Re: CPAP - OT

[Guest guest]

Well, it took me about 1 month to get use to wearing the head gear

and be comfortable .. I have found the nasal pillows to be more

comfortable then the mask.. In addition I have sinus problems already

so I use the humidifier all the time .. Otherwise you will get a

serious irritation in your nose ... this also depends on the pressure

your CPAP is set @ ..... Now at first I could hardly tolerate the

pressure but my muscles got use to it and they are now nonresistant

to the pressure. but still effective .. PS make sure you invest in a

good machine you don't want one that is BIG and Bulky and LOUD!!!!!

Check them out and don't let them just give you anything ... and make

sure the pressure setting can be changed to a higher setting example

20 is the highest but some machines do not go that high and if later

you would need to be adjusted and your machine does not go any higher

the you could be out of BIG $$$$$...

[Guest guest]

I just got fitted for a C-PAP machine. (Another reason for me to

have WLS). What I was wondering was how long it took

someone to get used to using it ? . . . , but it still felt really

weird and it felt like the inside of my nose was sore afterwards.

He said that wasn't abnormal, but we'd see if I need a humidifier

or if I'd just get used to it, etc). What I want to know is how long it

took to get used to it and when did it start helping ?

>

>

Anita;

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in January 1998. My first

setting was a 7. My impression was that is pretty low. However,

mine has been raised a little bit at a time and is currently 10. Dr.

is requiring me to have a more current sleep study so I

go this Sunday night to the same hospital I had the original study

done at.

As far as the mask goes and the comfort. I ended up going

through about 21 different combinations of various masks, nasal

pillows and nasal inserts (which actually go in the nostril rather

than rest under it as nasal pillows do). I tried masks that made

me look like 'Freddy Kruger' from that scary movie. I tried various

apparatus that surrounded my head.

You name it, I probably tried it. The nice thing is that insurance

just kept paying because it was obvious that the repiratory

therapy company that was providing the equipment was

searching for something that would work.

I also had the problem where the masks and pillows and inserts

were irritating my skin. In fact, after using any single combination

long enough, I would look like I had diaper rash. It was NOT

because the equipment was rubbing against my skin, it was an

allergy to the material. Unfortunately, all the masks and pilllows

were all made from the same material. Actually, there might have

been two different materials. The problem was I have sensitive

skin and could not tolerate the material for more than a week at a

time.

This created a situation where I would use one get-up until my

skin could not tolerate it any longer, than I would switch to

another while the skin that was irritated from the first would clear

up. The problem was, I constantly had irritated skin; sometimes

it even hurt.

Everytime my respiratory therapist would come over (with yet

another new mask) I would ask if there wasn't yet a

'hypo-allergetic' material we could try. Finally the day came when

the anser was 'YES! " This was after two years of playing 'musical

masks'. So, to answer your question, for me the answer was two

years until I settled into a mask that really is right for me.

If the mask, or pillow material is bothering your skin, ask to try a

'PHANTOM' mask. Make sure it's the hypo-allergetic one (or it

may be advertised as " for sensitive skin " ) because Phantom

does make a model that is the same material as all the other

brands.

I also had trouble with the 'others' in making the darn thing stay

on my head. The Phantom I described comes with a great head

set that is adjustable after it's alread on.

Oh yes, I started out without a humidifier and they added that. It is

much better with the humidifer because without the humidifier,

the air that is being forced into your nose is 'dry and harsh'; with

the humidifier, the water 'softens' the dry air.

Good luck. If you want specific model number for the Phantom

mask, send me an email and I'll make sure you have what you

need.

hugs,

gobo

" Sometimes We Never Know How We Influence the Lives of

Others, Yet We Touch Those Lives Just the Same "