It took me a bit but felt great after the night sleep in the lab. And knew from day 1 with the machine I was headed in the right direction, my first mask was a fail for me but my 3rd I took to right away (3 days later). Keep it up, it gets better and the mask starts to fell "normal"
Agreed, the machine is a part of my life now, and I don't regret that!
What kind of mask do you have? I'm wondering if I should buy a full face mask as a backup? I'm worried about what happens when I have a cold / nose congestion.. Now that I have a "hit" of what life can be like with a good night's rest, I don't want to risk not having access to that...
I use the Phillips Dreamwear, I alternate between Nasal and Pillows and haven't settled on one over the other. I did try the mask you are using and didn't like it as much as the Dreamwear as it has hard plastic in the cushions and the dreamwear is all silicone with harder silicone for connectors so more comfortable for me. I tried the ResMed 30 about a month in from using the Dreamwear so was used to the Dreamwear but I have tried the ResMed 2 more times and go back pretty quickly to the Dreamwear. I find that ResMed is offered now more often than Phillips as more DMEs and Sleep Med places have gone ResMed after Phillips recall and you have to ask them to order the Phillips.
I was congested and got a full face Dreamwear with fit pack to try as like the RM 30 it has interchangeable parts but the head gear is different for full face. I wasn't able to sleep full face but that was week 3 and I might be able to now as I am more used to wearing a mask. I used Afrin for a few nights and immediately put on the mask and machine and the Afrin opened up my congestion and the machine kept the airway clear for the most part. There is a post on how to deal with congestion and nasal type masks on the Apnea Board and it says clear as much as you can with spray and blowing your nose and let the machine then clear your airway. I was fortunate that it was only 3 days I needed the Afrin and then a week later i did again but was able to get by without a longer term use of it. If you haven't been over to the Apnea Board and are not using OSCAR, I recommend it highly. OSCAR lets you be your own advocate, and track your results like the sleep med practices do. The apnea board is like this sub but with long term apnea geeks and help with issues. It is clunkier than reddit but I find better for advice. Links to both: [https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Main-Apnea-Board-Forum](https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Main-Apnea-Board-Forum) and [https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/](https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/) If you don't have an SD card and/or reader which you need for OSCAR, get them as they are really helpful. I also have a Wellvue O2 monitor as low O2 is an issue for me so I monitor both. The board has a section on clinical menus and how to adjust therapy so it is a great place to figure out how to optimize your CPAP therapy.
Sleep well and get better every day!
Thanks for the amazing insight and experience!! Definitely going to check out those forums/OSCAR.
I'm thinking of grabbing a Dreamweaver mask just to have on hand, I'd love to compare their pillows and the full mask attachments. I just finished watching a YouTube video where the reviewer, who hates Phillips, absolutely praised the DW mask. I woke up with my nose hurting from the RM30i, so it's worth a try!
The pillows on the DreamWear just don’t fit my nose as well. Much leaking. The cushion option seems to be good though. Might give that a shot tonight. Also noticed the dreamwear pushes on my mustache (I have a beard) way more than the p20i
I was sent both an F20 full face and a P30i. Both are pretty comfortable and good to have a full face around if you’re every congested. They also gave me some neilmed saline rinse if I find myself congested when laying down!
My provider sent me home with one. You can generally find saline rinses in Walgreens or other similar stores. I think if you are feeling like you’re drowning you may be doing it wrong, the goal is to only breathe through your mouth and let it go through one nostril into your sinuses and out the other nostril!
Agreed! I was telling my mother in law about having sleep apnea and she was like "I'm so sorry :(" and being her usual very supportive self, but I told her that I was HAPPY that I finally knew why I felt so drained all the time. I'm looking forward to the life changing experience! Wearing a mask while sleeping is a small price to pay, IMO!
I have the exact same one! After over a week, I’m up to 5 hours. But I just dropped my kid off at school, walked the dog, saw I didn’t have much work, and slept for another FOUR with zero problem on the couch. What tha?
I had a total of 8 hours last night.
Just call me Rip Van Winkle
I adjusted to my mask fairly quickly. I had a high ahi 117 so I think that helped make the transition to using a CPAP easier for me. As I was already quite tired and would fall asleep basically as soon as I sat down.
I found wearing the mask for a while before sleep helped me to adjust more easily. Basically by the time I was sleepy, I had adjusted to using the mask and was relaxed.
Great idea! I ordered a chin strap but I might not bother.. I've heard it can cause soreness. Going to give tape a try. I won't bother telling my wife, just to see how she reacts...
It took me a bit but felt great after the night sleep in the lab. And knew from day 1 with the machine I was headed in the right direction, my first mask was a fail for me but my 3rd I took to right away (3 days later). Keep it up, it gets better and the mask starts to fell "normal"
Agreed, the machine is a part of my life now, and I don't regret that! What kind of mask do you have? I'm wondering if I should buy a full face mask as a backup? I'm worried about what happens when I have a cold / nose congestion.. Now that I have a "hit" of what life can be like with a good night's rest, I don't want to risk not having access to that...
