adjusting to CPAP
I'm sorry that your office didn't fit you with more than one mask. I suggest getting back in touch with them or getting a referral to an outside distributor who has more masks to try. There are so many out there and with a little effort you can find one that you find more comfortable.
Here's what I found along my nearly two year journey with a cpap:
- The "swift" mask - nasal pillows (fits into your nose kinda like getting oxygen and rests on your upper lip) comes in S, M and L pillows to try. Pro's: It was comfortable, lightweight and didn't make me feel claustraphobic. Cons: Sometimes my upper lip was irritated in the morning, not good for mouth breathers (I had to wear a chip strap if i noticed I was doing that).
- the "liberty" mask - fits over your mouth with the nasal pillow top. This one is THE BEST. I wished I had had it all along. I could mouth breath to my hearts content and it didn't matter. Pro's: Comfortable, good for mouth breathers Con's: I had to keep it relatively tight so there were no leaks, sometimes this would cause me to have a pink ring around my mouth when I first woke up and a little tenderness.
- They make fabric tubes/covers to go over your hose - this can cut down on any noise when you shift at night (especially if you are threading it through your headboard)
- humidifier - if your machine has this feature, play around with the setting. I found I was not dry and much more comfortable sleeping with a high humidity level. I kept my setting at 4 out of 5.
- if you do use the humidifier, remember to use only distilled water.
- you can clean your humidifier water chamber with straight vinegar to keep it disinfected. I suggest washing your chamber out and hoses out at a minimum of every couple of weeks, never waiting longer than a month - otherwise they get kinda gunky from the moisture residue buildup. Just think about it this way - this air is going directly into your nose and mouth - you don't want any mildue or moldies aggravating alergies
- there is a cpap pillow available. Pro: It is an odd shaped firm pillow that is great for side sleepers (which can be challenging when you have your snorkel strapped to your face!). Con: $60 price tag
- they now sell aromatherapy pots with soothing scents. If you are into aromatherapy, you can simulate this for MUCH cheaper by setting a scented votive candle behind the intake filter of your machine. You'll smell it as you sleep and get the same effect as the more expensive pots. :)
I hope you can continue to tweak it and make the cpap experience more enjoyable. Oh and one more thing. I remember that I was SO dissapointed that I didn't feel better immediately. I felt like "why am I wearing this damn contraption if I'm not going to feel better". For me it was a gradual change and then maybe 4-6months down the road I realized that I was sleeping the whole night, no longer fatigued and no longer had my migranes - Halleluia! :)
Here's what I found along my nearly two year journey with a cpap:
- The "swift" mask - nasal pillows (fits into your nose kinda like getting oxygen and rests on your upper lip) comes in S, M and L pillows to try. Pro's: It was comfortable, lightweight and didn't make me feel claustraphobic. Cons: Sometimes my upper lip was irritated in the morning, not good for mouth breathers (I had to wear a chip strap if i noticed I was doing that).
- the "liberty" mask - fits over your mouth with the nasal pillow top. This one is THE BEST. I wished I had had it all along. I could mouth breath to my hearts content and it didn't matter. Pro's: Comfortable, good for mouth breathers Con's: I had to keep it relatively tight so there were no leaks, sometimes this would cause me to have a pink ring around my mouth when I first woke up and a little tenderness.
- They make fabric tubes/covers to go over your hose - this can cut down on any noise when you shift at night (especially if you are threading it through your headboard)
- humidifier - if your machine has this feature, play around with the setting. I found I was not dry and much more comfortable sleeping with a high humidity level. I kept my setting at 4 out of 5.
- if you do use the humidifier, remember to use only distilled water.
- you can clean your humidifier water chamber with straight vinegar to keep it disinfected. I suggest washing your chamber out and hoses out at a minimum of every couple of weeks, never waiting longer than a month - otherwise they get kinda gunky from the moisture residue buildup. Just think about it this way - this air is going directly into your nose and mouth - you don't want any mildue or moldies aggravating alergies
- there is a cpap pillow available. Pro: It is an odd shaped firm pillow that is great for side sleepers (which can be challenging when you have your snorkel strapped to your face!). Con: $60 price tag
- they now sell aromatherapy pots with soothing scents. If you are into aromatherapy, you can simulate this for MUCH cheaper by setting a scented votive candle behind the intake filter of your machine. You'll smell it as you sleep and get the same effect as the more expensive pots. :)
I hope you can continue to tweak it and make the cpap experience more enjoyable. Oh and one more thing. I remember that I was SO dissapointed that I didn't feel better immediately. I felt like "why am I wearing this damn contraption if I'm not going to feel better". For me it was a gradual change and then maybe 4-6months down the road I realized that I was sleeping the whole night, no longer fatigued and no longer had my migranes - Halleluia! :)
369/175/136
Highest Weight/Goal/Current Weight
233lbs LOST!!
Maintenance going strong!
Amanda
Are you seeing Dr Raphaelson? I had a difficult time on the 1st sleep test. Long story but I did not tolerate the mask at all... I am trying again on Sat night at a the Annandale office.. We are trying Bipap, Ambien & I will be trying different masks. Definately do not recommend the Springfield office for testing.
Some one mentioned that these pillow masks are worse than just the regular full mask... Interested in what others prefer.
Good Luck Hang in there.
I don't know if you saw my long winded response above? LOL but to summarize - here are the two masks I had the best luck with:
- The "swift" mask - nasal pillows (fits into your nose kinda like getting oxygen and rests on your upper lip) comes in S, M and L pillows to try. Pro's: It was comfortable, lightweight and didn't make me feel claustraphobic. Cons: Sometimes my upper lip was irritated in the morning, not good for mouth breathers (I had to wear a chip strap if i noticed I was doing that).
- the "liberty" mask - fits over your mouth with the nasal pillow top. This one is THE BEST. I wished I had had it all along. I could mouth breath to my hearts content and it didn't matter. Pro's: Comfortable, good for mouth breathers Con's: I had to keep it relatively tight so there were no leaks, sometimes this would cause me to have a pink ring around my mouth when I first woke up and a little tenderness.
- The "swift" mask - nasal pillows (fits into your nose kinda like getting oxygen and rests on your upper lip) comes in S, M and L pillows to try. Pro's: It was comfortable, lightweight and didn't make me feel claustraphobic. Cons: Sometimes my upper lip was irritated in the morning, not good for mouth breathers (I had to wear a chip strap if i noticed I was doing that).
- the "liberty" mask - fits over your mouth with the nasal pillow top. This one is THE BEST. I wished I had had it all along. I could mouth breath to my hearts content and it didn't matter. Pro's: Comfortable, good for mouth breathers Con's: I had to keep it relatively tight so there were no leaks, sometimes this would cause me to have a pink ring around my mouth when I first woke up and a little tenderness.
369/175/136
Highest Weight/Goal/Current Weight
233lbs LOST!!
Maintenance going strong!
Lauren
Thanks so much for the suggestions. I sleep with my nose closed. Apparently there are several kinds of pillow masks.... I did try one. Yep clostrophobic! I hate any on my face All of you have given me some great suggestions. Hopefully I will better prepared for this next sleep study .. Thanks again
Thanks so much for the suggestions. I sleep with my nose closed. Apparently there are several kinds of pillow masks.... I did try one. Yep clostrophobic! I hate any on my face All of you have given me some great suggestions. Hopefully I will better prepared for this next sleep study .. Thanks again
Most Active
Recent Topics
