mask (Swift LT, Swift FX are good starters). They are also much better in terms of leaking and rolling over on your side (preferred position).