DanM

Hi @ImaginativeScarletDolphin9830. Feel free to create a new topic here on the Forum! We really like reading about the experiences of our members!

My pleasure, George! Getting the right mask fit is half (or more) of the battle! It would be great to hear more experiences from other patients out there. Glad you like the Forum!

Hi @HappySleepingUser. Thanks for posting! Your story is similar to many who have struggled with poor mask fit. I have been a CPAP user for many years now, and I had the same struggle in the beginning. I even gave up and did not wear treatment for several years. I found a good home care company that helped me find a good mask, and I have been wearing my treatment faithfully for quite some time. It really does work, and I am happy you are feeling better. Granted, traveling with the units is not so great, but the size and weight of the machines has improved over the years and will hopefully continue to do so! Best of luck, and thanks again!

Hi Sandy (@CompassionateChampagneGuineaPig2367). Thank you for sharing your story here on the MyApnea.Org Forum! Feel free to create a new topic area on the Forum that may attract others who either have Sjogren's Syndrome or who may have helpful information to post.

CPAP and BiPAP masks are the same, meaning the same masks are used for both types of treatment. It is only the treatment mode on the actual equipment that is different. The important thing with the mask for any patient is to make sure you find one that fits as comfortably as possible to provide maximum benefit with as little leak as possible. A mask with proper fit should not leak air into the eyes. Whether a patient uses a nasal mask, a nasal pillow, or a full face mask (covering both the nose and mouth) will depend on how they breath and how well they tolerate a particular mask type. For patients who breath through their mouth, a nasal mask may contribute to mouth dryness because air is pushed into the nose and then is exhaled through the open mouth. Those patients often find a full face mask to be the better option because humidified air can enter through either the nose or the mouth. The air pressure can create dryness, so a humidifier either built into or attached to the machine is important. Some patients with severe dryness also find that adding a room humidifier and/or other products (mouth washes, nasal sprays/creams, etc.) helps lessen dryness.

I hope this helps! We hope to develop more educational materials in the future, and I will keep your post in mind!

Dan

Hi @wiredgeorge. There is a certain amount of mask leak that is considered normal. This amount is determined by the manufacturer of the mask and is referred to as the "intentional link" value. The Simplus mask is made by Fisher & Paykel. First, ResMed's software is likely geared toward their masks and the intentional leak values associated with those masks. Second, many modern machines, including those made by ResMed, can compensate for some amount of mask leak. While your score for mask leak may be poor according to the software, and it is possible that your mask seal could be a little better, as long as your AHI is controlled and you are doing well, I wouldn't think you should be concerned. Many patients I have worked with have had mask leak values higher than what may be considered optimal, but their therapy was effective and controlling their sleep apnea. If you are comfortable with your mask, feeling better, sleeping well, and your AHI is controlled, congratulations!

Great to hear, @Otherwise. Please keep us posted, as there is much interest in the didgeridoo as a potential treatment for sleep apnea!

Another good point, wiredgeorge! Filters are often forgotten because they are not easy to see on some machines. Kudos for the troubleshooting and solving the problem! I encourage patients reading this post to locate the filter on your machine and check to see if it needs to be changed. Your equipment provider should be able to provide filters. If you cannot locate the filter, ask your provider for some education about your machine!

Good points, wiredgeorge. Clean skin and a clean mask are important in both maintaining a good mask seal and prevent breakdown of the mask due to oils from the skin. A clean mask may also help prevent infection, as bacteria can accumulate on the mask cushion and may enter to body if there is a small scratch, cut or other skin irritation.

Hello, @BraveMaroonHeron5065. If you go to the main Forum page and search "Inspire" using the search box in the upper-right corner, all topics that mention Inspire therapy will be listed.

There is also a research article posted here: https://myapnea.org/blog/new-frontiers-in-the-treatment-of-sleep-apnea-unilateral-hypoglossal-nerve-stimulation

Hope this helps!

Hi @UnderstandingEmeraldSquid6348. I agree with Ruby that taking these questions to your doctor may be helpful. As a sleep technologist, I can say that we generally like to see blood oxygen levels in the 90s during a sleep study. Even when blood oxygen is in the upper 90s, if there are respiratory events (like central apneas or obstructive apneas) that cause your blood oxygen level to drop more than 3 or 4 points or cause interruption in your sleep, you can still have a diagnosis of sleep apnea. Ruby is also correct in that time spent awake during a sleep study is taken into consideration. It can be normal for people to have brief pauses in breathing when falling asleep, and those situations are usually considered in a sleep study as well. I hope this helps, and please keep us posted!