I'm new to this board and to CPAP in general. I am hoping someone can answer my questions because the CPAP place I go to is fully booked for another week and I'm going nuts!
I was diagnosed with moderate apnea and was issued a CPAP machine and a mask about two weeks ago. The mask is an AirTouch F20 which was given to me because I'm a "mouth breather" and I sleep on my side. The first two nights, I was fine--I think I was so tired from the apnea, I was just happy to have air. Then the mask started leaking, especially when I rolled on my side. Ever since then, it's been a battle between mask leaks and tightening the straps, and then it's too tight and I feel claustraphobic. The past 4 nights I've woken myself up when I rip the mask off. Last night, in anticipating of the battle, I couldn't get to sleep so I just took the mask off and went to sleep. About 2:00 a.m. I woke up and grudgingly put my mask back on, only to rip it off/wake up a couple hours later. I can't do this anymore!!! The mask makes me feel angry and confined and like I'm being punished just because I snore.
So, when I can finally get in to see the CPAP person, I want to just switch to the most minimal mask possible which I think is the nose pillows (?). Does anyone know if the nose pillows will stop my snoring OR if I use the nose pillows with a chin strap, will that help the apnea and stop my snoring?
Any recommendations on a comfortable chinstrap I could order on Amazon?
Thank you! I'm at my wit's end with limited sleep, red mask marks on my face and frustration with my CPAP supplier place being unhelpful.