I can not use my BiPAP - no matter how hard I try

I have been through 4 different masks.  For the first one when I finally got to where I could sleep for more then 3 hours I woke up with terrible TMJ pain.  I had to have physical therapy for 6 weeks.  I then tried different masks.  My nose stuffs up and I can't breath no matter what I do.

I have not been using the machine for months.  I survive with sinus rinses that helps keep my passageway open enough to sleep a few hours (without the machine).

Problem is I have all my re-op requirements in and they called and want a 2-month printout from my machine before they will submit for my surgery.  I have spent the past two weeks trying again to use the BiPAP, but alas I can not.

Anybody have any suggestions on how to get around the insurance?

Have you tried the nasal pillows instead of the full face mask? I couldn't use the full face mask and have to have the heated base with water or it stuffs me up so bad I cannot breathe

i have allergy issues, and so I have to use something like nasonex - for a good 3 weeks then i start to get releif andthe machine works the best.

i don't know why you'd get tmj pain, the mask should not be that tight on your face.

Thing is, you will need to use your machine post op, esp in the hospital. So keep working at it.  Try wearing your mask while watching tv. Yes I know suppose to be for going to bed. I think often times we are so dang tired we don't want to bother with it.  But if you can wear it for bits and pieces here and there while waking. it becomes more normal to wear when trying to rest. Work yourself up to taking naps with it if you take a nap.

For me once I got it all working like its suppose to. I finally slept like I have never slept before.  Not nearly as drained as I was prior to the machine. I still had issue with sleeping - kept waking up - but I think preop my pressure probably wasn't where it should be. Now post op - my pressure has lowered and I sleep GOOD.. yay!

I feel your pain. I was put on CPAP and BiPAP and I couldn't tolerate them at all, no matter what mask I used. I didn't have to meet any requirements, but I spoke to my surgeon about why I couldn't use my machine and he understood. I think maybe it would help to talk to your GP or surgeon to see if you have any options.

As for not being able to tolerate your machine, you may have some other problems that are making it hard. I would maybe suggest seeing an ear, nose, and throat specialist to check for sinusitis and such. What they did for me was do an MRI of my head to look at my sinuses, where they noticed inflammation as well as a deviated septum, which was making it hard to breathe through my nose. They treated the sinusitis with steroids and the deviated septum with a minor surgery. After that, my BiPAP was definitely noticeably easier to tolerate, but I still couldn't tolerate it all night, mostly because of comfort issues. It was definitely worth the try, though.

edit: oh, and if you still have your tonsils that may be a problem, too. Mine are grossly enlarged, but my ENT wouldn't take them out for reasons I don't even remember.

Be careful. Not to scare you into it, but I had the same problem, and after 10 different masks form the doctor and 20 more form a friend who is in the business, I said the hell with it. Big mistake. I ignored it, and after 5 years got really sick, wound up in the hospital in ICU for a week, and 7 week in a rehab hospital with a trach tube becasuse all my oxgyen levels were so messed up, they were backing up na I got poisoned, and was looney toones (3 years ago christmas) I was addmitted the next day, and after a fewe days, they wanted to put  a chest tube down my throat, and I refused. I did agree to a temp trach tube, whcih they felt I only needed for 6 months, that was 3 years ago next week. SO After trying all kinds of weight loss and programs, I decide on surgury, hoping that I loos enough to open my neck up and the apnia

You need to discuss this with the company who is giving you your supplies for the bipap/cpap.... tell them the problem and they can offer different things to help... they are respitory specialists... also does your machine have water or is it a dry system?.... you may also need to do an additional sleep study WITH YOUR MACHINE and get a titrate test. If you have a sleep study demand they use your machine that way it is definetly working for you. I switch back and fourth from nasel pillows to the over nose system.... i get facial rashes.. and have recently went to a smaller nose system and love it... it is a newer type.

Well here I am again.  I went to a new sleep doctor at Vanderbilt.  She said try a new DME and some different masks.  I have done that.  I am on my second mask from them.  Still have the problem with my nose.   Switched from BiPAP to CPAP. Still can't make it through the night with a mask on.  The pressure in my nose and head is unbearable.  Stuffy nose prevents me from breathing and I get a terrible headache.

I know I am not thinking straight from lack of deep sleep.  I really don't know what to do.  And the thought that every night I don't make it with the mask and machine I am still two months out from surgery.  I am pretty misable.

Thank you to those *****sponded.

I agree with going to see an ENT, mine also sent me to an allergist. Still in the process of getting testing and all done. But the meds the ENT gave me do help. If you cant get to an ENT right away I do have a suggestion that you can get over the counter, its Vicks Nasonex nasal spray. It really helps to open you up! I have to be off all my antihistamines for the allergy testing soon but the Vicks is a decongestant and man it really helps.
 

As far as difficulty with TMJ try the Activa LT mask made by Resmed. Be sure to wear the top straps and adjust the dial so it fits securely, but wear the lower straps loose, this mask works well for patients with TMJ. You do need to "learn" this mask, but as a clinician and a CPAP user this is definitely a great mask and the one I wear nightly.  As far as the congestion, I think you  will find it is mostly about getting the humidifer setting correct. You do have to adjust the humidity setting frequently with weather changes and furnace use. If your sinuses are giving you trouble try adjusting it. The sinus rinse is an excellent idea and does best if you use it daily to help keep your sinus cavity clean and free of irritants , it does not help sleep apnea.