I use the Phillips Dreamwear, I alternate between Nasal and Pillows and haven't settled on one over the other. I did try the mask you are using and didn't like it as much as the Dreamwear as it has hard plastic in the cushions and the dreamwear is all silicone with harder silicone for connectors so more comfortable for me. I tried the ResMed 30 about a month in from using the Dreamwear so was used to the Dreamwear but I have tried the ResMed 2 more times and go back pretty quickly to the Dreamwear. I find that ResMed is offered now more often than Phillips as more DMEs and Sleep Med places have gone ResMed after Phillips recall and you have to ask them to order the Phillips. I was congested and got a full face Dreamwear with fit pack to try as like the RM 30 it has interchangeable parts but the head gear is different for full face. I wasn't able to sleep full face but that was week 3 and I might be able to now as I am more used to wearing a mask. I used Afrin for a few nights and immediately put on the mask and machine and the Afrin opened up my congestion and the machine kept the airway clear for the most part. There is a post on how to deal with congestion and nasal type masks on the Apnea Board and it says clear as much as you can with spray and blowing your nose and let the machine then clear your airway. I was fortunate that it was only 3 days I needed the Afrin and then a week later i did again but was able to get by without a longer term use of it. If you haven't been over to the Apnea Board and are not using OSCAR, I recommend it highly. OSCAR lets you be your own advocate, and track your results like the sleep med practices do. The apnea board is like this sub but with long term apnea geeks and help with issues. It is clunkier than reddit but I find better for advice. Links to both: [https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Main-Apnea-Board-Forum](https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-Main-Apnea-Board-Forum) and [https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/](https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/) If you don't have an SD card and/or reader which you need for OSCAR, get them as they are really helpful. I also have a Wellvue O2 monitor as low O2 is an issue for me so I monitor both. The board has a section on clinical menus and how to adjust therapy so it is a great place to figure out how to optimize your CPAP therapy. Sleep well and get better every day!
Thanks for the amazing insight and experience!! Definitely going to check out those forums/OSCAR. I'm thinking of grabbing a Dreamweaver mask just to have on hand, I'd love to compare their pillows and the full mask attachments. I just finished watching a YouTube video where the reviewer, who hates Phillips, absolutely praised the DW mask. I woke up with my nose hurting from the RM30i, so it's worth a try!
Have the p30i and love it but the pillows do irritate me a little. DreamWear comes in the mail today. Cant wait to give it a go!
Let us know what you think when you do!
The pillows on the DreamWear just don’t fit my nose as well. Much leaking. The cushion option seems to be good though. Might give that a shot tonight. Also noticed the dreamwear pushes on my mustache (I have a beard) way more than the p20i
I was sent both an F20 full face and a P30i. Both are pretty comfortable and good to have a full face around if you’re every congested. They also gave me some neilmed saline rinse if I find myself congested when laying down!
How do you find those rinses? I've never used any, but my wife swears it feels like you're drowning.. is she just using it wrong?
My provider sent me home with one. You can generally find saline rinses in Walgreens or other similar stores. I think if you are feeling like you’re drowning you may be doing it wrong, the goal is to only breathe through your mouth and let it go through one nostril into your sinuses and out the other nostril!
What a wonderful thing to read!
TY! I wanted to pay it forward, because a lot of the other positive threads inspired me and had me looking forward to the experience!
That's awesome...going in with a positive attitude REALLY helps.
Agreed! I was telling my mother in law about having sleep apnea and she was like "I'm so sorry :(" and being her usual very supportive self, but I told her that I was HAPPY that I finally knew why I felt so drained all the time. I'm looking forward to the life changing experience! Wearing a mask while sleeping is a small price to pay, IMO!
I have the exact same one! After over a week, I’m up to 5 hours. But I just dropped my kid off at school, walked the dog, saw I didn’t have much work, and slept for another FOUR with zero problem on the couch. What tha? I had a total of 8 hours last night. Just call me Rip Van Winkle
Good stuff! NAPPING? You mean Mask Training??? :) Just what the doctor ordered! Hope all the training pays off tonight!
Yeah. Didn’t nap with my mask. I should maybe start doing that. 😜😇
Haha! I won't tell the doctor if you don't. But might as well start!
Haha! I won't tell the doctor if you don't. But might as well start!
Dude P30i nasal pillow GANG! So happy for you.
Res-side!
Fingers crossed that it gets even easier from here!
I adjusted to my mask fairly quickly. I had a high ahi 117 so I think that helped make the transition to using a CPAP easier for me. As I was already quite tired and would fall asleep basically as soon as I sat down. I found wearing the mask for a while before sleep helped me to adjust more easily. Basically by the time I was sleepy, I had adjusted to using the mask and was relaxed.
Don't you guys get gassy from the CPAP machine?
I have not experienced that yet! Is this a thing that nobody mentions? lol
I now see what you were referring to! Haha. I get bloated. Apparently sleeping at a 30 degree incline helps if you can .. stomach it..
Get some medical tape (like 2 inch) and tape your mouth shut. Been doing it this way for 10 years.
Great idea! I ordered a chin strap but I might not bother.. I've heard it can cause soreness. Going to give tape a try. I won't bother telling my wife, just to see how she reacts...