cpap/mask problems
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From: George on 20 Dec 2005 09:17 I have OSA and have been using a cpap machine for a little over a year. I was originally fitted with a breeze nasal pillows system and after a period of about 4 or 5 months, began suffering from dry mouth. I added a heated humidifier and found that this helped little. Turns out that when I get into a deep sleep, my jaw relaxes and pressurized air from the cpap goes out my mouth. I went back to the health supply store and worked with them to find a full face mask. I went through several. The first (unfortunately, I don't remember what brand it was or style) fit under my chin. I thought this to be a good idea, as it would help keep my jaw closed. Although I gave the mask a good month of use, I had two problems with it. First, air would leak out along the lower sides of the mask along my cheeks. This usually happened, again, in deep sleep when my jaw relaxes. The whistling would wake me, and I would jettison the mask. The second problem was the impact of the mask on the bridge of my nose. I looked like I didn't make out so well in bar-room brawls, despite use of bandaids and other ways to reduce the impact of the mask on my nose. After the month of use, and trying both large and medium-size masks, I tried the ResMEd Ultra Mirage. I have had this mask for about 4 months, and am having only slightly better luck with it than the previous one - while this mask is easier on the bridge of my nose (which finally toughened up some too), I am still plagued by leaking around my cheeks when my jaw relaxes. I have tried cynching down on the mask, and tried refitting the mask after the cpap has ramped up to pressure both to no avail. I also find that using either the mask or my aging Breeze, that I occasionally end up with a stomach full of air during the night, and/or drool like crazy (both of which I don't do without the cpap). I am not overweight - in fact, I am well within my suggested weight. At this point, I am not getting a good night's sleep. My wife is suggesting another sleep study, I'm thinking in my frustration that cpap therapy may not be right for me, even if I could find the right mask. Anyone have suggestions? Thanks! George
From: Harlan Lachman on 20 Dec 2005 16:51 In article <InUpf.5453$Ml4.4929(a)southeast.rr.com>, "George" <gbernstein(a)nc.rr.com> wrote: > I have OSA and have been using a cpap machine for a little over a year. I > was originally fitted with a breeze nasal pillows system and after a period > of about 4 or 5 months, began suffering from dry mouth. I added a heated > humidifier and found that this helped little. Turns out that when I get into > a deep sleep, my jaw relaxes and pressurized air from the cpap goes out my > mouth. I went back to the health supply store and worked with them to find a > full face mask. I went through several. The first (unfortunately, I don't > remember what brand it was or style) fit under my chin. I thought this to be > a good idea, as it would help keep my jaw closed. Although I gave the mask a > good month of use, I had two problems with it. First, air would leak out > along the lower sides of the mask along my cheeks. This usually happened, > again, in deep sleep when my jaw relaxes. The whistling would wake me, and I > would jettison the mask. The second problem was the impact of the mask on > the bridge of my nose. I looked like I didn't make out so well in bar-room > brawls, despite use of bandaids and other ways to reduce the impact of the > mask on my nose. > > After the month of use, and trying both large and medium-size masks, I tried > the ResMEd Ultra Mirage. I have had this mask for about 4 months, and am > having only slightly better luck with it than the previous one - while this > mask is easier on the bridge of my nose (which finally toughened up some > too), I am still plagued by leaking around my cheeks when my jaw relaxes. I > have tried cynching down on the mask, and tried refitting the mask after the > cpap has ramped up to pressure both to no avail. I also find that using > either the mask or my aging Breeze, that I occasionally end up with a > stomach full of air during the night, and/or drool like crazy (both of which > I don't do without the cpap). I am not overweight - in fact, I am well > within my suggested weight. > > At this point, I am not getting a good night's sleep. My wife is suggesting > another sleep study, I'm thinking in my frustration that cpap therapy may > not be right for me, even if I could find the right mask. Anyone have > suggestions? > > Thanks! > George George, if you have been communicating with your sleep doctor through all of this, you are being underserved. If you have not communicated with your sleep doctor, I recommend you reconnect. It sounds like to me, that you are a good candidate for a Chin Strap or a Full Face Mask (FFM) that seals great and doesn't leak. No one in our AWAKE group stands unequivocally behind their FFM. We have gotten a lot of product samples and have yet to find one that works for even half our members (though there are rumors of a FFM customized for one's face by Hans Rudolph using a photographic and custom fabrication system and a ResMed FFM using the active seal technology that makes their Mirage Activa a leak proof mask. CPAP works. Having the right products helps. FWIW, i recommend you consider trying a ResMed Mirage Activa nasal mask for a leak proof mask and try a chin strap (I recommend Tiara medical systems Topaz adjustable). Leaks will disappear and your mouth breathing will be lessened. Pillow systems will also work (I have had some luck with Tiara Medical System's Snapp (despite having irregularly shaped nares) and members in our group who are not side sleepers have liked ResMed's Swift, and I have seen too many happy users of the Adams Circuit and Conjo headgear not to be impressed). Good luck. The products that have been added in just the past two years convince me that in less than a year there will be even better solutions for us. harlan -- To respond, obviously drop the "nospan"?
