Kath Hope's Page

Hi Kath, thanks for the welcome. Having just started therapy after a 2 year struggle to get diagnosed I have a bunch of questions but I'll try to see if they've been asked and answered on the forum first before raining them down on everyone. 

Thanks Kath, I'll wait until Marion's able to reply. I don't want to disturb while she's poorly - it can wait for now.  Thanks once again for your help x

Hi Kath, thanks for the comment about Marion and sorry to hear she's not well.  I've added her as a friend and am waiting for her to accept.  I'm not sure where I should copy/paste my comment to her though as it already appears to be there?  I'm not familiar with the forum set-up yet - that's my excuse anyway! x

Thank you for adding me, already I've received so much support and information, and it's very much appreciated!

Thanks Kath!

Interesting ... thanks Kath, I'll take a look.  I've also been using mine for years - 15 in fact and get along with it fine now (after a load of teething problems!).  What I do hate is the weight and bulk of it.  I'm worrying about how me and my husband can get away for a few days in the summer as he's just had his driving licence revoked due to ill-health and I can't drive.  I guess I'll be pleading with Papworth again when I go in a couple of months to test me on other (smaller) machines - usually to no avail!

Hi Kath, thanks again for the useful info. Firstly I did wonder if it's some natural oils coming out of my skin; I always wash before bed and use no creams. You mentioned the change in temperature during the night, well, my face often gets hot and I wondered if that could cause the mask to slip as well as a drop in temp.

I clean my mask every day, wiping with a little washing up liquid then wipe/rinse with clean wet cloth.

The hospital tried me on APAP but when the pressure rose it caused leaking so they change it for me.

I have a medium size mask (the hospital fitted it) and although I have a small face I have quite a big nose lol.

I visited the sleep clinic last June/July at St James Hospital in Leeds, when I was given the CPAP machine. I haven't been asked to go back yet; they only gave me one spare filter. How long would you expect a mask to last and how often should I change the filter?

NB I have just order some items from your website which may help me too; the cleansing wipes, the cream to help sore skin etc and the card (in case of emergency).

Thank you so much for your help, glad I found you

I almost always get off get off to sleep with no problem at all; my mask appears to fit quite well, however, after maybe two or three hours I wake up; mask leaking usually from around top of nose. Trouble is when I awake I then want the loo, anyway, I have realised that if I wipe my face and mask with a damp cloth (I have this at the side of bed) after I've done faffing, I can sometimes go back to sleep for another hour or so, but, sometimes at this time I just cannot get the mask to fit without it leaking; then I give up.