Hello!

[sifuhall]

Hello everyone!  

I've been struggling with my cpap for a few years now and I'm very happy to find this place!

I'm 50 and I'm a very big guy (competitive powerlifter).  Depending on the season I can be 275lbs or more.

I have  Phillips Dream Station and have been using a Simplus RollFit Full Face mask.

I'm a side sleeper and the leaks usually wake me up sometimes more than every hour.

I've ordered a Resmed F20 mask and hope that will help.

Up until now I have never tracked my sleep stats but I will begin today when I get home from work.


In the past few years I go through phases where I use the cpap regularly, then I get so tired of the leaks waking me up that I stop using it completely, then after a little while I am so sleepy all day long that I can't function properly so I go back to fighting with the mask.

I really look forward to learning all I can from you guys and this seems to be a great group!

[Dormeo]

Trying a new mask sounds like exactly the right move for you. When you get it, go on line to find fitting videos.

Give it a fair trial, and if it doesn’t work, try another one. Some people have to try a bunch before they find the one that’s best for them.

Other variables to consider: mask liner, special pillow.

I hope the F20 turns out to be “the one” for you. Good luck!

[sifuhall]

Thank you!

I'll take a look at liners and a special pillow as well!

[snorybob]

Go on top of the main page, go in the ''wiki'', type in ''mask primer''. You'll find a lot of information on mask fitting. 


   sb.

[sifuhall]

Thanks, I will do that right now.

[snorybob]

If you want to learn more about your therapy download free OSCAR software, transfer 1 or 2-night results from your sd card (machine to computer), send in charts & some very knowledgable members will analyze them & guide you in the right direction. 

Start a new thread detailing more on what you want to ask, ex: chart analyzing or mask leak problem, be more precise on your post request. 
You're liable to have more people reading your post & answering you.

BTW welcome to ABF.   Hope this helps a bit! 

           sb.

[mesenteria]

You simply HAVE TO get those leaks to disappear pretty much entirely.  Anything that arouses you brings you out of your natural cascade into deeper levels of sleep.  

With that agreed to (?), you will have to make a concerted, and perhaps unpleasant, effort to avoid side-sleeping, or only how you tend to do it.  That might mean getting a different pillow, already suggested, or a different mask, even different headgear, or learning how to orient your head on a pillow such that the mask doesn't get deflected or deformed.

This will be a challenge, and as I have already alluded, it may be nothing like fun for several weeks until perhaps exhaustion compels you to sleep as best suits your equipment and its function.  Please stick with it, even through the awful nights, as you learn what is going to work.

[Sleeprider]

Sifuhall, it is worth trying a Resmed Airfit P20 mask unless you KNOW you just can't use nasal therapy and breathing through your mouth. The P20 is one of the smallest masks on the market, and with the large nasal pillows flows a lot of air in a way that keeps congestion away, and rarely leaks. Since the complete mask is about $70, it's worth a try. If you can wean off the big full-face masks I think you will be a lot happier.