From: tttopaz on 20 Dec 2005 23:46 Harlan Lachman wrote: > >> > It sounds like to me, that you are a good candidate for a Chin Strap or > > CPAP works. Having the right products helps. FWIW, i recommend you > consider trying a ResMed Mirage Activa nasal mask for a leak proof mask > and try a chin strap (I recommend Tiara medical systems Topaz > adjustable). Leaks will disappear and your mouth breathing will be > lessened. > > > harlan > I just purchased the Topaz adjustable chin strap after discussing chin straps on this forum. I will try to post my follow up comments next week. In short, though, I think a chin strap would be worth a try. Don't waste your time on the cheap ones. My respiratory therapist gave me a very basic one that was far inferior to the Topaz. (I may be a bit biased because I once had a much cherished, tortoiseshell cat named Topaz.)
From: eric pearson on 22 Dec 2005 18:32
Sounds like Breeze + chinstrap is next logical thing to try. On Tue, 20 Dec 2005 14:17:12 GMT, "George" <gbernstein(a)nc.rr.com> wrote: >I have OSA and have been using a cpap machine for a little over a year. I >was originally fitted with a breeze nasal pillows system and after a period >of about 4 or 5 months, began suffering from dry mouth. I added a heated >humidifier and found that this helped little. Turns out that when I get into >a deep sleep, my jaw relaxes and pressurized air from the cpap goes out my >mouth. I went back to the health supply store and worked with them to find a >full face mask. I went through several. The first (unfortunately, I don't >remember what brand it was or style) fit under my chin. I thought this to be >a good idea, as it would help keep my jaw closed. Although I gave the mask a >good month of use, I had two problems with it. First, air would leak out >along the lower sides of the mask along my cheeks. This usually happened, >again, in deep sleep when my jaw relaxes. The whistling would wake me, and I >would jettison the mask. The second problem was the impact of the mask on >the bridge of my nose. I looked like I didn't make out so well in bar-room >brawls, despite use of bandaids and other ways to reduce the impact of the >mask on my nose. > >After the month of use, and trying both large and medium-size masks, I tried >the ResMEd Ultra Mirage. I have had this mask for about 4 months, and am >having only slightly better luck with it than the previous one - while this >mask is easier on the bridge of my nose (which finally toughened up some >too), I am still plagued by leaking around my cheeks when my jaw relaxes. I >have tried cynching down on the mask, and tried refitting the mask after the >cpap has ramped up to pressure both to no avail. I also find that using >either the mask or my aging Breeze, that I occasionally end up with a >stomach full of air during the night, and/or drool like crazy (both of which >I don't do without the cpap). I am not overweight - in fact, I am well >within my suggested weight. > >At this point, I am not getting a good night's sleep. My wife is suggesting >another sleep study, I'm thinking in my frustration that cpap therapy may >not be right for me, even if I could find the right mask. Anyone have >suggestions? > >Thanks! >George > > regards, eric pearson nonono.ericp1.nonono(a)nonono.fuse.net |