Lots of issues. Please help

fleurenfant · Post by **fleurenfant** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:35 am

My friend went to a sleep specialist, had a sleep study done and had the tech come with the CPAP. He did everything he was told to do but now he is struggling to find the right mask and there doesn't seem to be anyone around to help. Shouldn't the techs check up on him and see if he needs any help or advice. This is a serious condition that can cause all sorts of life-threating illnesses and it seems to me that they are letting him just fly by the seat of his pants. He wakes up every morning either in pain, or sweating or with the mask on his chest. Please help if you have any suggestions. thanks

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apneaicinisrael · Post by **apneaicinisrael** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:44 am

Well you have come to the right place. First of all, your friend has been diagnosed and knows that he needs the CPAP, and that is a huge step. Getting the right mask is sometimes a challenge. This forum is a HUGE help in that area!

Write more about the results of his study, including what pressures they set his machine at, and what machine he was given, and what mask he has been trying. Tell us also if he is a mouth breather, has a beard, etc.

Soon you'll find you have lots of options to try out...

Good luck, AII

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:52 am

Shouldn't the techs check up on him and see if he needs any help or advice

Most techs haven't been sleeping with the equipment every night. Many of us here have - sometime after many struggles.

Have your friend come here to read things, as AII said, give us more details, someone might have tips that will help him.

O.

fleurenfant · Post by **fleurenfant** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 6:05 pm

Thank you so much for getting back to me. He had 175 apnea episodes throughout the night. He sleeps on his back with his mouth closed. He doesn't have a beard. The only problem is getting the right fit with the mask, the red marks that they leave on his face all day and getting the nasal pillows to stop causing so much discomfort. Thanks for all your help. Let me know if you need more information. THANKS!!

Moogy · Post by **Moogy** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 6:25 pm

The red marks might mean his mask is too tight. Or he can try padacheeks, which have eliminated marks for many users (http://www.padacheek.com).

It is also possible that he would do better with another mask. Many of us have tried two or three or more masks before we find one that is the best fit. If he got his cpap recently, the provider that furnished his cpap and mask might be willing to trade him for another that works better for him. Or he might want to just pay for it himself.

Which type of nasal pillow does he have? Many cpap users find these masks work well for them, if they get them adjusted correctly. The adjustment on the Swift, for example, involves the size of the pillows used and the rotation of the barrel. These are more helpful adjustments than over-tightening of the headgear.

Thanks for helping out your friend.

Moogy

apneaicinisrael · Post by **apneaicinisrael** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 1:38 am

Hi,

That info helps, but need some more -- what pressure is he set at, what machine does he have, and names of masks and pillows that he has tried. Then we can rock...

AII

fleurenfant · Post by **fleurenfant** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:15 pm

Thank you so much. I will get all of that information from him when I see him.

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Mon Jun 12, 2006 5:36 pm

It might be better if you sent him here, so he can do the dialog himself. You sound like a great friend, but it's best, i think, to avoid the possibility of stuff getting lost in translation. Send him over!

Caroline

Mask

Additional Comments: Large mask collection