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Notes to other new users - Mouth breathing, Congestion, FFM vs Nasal Mask
#1
Notes to other new users - Mouth breathing, Congestion, FFM vs Nasal Mask
I am just past 2 weeks of use, with 3 days off when I was camping. I wanted to share what I have found with other new users. This group has been the greatest source of knowledge I have found.

I went in for a sleep study, primarily because I wanted to stop snoring. My wife has noticed minor instances of apnea, when I have awakened her at night. I have been using Breath-Rights and knee pokes to control my snoring for years.

I started working offshore, where I may be in a room with 3 to 5 other men. I needed to get control of my snoring. I took three online sleep apnea tests and was way past "see a physician" scoring, so I scheduled an appointment with a sleep specialist. At the sleep study, I told the technician I needed a full face mask, because I knew I was too congested to breathe through my nose, especially without the Breath-Right strip. When I got my CPAP from the DME supplier, I had the Respironics Amara full face mask(FFM) from the sleep study. A mask was included in the prescription, and they suggested the Respironics WISP nasal mask.

My first week I used the FFM, and dealt with the normal problems of adjusting to the mask, headgear, leaks, etc. I knew that I should expect a few week minimum to get used to everything. I got Sleepy Head software, and the Beginner's Guide to SleepyHead, by Robysue, was a great help. I also got the clinicians manual from here, and was able to learn more about the settings. After a week offshore, I was back home and picked up a Nasacort spray to try to control my congestion.

This week Monday, I tried the WISP nasal mask, and was able to wear it half of the night, before I could no longer breathe and switched to the FFM. Last night I was able to go all night and had an AHI of 0.92, and my lowest snoring ever. My snoring and AH events are closely linked.

Lessons Learned:

I like the DS560. I have not used the heated hose, because I got the 60W power supply instead of the 80W. I have had a few hose rainouts, since I have tried higher humidity levels. I find the machine to be completely silent, with very little mask breathing noise. Once you have a steady breathing pattern, the AFLEX drops the pressure before you even begin to exhale.

I can now sleep on my back, which was impossible before. That in itself has helped my congestion problem. The Nasacort is definitely helping. If I cannot get the congestion handled with the Nasacort, I will try a prescription. I'm not sure if what I have is allergy or non-allergy related.

Sleepy Head is great software, but I would be lost without reading Robysue's great instruction guide. I am using the daily notes, and learning to adjust the preferences to make the graphs more understandable. I looked up the leak rate, and resistance rating for the FFM, so I could set the Leak Red Line and the DS560 settings.

The WISP is great, although I have not tried any other nasal mask. I don't notice the pressure much at all, and sometimes open my mouth to confirm it. When I get congested, I can see the flow graph flatten out, and the volume drop. I couldn't find a mask leak rate, so I set the red line at the lowest consistent leak rate.

I'll update this in a few weeks. Good luck to all the others, who are trying to find what is best for themselves.
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#2
RE: Notes to other new users - Mouth breathing, Congestion, FFM vs Nasal Mask
Im like you, I can only use a FFM because of congestion.

good machine you have there, i used the same one for a couple of weeks during my trial. Im also learning how to use SleepyHead.

Welcome to the board!
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#3
RE: Notes to other new users - Mouth breathing, Congestion, FFM vs Nasal Mask
Hi Tampabaysailor,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
It sounds like you are off to a great start.
Hang in there for more responses to your post and best of luck to you as you continue CPAP therapy.
trish6hundred
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#4
RE: Notes to other new users - Mouth breathing, Congestion, FFM vs Nasal Mask
(08-22-2014, 09:47 PM)Tampabaysailor Wrote: The WISP is great, although I have not tried any other nasal mask. I don't notice the pressure much at all, and sometimes open my mouth to confirm it.

I just started on the hose a few days ago, and do the same thing. I know the machine is on, but I don't really feel the pressure. Opening my mouth confirms it.... and still amuses me every time Wink

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#5
RE: Notes to other new users - Mouth breathing, Congestion, FFM vs Nasal Mask
I'd like to stress something that the OP mentioned in his post. The Nasacort spray he referred to is, at least for me, the best and safest nasal spray you can get for immediate 24 hour relief from nasal congestion. It matters not if your congestion is from allergies or for other reasons. Mine is a deviated septum and I was mighty happy when I found that Nasacort gave me 24 hour relief from that stuffed up nose feeling and allows me to breathe through my nose as I should. I've used it daily for months. According to my ENT doc, that's OK so long as I don't exceed the recommended daily dose, which is two squirts in each nostril once daily. It used to be a prescription only product but just recently won FDA approval for OTC sales. I think that speaks highly for its safety of use since it was approved for daily use all year long.

