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3 MONTHS IN AND STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH COMPLIANCE.
#11
RE: 3 MONTHS IN AND STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH COMPLIANCE.
(08-08-2015, 12:00 PM)Adoniscmj Wrote: The funny thing is it just started happening. I have gone months with it being normal but now puffs of air, super annoying. I also have noticed that my time spent on my machine has gone down steadily. Last night I was only able to get 28 minutes in. I don't even remember why I took the mask off.

have you changed your pillows and other supplies and/or washed them? have you washed your face before going to sleep? Don't know if this is the problem but it is worth asking you since you said it just started.
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#12
RE: 3 MONTHS IN AND STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH COMPLIANCE.
Oh yes, I have a 6 month supply of replacement pillows for the mask. I wash the tube once per week. I still don't know why I am taking it off at night, I can't remember anything. I am usually in a daze when it happens. I seem to have heart fib problems that go away if I am on my CPAP for at least 3.5 hours. I really feel good if I get at least 3 hours or more in but lately this has been a problem.
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#13
RE: 3 MONTHS IN AND STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH COMPLIANCE.
Sounds like you need to use a full face mask.
You will need to be persistent though so you can desensitize yourself to it.
*spend a couple weeks wearing it during waking hours starting with a 5 minutes and work up until
you can keep it on. Then you can try sleeping with it. You need to MAKE it work! *

Your current problem is from mouth leaks and that means losing pressure which is doubly bad.
Your venting off air through your mouth which wakes you up and the pressure loss makes your OSA return.
Taking your mask off insures that your OSA returns.
So.. you get no sleep at all

Make best possible speed and get going on the FF mask path.
You'll be glad you did!

Hang in there and keep trying!

"With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable." - Thomas Foxwell Buxton

Cool
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#14
RE: 3 MONTHS IN AND STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH COMPLIANCE.
I can't do a FFM. I have a bad phobia. I think I need a pillow system that stays on better and I guess I need some time wearing it during the day to get used to it. I didn't think I needed to do that. I can go nasal mask but that is as extreme as I can go with it. I have been losing weight and I am down 10 pounds not sure if that is why I am venting off air through my mouth. It did start as my weight decreased. It isn't a lot of air it is an occasional tiny air bubble that goes out my mouth. I don't sleep with my mouth open. But I know I need to figure this out soon as I have had fib problems since I was 25 and now I am 46. To think it was probably caused by OSA that I have had since 25. By the way I am not fat by any means. I have Crohns disease and my weight goes down massively during a flair up. I don't fit the OSA stereo type. I don't think you need to be over weight to have OSA. The doctors need to stop using neck size and weight as a factor in determining OSA. Just a thought.
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#15
RE: 3 MONTHS IN AND STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH COMPLIANCE.

Adoniscmj, how would you like to beat your phobia?

You can beat it.
(in your case you have much to gain)

I have had to face down several phobias of my own and I even had an SO
with agoraphobia who I lived with and helped for many years.

It may be beyond the scope of this website for me to post more specific material.
My earlier post describes a program of desensitizing that is proven and works.

The proper thing for me to suggest at this point is to seek a good psychologist / psychiatrist
to get some support going.
Wink

Best of Luck in any case.

Sleep-well


"With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable." - Thomas Foxwell Buxton

Cool
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#16
RE: 3 MONTHS IN AND STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH COMPLIANCE.
You might try the Respironics Amara View mask. It is pretty small, covers only the mouth, and rests against the bottom of the nose. It doesn't feel or look as large as a traditional full face mask. In fact, because it doesn't extend onto the nose, in some respects it feels less confining than a nasal mask. I struggled with significant lip bubble/droopy mouth issues with pillows and nasal masks, and finally gave in to a mask that covers my mouth as well as allows easy breathing through my nose. I'm very happy with the Amara View -- you might be surprised and like it also, notwithstanding your aversion to having a big thing on your face -- the Amara View isn't like that.

Good luck!
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#17
RE: 3 MONTHS IN AND STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH COMPLIANCE.
I was having trouble with leaks, too, when I wore a nasal cushion. I, too, didn't want to go to a full face mask because I am very claustrophobic. However, I also wanted the benefit of the CPAP treatment so I finally gave in and got the ResMed Quatro Air at the recommendation of my therapist. Much to my surprise, I don't feel "confined" like I thought I would and it is working well for me. Only minimal leaks at times and no more dry mouth. If your therapist will let you try one, it would be worth giving it a shot. You might be pleasantly surprised at how it works and feels.
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#18
RE: 3 MONTHS IN AND STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH COMPLIANCE.
Update, Well last night I was able to go for 4 hours with my pillow mask. I need to figure out how I can be consistent. I remember I took it off due to a rain out condition. During the time I was on it Sleepy Head showed an RDI of 0.00. So all was good. I have also noticed that as long as I am on it for 3 hours or more my heart beats normally the next day no fibs. I am not sure that what I am experiencing is AFIB or just an abnormal heart beat as I have seen a heart specialist in the past for this and he never said that I had AFIB. How does one know if they have AFIB?
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#19
RE: 3 MONTHS IN AND STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH COMPLIANCE.
Usually AFIB's manifest as an unsettling heart "skipping beats" feeling in the chest.
The folks at wikipedia have the whole run down on it.

Sounds like you're making progress!
Keep up the good work!

=^.^=
"With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable." - Thomas Foxwell Buxton

Cool
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#20
RE: 3 MONTHS IN AND STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH COMPLIANCE.
I was given a full face mask by the sleep clinician, because I had an issue in the sleep study that she had not seen before. Upon exhaling, a flap of tissue in my air passage would slam closed and block my exhale. It was rather abrupt and severe. She slapped a full face mask on after that so she could get the pressure number. It was strapped on tight.

So I used the full face mask for a few months, as best I could. It had to be clamped to my head rather tight, and I learned to accept it by thinking of it as a lifeline of air to me , as if I was given a tube of air at the bottom of the ocean.

Slight movements of my jaw would cause leaks, so I learned not to move my jaw at all, which prevented me from moistening my mouth during sleep. I started to get dry mouth. This continued even after changing mask types, since I had learned that behavior. Thankfully it subsided with time. Dry mouth is not a good thing.

I went to the provider and they let me test some other masks. Two nasal masks seemed to be great. One was the Philips respironics Easylife. It seals to my face with very little pressure. There is just a light touch right around my nose.

My perception is that the headgear just really needs to keep the mask in position, so it is something that is just in front of may face, rather than something clamped to it. Something that is comfortably in front of me, and something that is necessary for my survival.

For me, any solution has to work when I am on my side, because nothing has acceptably worked for me when I am on my back. My air passage closes even before I go to sleep if I am on my back.

Try the philips easylife if you can. They have a card to put in front of your nose to get the size. It even works for me with a very full mustache. It helps me to have a gel memory foam pillow that I fold over to the correct thickness to support my head, since i am always on my side. They have some nice ones at one of the wholesale stores at 2 for $10.

Try some other nasal masks at your provider. They should do that for you. That is what they are there for.

Think of it as something you are nuzzling up to for your comfort and survival, like a kitten nuzzling up to its mommy, or a diver to an air supply line, because that is what it is. Smile

The gel portion of the mask does need to be replaced every three months or so. I start to have to tighten the mask up around this time. They are pretty cheap from a number of sources.

Good luck.
Doug
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