"Hi
The SleepCube was a private purchase, as way back then my local sleep clinic assessed patients by filming them overnight, whilst wearing an oximeter, and only issued CPAP machines without humidifiers. There was no remote monitoring and…"
Sleep Apnoea Forum Bringing Help + Support to the Patient
Newbie with questions
Hi Everyone,
I was diagnosed with OSA on Friday just gone. I'm still quite shocked by the result. 45 apnoes per hour! After a talk with my GP back in Feb because of daytime tiredness, it was suspected that I might have OSA but after waiting so long for the NHS that my girlfriend paid for me to see a consultant privately and after only a week, I had the result. He has lent me a machine, from Res-med, an auto spirit ll, and a full face mask called Mirage Quattro. The first night was a little awkward and I woke after a few hours with a very dry mouth and a pain in my nose from the pressure. There is no humidifier with this machine, and I don't know if/when I get a machine on the NHS that it will have one either? I guess I had the mask too tight so last night I loosened it and I slept better. However I now have a small cluster of tiny spots on my nose where the mask sits. Is this a normal occurrence?I understand the mask has to seal on my face, but is there a knack to getting the tightness correct? obviously since the diagnosis I have looked at all the different machines, masks and accessories available and to be honest, it is all a bit overwhelming! How do I know if a full face is the best for me? The choice wasn't there at the diagnosis? With the price of everything, I cant afford to make a mistake, so I would welcome advice on any aspect please?
Views: 218
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on
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Hi David and Welcome!
I totally understand your shock, as I was shocked too when I got my own diagnosis of 30 per hour!
When you get your machine from the NHS you should be able to get a humidifier as most clinics give them out on request.
Sounds like your consultant has just kindly lent you a machine and a mask he had to get you started on treatment, so it's worth doing your homework on what mask you think might suit you before you go to your NHS clinic. I wrote a blog on masks, which is on this link http://www.sleepapnoeablog.com/choosing-a-cpap-bipap-masks-for-slee... but since I wrote the blog there's an amazing mask for nasal breathers been released, called the Wisp. You can see it on the website http://www.hope2sleep.co.uk/products/103 Can I also say, that if you decide to purchase a mask yourself from our website, please don't hesitate to ask for help first, because I also hate it when people make mistakes by purchasing masks that aren't suitable. I've wasted 100's of £'s myself in the past trying different masks!
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Permalink Reply by David Vinnicombe on
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Hi Kath,
Many thanks for your reply. The article is excellent reading and has helped me understand more. In fact I have learned a lot of very useful information today on your site, even if I have to read over it a few more times. Thank you for all your help.
Kath Hope said:Hi David and Welcome!
I totally understand your shock, as I was shocked too when I got my own diagnosis of 30 per hour!
When you get your machine from the NHS you should be able to get a humidifier as most clinics give them out on request.
Sounds like your consultant has just kindly lent you a machine and a mask he had to get you started on treatment, so it's worth doing your homework on what mask you think might suit you before you go to your NHS clinic. I wrote a blog on masks, which is on this link http://www.sleepapnoeablog.com/choosing-a-cpap-bipap-masks-for-slee... but since I wrote the blog there's an amazing mask for nasal breathers been released, called the Wisp. You can see it on the website http://www.hope2sleep.co.uk/products/103 Can I also say, that if you decide to purchase a mask yourself from our website, please don't hesitate to ask for help first, because I also hate it when people make mistakes by purchasing masks that aren't suitable. I've wasted 100's of £'s myself in the past trying different masks!
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You're very welcome David and I've just looked at that picture of yourself you've just posted. You have a small chin and it looks like your lower bit is behind your upper one. This will be at least some of the reasons why you have sleep apnoea, as when you go into REM sleep the jaw will fall back causing overcrowding of your airways - no doubt by your tongue falling back too. By the way, you can use the picture as your profile (instead of the Hope2Sleep logo) if you want.