I plug it ever time when I hear someone has a nasal stuffiness problem since it has helped me so much that I wish someone had told me about it sooner. I found it by googling...go figure.

As ever, it works for me, YMMV.

Sleep-well

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#6
RE: Notes to other new users - Mouth breathing, Congestion, FFM vs Nasal Mask
(09-16-2014, 05:08 PM)surferdude2 Wrote: It matters not if your congestion is from allergies or for other reasons. Mine is a deviated septum and I was mighty happy when I found that Nasacort gave me 24 hour relief from that stuffed up nose feeling and allows me to breathe through my nose as I should. I've used it daily for months.

I liked Nasacort too, but after a week or less of using it each day I would get nose bleeds even if I gently blew my nose. For me it didn't matter if I was using it during the winter (less humidity) or in the summer. I also use a humidifier on my CPAP. I still got nose bleeds.

My allergist has me using Budesonide from a tiny vial mixed with my 8 oz. nasal rinse solution (but I only "snort" 1oz in each nostril) once a day. It works well, doesn't cause the dryness of the mucus membranes (that causes bleeding), but it is expensive.

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#7
RE: Notes to other new users - Mouth breathing, Congestion, FFM vs Nasal Mask
WOW! I guess I'm lucky it doesn't affect me that way. I am careful not to snort it very deeply since that could cause it to get into my system more by me swallowing some of it.

Thanks for the info. Sleep-well

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#8
RE: Notes to other new users - Mouth breathing, Congestion, FFM vs Nasal Mask
I only realized I was congested when I started this process (mentioned in another thread)

I was told, if i recall correctly, that it was best to use the Salt rinse which I did nightly, which worked, at least opened up one nostril perfectly.
But I was led to believe that this rinse was much better for you than any of those sprays.
I believe i was told you just become used/dependant on the spray and it no longer works as well.

in my case for some reason, also mentioned elsewhere, my congestion has suddenly gone away as of one week ago.
I have not needed to rinse at night since.
Not sure why it did but happy it has.

So, curious, why do you use this spray rather than the nasal salt rinse?
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#9
RE: Notes to other new users - Mouth breathing, Congestion, FFM vs Nasal Mask
(09-18-2014, 10:10 PM)ShelaghDB Wrote: I was told, if i recall correctly, that it was best to use the Salt rinse which I did nightly, which worked, at least opened up one nostril perfectly.
But I was led to believe that this rinse was much better for you than any of those sprays.
I believe i was told you just become used/dependant on the spray and it no longer works as well.

in my case for some reason, also mentioned elsewhere, my congestion has suddenly gone away as of one week ago.
I have not needed to rinse at night since.
Not sure why it did but happy it has.

So, curious, why do you use this spray rather than the nasal salt rinse?

I agree with the statement that the salt/baking soda is probably better for you in the long term. I used it for years as needed. I've been congested for years. Many years ago I saw an ENT Doc and he recommended the procedure to open up the passages including breaking my nose to straighten it. He went on to say I probably have some allergy(s) also. I was chicken to do that procedure. My regular Doc said to me that he wouldn't do the procedure if it was him. The trouble I had with just the rinse was that it helped but not all night long. With the spray or the other med I mentioned above (mixed with the rinse) it would last all night.

My allergy doc said to rinse with medication mixed in and SNORTING 1oz up each nostril to the back of the throat and then spit the mixture out. This would open up the passages that you can not get to my squirting the rinse in one nostril and letting it run out the other side. He said he would not be surprised that I have a very low grade infection up in the sinuses. He said he could send me for an expensive CT scan of the sinuses to check for infection or I could try this rinse method. I opted for the rinse. I thought I could tell the difference in my congestion after a couple of weeks. Within a month or 2 I had about a 50% improvement. After a couple more months I would say a 80% improvement. Now I only use the "snort" rinse (without the medication) about every 5 to 7 days. The allergy doc said that since I can go without the daily rinse then I probably did have an infection and it cleared up. What little congestion I'm left with is probably due to my known allergy (cat dander).
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#10
RE: Notes to other new users - Mouth breathing, Congestion, FFM vs Nasal Mask
My hubby has a deviated septum and found the nasal pillows helped tremendously in reducing his congestion. He had used a used a nose mask since 2003 but the RT thought the nasal pillows would do a better job.
Evpraxia in the Pacific Northwest USA
Diagnosed: 44 AHI when supine, O2 down to 82%
Treated since 20 Sept 2014:: 0.7 AHI, Settings 7-15, EPR on Full Time at Level 3
Better living through CPAP/APAP machines!
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