Full face mask a disadvantage?

Is your congestion better if you sleep propped up a little? I have asthma, so when my allergies are really bad, or I get a bad cold, I cannot sleep lying down. This has been for many years, so before using a cpap machine. I have a thick, sturdy back support thing that enables me to sleep sitting up. It isn't as comfortable as my normal sleep. But it does allow me to sleep and breathe without too much congestion. I haven't had to do it since starting cpap, but I haven't had really bad congestion yet.

If this might work for you, then you could use the easier mask. The one I have is similar to this, but without the extra stuff. It is stiffer than the pillow type and a bit taller to give some head support. The thicker arm rests also help me stay upright longer.

zoocrewphoto wrote:Is your congestion better if you sleep propped up a little? I have asthma, so when my allergies are really bad, or I get a bad cold, I cannot sleep lying down. This has been for many years, so before using a cpap machine. I have a thick, sturdy back support thing that enables me to sleep sitting up. It isn't as comfortable as my normal sleep. But it does allow me to sleep and breathe without too much congestion. I haven't had to do it since starting cpap, but I haven't had really bad congestion yet.

If this might work for you, then you could use the easier mask. The one I have is similar to this, but without the extra stuff. It is stiffer than the pillow type and a bit taller to give some head support. The thicker arm rests also help me stay upright longer.

Hi Zoocrew,

I haven't recently tried propping my head up with pillows because I found it uncomfortable. But that was with a full face mask so let me see what happens with the Swift. Thanks for the suggestion:)

If that doesn't work, I have greatly considered getting a wedge pillow that is slightly elevated I could return if it didn't work out to see if that would help. I know the options for return are limited but they do exist.

I don't think sleeping upright would be comfortable. I tried a wedge pillow that had the same effect and I hated it.

But you have given me some more things to think about and I really appreciate that.

49er

49er wrote:
Unless I wear a neck collar, I am unable to get the AHI below 5 no matter what pressure I use. This has happened with several full face masks. Needless to say, this does not make for very comfortable sleep.

When you say it is uncomfortable, it is unclear to me whether you mean this is because your AHI is high or you are wearing a spinal collar.

If you are telling people that wearing a spinal collar while sleeping is uncomfortable, I would like to tell them that I wear a spinal collar during all my sleeping and I don't even notice it. I have been wearing it for a couple of years.

I wonder if you have something wrong like overtightening, using the wrong size or using a rigid neck collar instead of a soft spinal collar?

The Choker wrote:

49er wrote:
Unless I wear a neck collar, I am unable to get the AHI below 5 no matter what pressure I use. This has happened with several full face masks. Needless to say, this does not make for very comfortable sleep.

When you say it is uncomfortable, it is unclear to me whether you mean this is because your AHI is high or you are wearing a spinal collar.

If you are telling people that wearing a spinal collar while sleeping is uncomfortable, I would like to tell them that I wear a spinal collar during all my sleeping and I don't even notice it. I have been wearing it for a couple of years.

I wonder if you have something wrong like overtightening, using the wrong size or using a rigid neck collar instead of a soft spinal collar?

Hi Choker,

As I am sure you are well aware, everybody's experience is different regarding what is comfortable vs. what isn't. Both of us are right about the neck collar:)

Mine is soft and definitely the right size. I just like having as few things as possible on my face and neck and the Swift FX qualifies. Unfortunately, my sinuses don't agree:) but hopefully, that may change with Zoo Crew's suggestions.

49er

Wimp.

What do you expect from a guy who whines because Amaz

Oh, never mind!

CG and Choker,

You're really showing your class as you wait for the perfect opportunity to flame and insult someone. Good job

49er

If it is any consolation, I don't know whether I could tolerate a collar.

I wear a foam collar all night also. It's the only way I can keep my mouth shut, but plus I have to wear a chinstrap too, and plus a mouthpiece! If I don't use strap and collar, more often than not I wake up having had my mouth drop open for a percentage of the night. This ALWAYS leads to a next bad day. And I'm sooo tired of that happening that I will continue to use both. I don't have any problem with comfort, I have a tremendous problem with feeling crappy.

sylvie wrote:I wear a foam collar all night also. It's the only way I can keep my mouth shut, but plus I have to wear a chinstrap too, and plus a mouthpiece! If I don't use strap and collar, more often than not I wake up having had my mouth drop open for a percentage of the night. This ALWAYS leads to a next bad day. And I'm sooo tired of that happening that I will continue to use both. I don't have any problem with comfort, I have a tremendous problem with feeling crappy.

I totally understand Sylvie and kudos to you for doing what you do to get a good night's rest. I think you win the award for wearing the most items to bed:)

Just to clarify what I said previously, I am so tired when I go to sleep that in spite of the discomfort from the neck collar, I fall asleep very quickly. But when I wake up prematurely, I absolutely hate having it on.

But after all is said and done, if wearing a neck collar with a full face mask seems to be my best option, than that is what I will have to wear. I just feel that since comfort is such a big issue in being able stay sleep on the machine, I need to explore alternatives to ff masks. Perhaps even though I am falling asleep quickly, the discomfort could be waking me up. Or it could be something else, who knows?

To be continued.

49er

49er wrote: think you win the award for wearing the most items to bed:)

I think you're right. But like I say, I am a desperate woman.