LUUUKE, I am your....

Hi all, Had my test last Sunday and the tech said I had continuous apneas -- I'll have to get a CPAP machine. I wore a mask the second half of the night (he didn't laugh when I said with strained & heavy breathing..."LUUUKE, I am your father...." but I thought it was funny!) and was very claustrophobi****ep hearing about nasal pillows. What are they and do you think they might be a better option for those of us who want to rip the mask off like it's smothering us to death!? Would welcome advice, thanks. Shannon

I think it was very funny... I never had mask but only the nasal pillows for past 2 years. I like them very much... just a little adjusting to do, but I'm sure that would be with the full mask as well. Perhaps you can get somewhere were you can just try them out ... Good look!!! Rhonda

Hi Rhonda, Can you tell me how the pillows work? I just can't picture them. In your nose? Under your nose? They sound very odd... do they come with sleep numbers? Quilting? All joking aside, I really don't have any idea what they are. Thanks. Shannon

when I first got my mask I could hardly breathe with it. I too was claustrophoboc with it.Trust me- u will get used to it. Now I cant even sleep without it

Hi, I just wanted to say that I have had sleep apnea for 4 years now. I have tried many mask and a few nasal pillows. I just recently got a new nasal pillow set up and I think it is great! It doesn't get near your eyes (you can read, watch tv, and no air leaking in your eyes) and it doesn't get near your ears (so you can wear earrings to bed without worrying about them catching). Here is a link if you want to check it out. http://resmed.com/portal/site/ResMedUS/?vgnCId=50d9020949b7bf00VgnVCMServerc60210acRCRD&vgnChId=bb6a4ace9397df00VgnVCMServerc60210ac____&epi_menuItemID=a66a372c8a0dcb76796046c06c2001ca&vgnReset=1&vgnPNum=null

I'm brand new to my CPAP machine, and am having a hard time getting used to the masks and nasal pillows I brought home from the sleep center. My question is, how do you go about trying all the different available mask types? I was told insurance would only pay for one new mask per six month period. Do you self-pay? Approximately how $$ are these things? I was lucky - the sleep center tried both a mask in two sizes (small and medium-small), and nasal pillows in the two sizes as well. Since I got the machine a couple of weeks ago, I've been changing sizes and types every couple of nights - and have yet to find one that doesn't leak and feels comfortable. Beth

Usually they have a service tech to fit you. But most of my experience has been from researching on the internet and paying for a few of the masks myself because I was looking for something comfortable. It's either that or wait every six months. The prices are outrageous, at least in my opinion. Google on CPAP and you can get some idea of different mask/pillows and prices. Both the mask and nasal pillow take some adjustment. If tightened too loose or too tight they will leak. They are very sensitive to face mositure and the way you sleep also. Good luck with finding the right one.

Replying to this old thread - I told my wife that she would be sleeping next to "Darth Charlie" - she laughed. Heck, my wife is about a geeky as I am (and I'm a mondo geek) Actually, the more I see of the masks, Luke in the Bacta tank http://www.maarasuniverse.com/luke2/lukeinbacta1.jpeg