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Sleep Apnoea Forum Bringing Help + Support to the Patient
Newcomer with a question?
Hi to everyone out there it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one with this condition (although at first I thought I Was). I was diagnosed in July 2011 and it was a condition that I had never heard of before.
I originally went to the doctors because my wife kept nagging me about keeping her awake every night with my snoring (I dare say I’m not the only one out there who has encountered the same thing). Anyway I went to my GP and he sent me to the hospital they in turn they ran tests which ended up me being told that I have moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
Even though it’s been nearly a year now I still find it hard to come to terms with wearing the mask every night, my wife thinks that it’s like being in bed with mixture of “Hannibal Lecter” and “Darth Vader” (in fairness she always insists that I wear it).
The thing that put it all into perspective for me was in one of Kath’s emails she told of a woman who had lost her life potentially from not wearing her CPAP.
I just wanted to ask you all “how do you deal with it” (wearing the mask?). I keep getting a redness on the bridge of my nose every morning and I know the mask is not tight has anyone had the same problem and if so what have you done to solve it?
Well that’s my story and I am glad that I found this website as it seems to be very informative and I am interested to know how other people deal with the day to day issues of CPAP machines along with the condition.
Thank you
Views: 245
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on
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Welcome to the forum Michael, and trust me, the number of people who are getting diagnosed with sleep apnoea is growing by the day. An article I read just the other day mentioned there could be as many as 1 in 10 people with sleep apnoea - most undiagnosed. We might not feel it when we have to adorn our Darth Vader outfit every night, but in reality, we are the lucky ones that have been diagnosed, as at least we are being protected from all the other linked conditions. Have a read of the Blog I did about coming to terms with wearing the mask IS CPAP A BLESSING OR A CURSE? Also read the comments other people have left - in particular the last one from Jan, who is a funeral director.
Regarding the redness on the bridge of your nose, a lot of people are finding help from the Nasal Soft CPAP Cushions I use them myself when I have to resort to a traditional mask. You can also investigate other types of masks which don't touch the bridge of your nose. Most of the time I use the FitLife which leaves no marks whatsoever on my face, but if you're a nasal breather only, then the GoLife is getting great feedback.
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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I had alot of trouble with PAP. As a tech it took me almost 6 months to embrace it for what it is. PAP will add years to your life. That is the most important thing you can come to terms with.
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Permalink Reply by Julie on
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Hi Michael
I'm kind of glad to hear that your wife nagged you about keeping her awake otherwise you might not have been diagnosed. I'm also pleased to hear that she encourages you to wear it. I was diagnosed around two and half years ago and it took me about 9 months to adjust to wearing a CPAP mask. I felt a little claustrophobic along with the odd panic attack and feeling of not being able to breath. I used to take the mask off during the night as I couldn't bear wearing it any longer. After persevering I now find I can't sleep with out it and in the summer it has a cooling effect. I suffer a red mark occasionally at the bridge of my nose and it's usually because the mask cushion needs replacing, Once I get a new one from the hospital it seems to resolve the issue for another few months. Like you I was a heavy snorer and one night my husband noticed that I stopped breathing for quite some time so he kept watching just to make sure I took a breath. I told the doctor this and she sent me off to the sleep clinic for tests. They told me that if I didn't score over 12 on the questionnaire they wouldn't treat me but I refused to give higher scores to the questions and wanted to be honest about it so my score was only about 8. However during the night my oxygen levels dropped to 72% so I think they had no option than to treat me. They placed the mask on around 3am and I fell straight back to sleep again which gave them the results they needed to confirm that CPAP worked. My husband calls me darth for short but I threaten him with the mask and that's usually enough to deter him. I used to get up a couple of times during the night to go to the little girls room which is a symptom of OSA but now I sleep right through. Re the redness on your nose you can buy nose strips which may help. You could also buy a piece of lint and place it on your nose before wearing your mask. Maybe your mask cushion needs replacing? I have mine replaced every 6 months.
Anyway perserve, try the strips and if that doesn't work try the lint and let us know how things go.
