using cpap and still frustrated

So I've been using my ResMed Air Sense 10 for a year. Diagnosis was severe OSA with AHI of 50. I use it almost every night - 28/30 in Oct, except for a weekend of tent camping. I'm still only averaging 4 hrs/night, and some nights are only an hour or two. For October, my machine was used a total of 113hours with only 16 days with over 4 hours. 8hrs/night for 28 nights = 224 hrs. My sleep reports are good for the time I do use it, with good mask seal and AHI of ~1 to 1.5. My problem is I wake up every morning with my mask on the floor. I'm a side sleeper and use a couple of body pillows after a couple of spinal fusion surgeries. I think I manage to break the seal and pull it off when I get blasted. I really wish it had an alarm go off when the seal is broken to wake me up. I still feel tired and get chronic migraines, asthma, and acid reflux. I'm on so many prescriptions it's ridiculous and my neurologist says I'm not going to be able to get the migraines under control until I get the SA under control. I haven't seen any improvement in Reflux or asthma. I don't feel like its helping all that much, but my sleep doctor was pleased with my numbers. I've tried several masks, and found one ok, but obviously it's not great. My insurance only allows me to replace it every 6 months, and the last one I tried was horrible, so I'm afraid to keep trying new ones. I can try new ones from my dr, but he's a 3 hour drive one way, so takes a whole day plus a tank of gas to try each mask. I've got a killer migraine tonight and am just feeling so frustrated.

Fearless- I didn't know the ResMed AirSense 10 went to those high levels but maybe I could be wrong. Your results are good but there is a reason you are pulling your mask off. If it is blasts of air and total leaks, that is wrong. i can't imagine at your level just why it wouldn't throw the mask across the room by itself. This machine is set to know when you are awake or sleeping. My machine must have been stupid. I had to turn the Ramp from Auto and set it for a 15. Quite illegal because I did it myself, but it worked. You should explain this to your tech or sleep Dr. that set up your prescription by phone. They can change your setting using WiFi.

As far as your insurance that has only a 6-month replacement of masks, I think you get to try a new one out for up to 30 days and you then can replace it Don't know why all of this can't be done by mail at your medical supply location.

I feel for your migraines. I had the worse and with the longest duration for over 15 years. Now they are gone since I turned older. 15 years ago, you couldn't get much help for them except pain meds. These times have changed.

Keep in them ! Today we are just a number.

-Barb

Hi Fearless. It sounds like you have been quite persistent with wearing your therapy despite the mask issue. Congratulations on that, and I am glad you are not giving up. Mask fit is one of the most difficult pieces of managing CPAP therapy, and some people search for the right mask for a long time before finding something that works. I struggled for the first couple of years on treatment, and it was all related to the masks I tried not being comfortable. I eventually found one that works well and am able to wear my therapy all night. I do sometimes remove the mask during the night, but that is now rare. I encourage you to talk to your physician and see if you can get a prescription for a new mask fit. Perhaps insurance will pay with a new prescription? Also, have you tried things like mask liners to see if they help? You can do a quick internet search for CPAP mask liners, and you should find a couple of companies that make them. Many patients report that the liners make a tremendous difference comfort and/or leak levels. Best wishes, and please keep us posted!