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Feel worse
#21
RE: Feel worse
I haven't read all the posts but have you tried sitting up during the day with it on? That will get your body and mind more accustomed to it.

As for the compliance, you need to discuss this with your doc. Specifically discuss compliance hrs. He needs to be noting that you are trying. Then discuss with the billing department at either the doc's office or the supplier's office about how to appeal or how to prepare your appeal.
PaulaO

Take a deep breath and count to zen.




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#22
RE: Feel worse
(02-25-2013, 08:32 PM)loudnoise1 Wrote: I have been trying your suggestions but with no progress. Not giving up yet

Have you tried wearing the mask and running the machine while you're awake?
Sleepster

INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#23
RE: Feel worse
(02-25-2013, 09:15 PM)PaulaO2 Wrote: I haven't read all the posts but have you tried sitting up during the day with it on? That will get your body and mind more accustomed to it.

As for the compliance, you need to discuss this with your doc. Specifically discuss compliance hrs. He needs to be noting that you are trying. Then discuss with the billing department at either the doc's office or the supplier's office about how to appeal or how to prepare your appeal.

Ah. I guess part of the reason I never heard of this "compliance" stuff was because when I first started using CPAP in the late 1990s there was no way to measure how often I used the thing. Times sure have changed.
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#24
RE: Feel worse
I have tried three masks. I can't tolerate a full mask on my face..panics me more than what I use now and it feels to heavy, causing headaches. The little pillow one for under the nostrils didn't work for me so I am using a cushion mask just on nose which isn't too bad. Even with humidifier though I get pain in my face and headache everyday. still not sleeping more than 20 minutes with it. One big issue for me is that my right nostril gets very little air due to severe deviated septum...can this be an issue?
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#25
RE: Feel worse
issue #1.
I have problems with my nose as well. I had to make myself adapt to a full face mask.
I went through 4 or 5 before I got to the Quattro FX.
If you have a deviated septum that pretty much narrows things down for you and eliminates using a nasal mask.
If anyone else here has a deviated septum and is using a nasal mask, feel free to chime in. Smile
You can override the claustrophobia of the full face mask with a persistant desensitizing regimen.
Wear it as long as you can. Take a break.
Watch some or read a book.
Put it back on and keep watching TV or reading, etc.
Before you know it you have the thing on and you forget you are wearing it.
The only thing to fear, is fear itself.
Fear is your biggest enemy and you can conquer it in increments.
Take two steps forward and if things get angsty take *one* step back.
Wait for things to settle down and take another two steps forward.
Keep repeating this process and in a while you'll have conquered the issue!

Recite the poem till you remember it by heart:
"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing......Only I will remain."
: Frank Herbert, Dune

It works!
=^.^=





issue #2,
When you first are starting out your sinuses are going to be sore, they are delicate structures and need to be toughened up a bit.
The sinus pain will fade away in a few weeks.

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

Cool
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#26
RE: Feel worse
loudnoise1, you will need to have that septum repaired or you will suffer continued pain and sensitive sinus. I suspect you also have some enlarged tissue in your nasal passages that will need to be reduced in order to let your sinus drain correctly. The operation is relatively simple and takes around two hours, if there is need to a tissue resection as well. Recovery takes two weeks, but breathing is restored after a few days. Once the tissue is fully healed, using a nasal pillow will be easy and no longer painful. However, so long as you continue to have a strongly deviated septum, nasal CPAP delivery is out of the picture for you. You actually won't be taking in an even amount of air through both nostrils and this uneven pressure may well cause pain. You will need to be a mouth breather and use a mask that covers your mouth - there are types that cover the mouth and nose but not the whole face that might be comfortable for you. I suggest you have a chat with an Ear Nose Throat specialist about your septum and possible remedies for it.
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#27
RE: Feel worse
What wilorg said. I concur.

Hang in there loudnoise1. Wink
"With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable." - Thomas Foxwell Buxton

Cool
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#28
RE: Feel worse
I agree with what Shastzi posted. The only thing I'm sceptical about is that a nasal mask won't work with a deviated septum. I have a deviated septum and would have been able to get a nasal mask to work if it weren't for other problems (therapy pressure escaping through my mouth). I was able to breath through my nose though, with the humidifier set high.

A couple suggestions to try out:

First off, I would encourage you to give the ResMed Quattro FX full face mask (mentioned by Shastzi) a try. I suggest this not only because a full face mask would eliminate any concerns about the deviated septum, mouth breathing, etc.; but, also because of the anxiety and claustrophibia you say you are having. The Quattro FX doesn't have a forehead support and is a rather light mask. No forehead support means nothing going up between and above your eyes. I don't consider myself to be claustrophobic, but masks with forehead supports really bother me and make me feel uneasy for some reason. I suppose I could get used to it if I had to, but why even go through that if it isn't necessary? If you can't or don't want to try the Quattro FX and don't foresee any problems with mouth breathing (if you're claustrophobic a chin strap would probably be tough to get used to also), then I would suggest getting one of the few nasal masks that doesn't have a forehead support. The least intrusive and lightest nasal mask I tried was the Circadiance SleepWeaver Advance. It is a cloth nasal mask and even though it does have thin elastic that goes up between the eyes to the headgear, it never bothered me because it's not visible and I couldn't feel it there. I would probably be using this mask if I could have figured out how to make nasal interfaces work for me.

Secondly, concerning the deviated septum, if you don't have the humidifier turned up really high you might want to give that a shot. A couple shots up each nostril with a saline (not medicated) nasal spray right before bed would probably help too. I always do 3 or 4 up each nostril, then blow my nose, then another shot up each nostril - this seems to help me get off to a good start so I don't have to struggle while I'm waiting for the high humidity of the PAP air to start doing it's job.

Hang in there, it gets better!



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#29
RE: Feel worse
Wilorg makes good points too. I guess it all depends on just how severely deviated your septum is. Before PAP therapy my right nostril stayed pretty much out of order. With high humidity during PAP treatment and morning (in the shower) and pre-bed nasal cleaning/rinsing I would estimate I get about half the airflow through my right nostril as I get through the left - of course it is worse around mid-day and is worse in the winter than in the summer; but I've learned to live with it. If your septum deviation is worse than that, then I would agree that nasal interfaces are probably out of the question and would also agree that you probably need to have your septum fixed. I might just look into having mine fixed also. My doc wanted me to have it done about 20 years ago. Back then, I was told, it involved having something similar to two butter knives jamed up there and spread apart - with no anesthetic. Needless to say, I turned them down on that offer. That was 20 years ago though and I'm guessing (hoping) that a lot of improvement has been made in the procedure since then.
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#30
RE: Feel worse
You have all given me info I didn't have before. my CPAP therapist knows about my deviated septum but didn't give me any info regarding the need for the full mask...and boy for the past month I can hardly breathe through my nose at all so you ca imagine how difficult it's been for me to try to get used to the mask. You are all so knowledgeable and I fear I am not being taken care of properly from the supplier of my CPAP and Oxygen company. Neither of the therapist gave me much info. I have continued to tell them my difficulties and concerns but with little back from them. What I fear most is that I am not going to make the 30 days in a row/4hours a day deadline for Medicare to pay for my machine and I don't have the $$ to pay for it..dos anyone know if the time-frame can be adjusted because of my problems using the machine??? You are all so wonderful to help me. Thank you Thank you!
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