New CPAP machine……HELP Needed!!..

Having problems with a “Logic Bomb” on my new Full Size Facemask.

Here are the facts :-

The Small Nasal Mask was leading to Air escape from the mouth as I am a mouse breather.
The Small mask was uncomfortable.
The Full Mask is very comfortable and so obviously more efficient.

But I just cannot get used to the new Full facemask. Three times I have tried for two
or three days but just stay awake for hours with it. Downloaded the user guide from Phillipd Repironics.
Used all the tips on this thread. Use the old mask and perfect sleep.

Where is the logic?

@sar78 wrote:

Hi, I can understand how difficult it is to fathom. It’s comfort vs efficiency but there’d should be a solution in there somewhere. Maybe some of us vent users can help work through the problem with you?
Is it that the nasal mask you were using initially was comfortable to wear but causing your mouth to drop open?
Can you pinpoint what is the most difficult thing to deal with regarding the full face mask? I have never tried one so I’m guessing but does air blow in your eyes? I think I would find it difficult to change to one but I know of others who get on just fine…

Thanks your lovely reply Sarah.

right on the point….as it was the posts here that got me using the small nasal mask, just when
I was about to throw it in the river.

To answer your question, YES, it does blow air into the eyes, annoying little puffs of air. They make
a ponint of telling you that the contact must rest on the bridge of your nose and the crease below
your bottom lip. but the bridge of the nose is so narrow that seemingly inevitably the tiniest movement
of your body gives little puffs of air. Move the whole thing down the face though and there are large
escapes of air further down. They are very adjustable but tightening seems to either bring more
air or then it become uncomfortable with a triffid sucking on your face. This is the one :-
http://www.healthcare.philips.com/main/homehealth/sleep/comfortgelfull/default.wpd
The small one (photo on page one) works when logically it should not. they tell me I am a mouthbreather
(not mousebreather as I have confusingly put above) so it should not work as I get the “HAGHHHHHH”, rush of air
from the passages at the back of your mouth when the pressure is released. Over time I have
controlled that so as I can get off to sleep but it wakes you earlier than you want.
The full facemask should by definition eliminate this and is much more comfortable, yet
does not work ????
Thanks for ramble listening.

@sar78 wrote:

First tip already in…
Duoderm or moleskin dressings over bridge of nose.

Looking again at this gel facemask in more detail, I think I see why people might need to
come up with this sort of adaptation. The gel part in the mask is a proud blue gel ridge going round in
a triangular shape to fit over your nose and mouth and is covered by a flappy flexible polythene type
film. Up at the top of the triangle there is a notch or dip. This is presumably to cope with people
with large noses or prominenent nose bridges, so for us normal nosers, there is a gap just covered by the polythene type film thing. This copes sometimes but sometimes doesnt and the air pressure forces it slightly aside. This might expalin the flatulent sound that emanates sometimes as part of the airflow.

Something soft like the moleskin might just work. The thing that protects my laptop keyboard looks
soft and flexiable enough. I get the feeling if you can kid your body that it is fine and get the first couple of nights underway it will be fine.

I always sleep completely on my back like an “egyptian mummy”, due to arm and should pains. Is this a factor,
people don’t rely on twisting to one side to do these masks. I have an orthopaedic pillow with foamy things
either side to stop movement, which I though was ideal for this type of thing. I tried making
myself really tired which works on a lot of things. Hardly moved an inch today so not tired. Will be
tired tomorrow and add the new moleskin theory and any other logic.

Review not till 29 August, so verty pleased not to have to wait till then. Thanks your input.

@sar78 wrote:

I find that if there’s an issue with the fit around my nose I just can’t relax and that means I can’t sleep. Am constantly on edge, waiting for the air to shoot out of the side. I tend to sleep slightly tilted to my left and tuck my right hand between my shoulder and jaw but most nights my hand ends up tucked inside the straps of my soft cap headgear to help create a better seal on the left side of my nose. Hope you get on well with the moleskin.

Yes we are reaching a consensus. A lot of it is us in all our different configurations. We are so on edge with these things anyway. Also they have to build a mask that copes for all and all situations.

Also we need the variable sucking and blowing which gives the weird sensations. That is how the thing
works by stepping into the up and down cycles in our affected breathing rhythyms. So our “Heath Robinsons”
to cobble together a compromise is about right. If we could convinve our bodies there will
be no problem.

Thanks again.

Excellent.

We have a result !

A great night’s sleep. 11.58 to 6.23. This is unheard of. Just woke once with some air escape but
immediatelt almost without thinking I knew from our discussions how to reposotion and solve problem.

The Medicos were right, this bigger full facemask is much better. It solves the mouth air escape problem
completely and it is a bigger chamber so the rush of air is gwntler and less extreme and of course it
is so much more comfortable.

Thanks for all the help on this thread.

@miracle77 wrote:

I spoke too soon my new machine which has been in place for 3 months only has now started alarming all the time like the old one did before it got replaced….hoping its the machine and not my breathing.
Guess I am going to have to contact the NIV team:-(
Keep your fingers crossed problem is easily resolved as I hate the hungover feeling!!
Cheers
Gill

Hope it gets sorted quickly. Horrible to be without your breathing support. It
does sound like the machine not you.

Our centre has phone support immediately available and two afternoons set aside
for “Problem” appointments. They were quick to help in my case to test what
might have been a fault.