All the best
Julie
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Permalink Reply by snoreyhead on
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I think a lot of the issues with anyone who has a CPAP machine is the mental attitude to it and we all would prefer to be without it, however dwelling on the negative aspects of it doesn't help you to come to terms with it. The mental attitude can be interpreted as a physical as it is easy to focus on the negative element of a physical in a dominating thought, and blow it up into an issue rather than accept it as an adjustment that has to take place. Viewing it as an important aid for your health and not allowing the negative aspect to dominate your thoughts will help you to come to terms with it as a friend and not an enemy.
Stick with it as it is well worth the adjustment.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Barrett on
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Thank you all for your feedback it is much appreciated. I will stick with it (as there is no other choice) and I know it’s for the benefit of my health which is most important.
Does anyone know someone who has had the operation for this condition? My doctor told me that there is not a very good success rate and there is no guarantee that it works. However, I don’t know if they tell you this so as to put you off?
Anyway once again many thanks and hopefully speak soon?????
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This time your Dr is being honest with you Michael lol. There are very few success rates with surgery. Many people appear to be temporarily cured, but the symptoms often return further down the line. I've had nasal surgery (deviated septum and turbinate reduction) which has made CPAP much more comfortable as I can now breathe through my nose. It's also lowered my hypopnoeas, but not the obstructive apnoeas, which are caused by a large tongue base and soft palate (and they're not touching those lol). My ENT surgeon did offer to operate on the soft palate, but I've heard too many bad stories with no cure about this!
I do know of someone who was cured by the way, but he had ALL the procedures done (tongue, palate, nose, uvula), including have his jaw completely realigned - yikes! Give me CPAP anyday ;) You will get used to it, just like if you wear glasses you've got used to them.
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Permalink Reply by stephen smith on
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Hi Michael.
I too am new to the CPAP machine and I have read a lot of people have had various troubles with the mask, the main one being leaking and the second probably being a sore bridge of the nose. I am one of the lucky ones and took to the mask quite quickly, about 10 days to wear it all night. I did sometimes suffer from the reddening skin/soreness on the bridge of the nose. I helped this by massaging the red skin with a little savlon when I woke up, making sure that any residue of savlon is removed fully before using the mask next (any left on will cause leaking). This seemed to help but some days were worse than others, not bad just annoying. I then went to the sleep apnea meeting at James Cook University Hospital and met the rep from Resmed. He showed me the nasal pillow mask. A week later, my specialist (who might I add is amazing) had got them in and I was being fitted with one. This mask does not make the nose sore but has leaking issues and for the first 4 or 5 days the septum of my nose felt like someone had been pinching it all night. Apparently that's normal??????. Well I kept going with it and its great. The soreness has gone and the septum feels normal again.
I do have thoughts sometimes about not wearing it but I only have to remember what I was like without it and there is no question. The mask goes on and button pressed. I wake up fresh, well as fresh as I can be. lol. My girlfriend does want to hold a pillow of my face anymore, thats good! Well the positives can be endless.
So my words to you are keep going, dont give up and enjoy the benefits of having a full nights sleep.
ooops sorry I have just realised how long this post is. Sorry for going on but I just love my CPAP machine and would not be without it.
Take care and happy sleeps
Steve :o)
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Hi Steve
Thanks for your email.
Did you get the Nasal pillow mask through the NHS or did you have to pay for it yourself?
Regards
Mick
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Hi
I got it from the NHS although if you have trouble getting one you can get one direct from Resmed if money is available. I think they are about 110 quid. I know thats a lot for something you dont know if its gooing to work or not. I would hastle your specialist and get one from them. You might have to lay it on with a trowl tho. lol.
Hope that helps
Steve
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If they don't have that one Mick at your hospital, they might have the GoLife which is getting excellent feedback. If you're a mouth breather you'll need a separate chin strap though. Another good nasal pillow mask for mouth breathers is the Innomed Hybrid, which you can get direct from Devilbiss.
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Thank you both
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I have been wearing one of the cloth SleepWeaver masks for over 4 months now and like it a lot. I used to be troubled with red marks and soreness on the bridge of my nose with other nasal masks but have had none of these problems with the SleepWeaver. The mask is very, very light and feels to me like the next best thing to no mask. While most nasal masks work best with a hose lift, the SleepWeaver works best with the hose coming down rather than lifted up.
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