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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on
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Welcome David, I also use the Mirage Quattro, it is difficult to master at the start, full face masks are for mouth breathers, if you dont breathe through your mouth you can try a nasal mask or nasal pillows. The red spots are from the silicone rubbing against your face. If you stick with this mask I would suggest you use mask liners which you can make yourself which are fairly cheap. They are a layer of fabric which sits between your face and the silicone and can assist with mask leaks. I can send you the instructions on how to make them but would wait till you decide what mask you end up sticking with.
There is no knack to getting the tightness correct as everyone has a different sized face, the mask is supposed to be as loose as possible without getting too many leaks. The idea of that mask is as the pressure raises the cushion expands in theory you shouldn't need it too tight and it should just sit on your face, the problem is if you move from side to side the mask may move. It is overwhelming at the start, the more you learn the easier it gets and if you have any questions please ask, you will learn more here or any of the other websites than your clinic, good luck, Terry
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Hi Terry, Thank you for your reply. I slept through last night which I'm pleased about, but I did have to loosen the mask a little as it hurt my nose where the spots are. However my girlfriend did say she noticed a slight leak at one point. I've ordered a nose bridge strip from the shop on here, but I'd be interested to know more about the mask liners you mention? I am learning more, especially from this site. It's one thing knowing that there are many other people who have OSA, it's another actually hearing from them. Thank you.
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David, Kath does similar I think, I bought some Remzzz’s mask liners a 6 pack and although they say to only use them once you can wash them and get about 5-6 uses. I then made a template of what I needed from their liners and went to a fabric shop and got 3 ft of 50% cotton/ 50 % poly fabric and cut out my own and they also last 5-6 uses, the next time I bought 3
ft of 50% cotton/ 50 % lycra fabric. That last me about 3 months and costs about ten dollars. No need to do any sewing.I think Kath makes her in her favourite colours. Until you are diagnosed with this illness you don't know much about it, my life has turned around since being diagnosed and starting my treatment, hope you have the same journey. One other tip I give newbies I have my hose coming from above my head, you can buy a product called a hose lift or look it up on the net and you could make one yourself or just have your hose coming over your bedhead. It saves you getting tangled and the gravity pulls the mask up not down, keep us informed how your going, Terry
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Hi everyone,
Thank you for all your great advice. I'm starting to feel a bit easier about it all. The machine I am using has kindly been lent to me by my consultant, until I can get one from the NHS. However I have been looking at different machines today, particularly the S9 Autoset from Resmed. I was wondering if anyone on here has any idea of the cost as no prices on their website?
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The Resmed S9 Auto and the Respironics System One APAP are both excellent machines and are around £500 plus the cost of a humidifier at around £150. Here in the UK we can buy direct from the manufacturer and I'd highly recommend this for the best support. I use the Respironics and can guarantee their customer support is one of the best out there if any problems come to light. If you're buying your own I would definitely recommend the auto machines (APAP) and you can keep a check on your own sleep stats too. Not many NHS clinics supply these as standard, which is why I bought my own.
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David, this is probably the most important thing you need to look into at the moment, it is a matter of cost, I use the Resmed S9 Autoset and in Australia our cost is double the price of yours and we have to pay for all machines and equipment ourselves but I would have paid anything for it. In the UK, as Kath has mentioned they will give you the basic model probably a Resmed Escape, it will do the job but is not an auto machine and not data capable. The auto machines are different to straight CPAP as you can set a low pressure and a high pressure, so it runs low while you are breathing correctly and detects when you stop breathing and increases the pressure to what is required, then over time reverts back. This is good for your comfort. We use software which is free to analysis our data that can only be used on data capable machines, this lets us take our treatment into our own hands and less reliance on clinics, the data show what we have been doing minute by minute during the night. Obviously it comes down to cost, if you can afford it, get an auto, if not, use the machine you are given but what ever you do, use the machine, Terry
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