10-10-2024, 12:46 PM
New User -- Help, please
I just started with CPAP about a week ago and am having some issues. Currently have a Resmed 11, diagnosed with AHI of 14 w/a home sleep study (although have been 15 in the past), and have now tried two masks.
I'm not sure how other people get set up with their masks, but my provider seemed to be very hands-off. After the home sleep study I never saw the doctor again, but was told a local supplier would contact me and I'd go in and they'd try some masks on me, go over how they work and so on.
Instead the supplier mailed me a random mask and I had a televisit. I eventually found out I was eligible for one replacement mask, but that sort of made me feel like my first mask was kind of a waste.
Anyway, my first mask was an Evora. In theory, it seems like it'd be a good one, nice and small. But my nose never quite fits right into those little 'holders' and the mask straps hurt the side of my head/ears. Eventually I got the best results just using the large size, which is too big for my small-med nose, but it at least covered my nose + didn't make me wake up feeling like someone just punched me repeatedly.
But lucky to get 3-4 hrs sleep though with it.
Got a replacement yesterday which is the Dreamwear, with the idea it'd be softer on the nose and the top design would be nicer. The frame at least doesn't hurt my face, although I can't say I see a benefit to the top design just yet (one night with it) ... I do feel it on the top of my head like an annoying hat though.
But I am having difficulty getting a good seal with the pillows. I woke up last night after like 1.5 hrs, bad airflow, and the pillows making weird sounds (like a snorting sound)... then when re-adjusted it felt like it was on super full blast 10x stronger, like a hairdryer was stuck up my nose. Reset the machine on/off, but again, couldn't seem to get a good seal with the pilllows.
Feel like I'm ready to give up ... been a week and I have never been so exhausted in my life. 3-4 hrs sleep, at best per night and not feeling super rested... AHIs are better (< 5), but not sure if that matters if I feel like this.
Anyway, any ideas on what I can do to improve things? Wondering if I need a full mask as maybe my mouth is opening at night (I generally prefer mouth breathing), although really doubt I can fall asleep with a full mask... barely can tolerate the nasal masks. Cradle design w/ dreakwear better than pillows? Or another design better? Any tips to try? Thanks.
I'm not sure how other people get set up with their masks, but my provider seemed to be very hands-off. After the home sleep study I never saw the doctor again, but was told a local supplier would contact me and I'd go in and they'd try some masks on me, go over how they work and so on.
Instead the supplier mailed me a random mask and I had a televisit. I eventually found out I was eligible for one replacement mask, but that sort of made me feel like my first mask was kind of a waste.
Anyway, my first mask was an Evora. In theory, it seems like it'd be a good one, nice and small. But my nose never quite fits right into those little 'holders' and the mask straps hurt the side of my head/ears. Eventually I got the best results just using the large size, which is too big for my small-med nose, but it at least covered my nose + didn't make me wake up feeling like someone just punched me repeatedly.
But lucky to get 3-4 hrs sleep though with it.
Got a replacement yesterday which is the Dreamwear, with the idea it'd be softer on the nose and the top design would be nicer. The frame at least doesn't hurt my face, although I can't say I see a benefit to the top design just yet (one night with it) ... I do feel it on the top of my head like an annoying hat though.
But I am having difficulty getting a good seal with the pillows. I woke up last night after like 1.5 hrs, bad airflow, and the pillows making weird sounds (like a snorting sound)... then when re-adjusted it felt like it was on super full blast 10x stronger, like a hairdryer was stuck up my nose. Reset the machine on/off, but again, couldn't seem to get a good seal with the pilllows.
Feel like I'm ready to give up ... been a week and I have never been so exhausted in my life. 3-4 hrs sleep, at best per night and not feeling super rested... AHIs are better (< 5), but not sure if that matters if I feel like this.
Anyway, any ideas on what I can do to improve things? Wondering if I need a full mask as maybe my mouth is opening at night (I generally prefer mouth breathing), although really doubt I can fall asleep with a full mask... barely can tolerate the nasal masks. Cradle design w/ dreakwear better than pillows? Or another design better? Any tips to try? Thanks.
