DanM

Hi @shadowfx78. Congratulations on completing your titration and starting treatment. Many patients report success with lead reduction using the mask liners. You can also try cutting your own mask liners using moleskin. It also sometimes helps to make sure your skin is cleansed and any skin care products have been removed in the area where the mask seals. Please keep us posted, and thanks for sharing! I'd be interested to hear about whether you think the liners are helpful.

Hi @wiredgeorge. So happy to hear that you have had good experiences here on the forum. We do have some great members with lots of knowledge and experience. Fortunately, most of us remember the challenges from when we were first starting out. You might consider asking your physician to order an overnight oximetry study. Some insurance providers will approve this to help confirm that blood oxygenations levels are improved and as they should be once treatment has been established. Please continue to visit the forums, participate in the surveys, and share your experiences. Your post might be the one that helps another newbie! Thanks, and best wishes!

Hi @shadowfx78. Mask leaks can be difficult to manage, but congratulations on your treatment progress! Have you considered contacting your equipment supplier to see if there may be a mask with a better fit? What type of mask are you wearing--nasal pillow, nasal, full face? Sometimes practicing and trying various mask adjustments while awake and in your normal sleeping position can be helpful.

Hi @CalmVioletHamster5920. I would encourage you to speak with the physician that requested the authorization from your insurance company. Based on my own experience with insurance, including BCBS (not TN, however), denials are not uncommon. Your physician may need to provide additional and/or corrected information to help justify the need for surgery.

Hi @azpatsmr. Manufacturers generally do not recommend adding oils directly to the water chamber of your CPAP machine. The oils can cause buildup in your water chamber, and some oils may actually damage the material the chamber is made from. There are other ways to add aromatherapy to your treatment. If you Google CPAP aromatherapy, you should find some results. Several of the systems involve placing a small disc or wafer (usually cotton or some other absorbent material) with a few drops of the aromatherapy product near the intake on the CPAP machine. Let us know if you try one of these and what you think!

Hi @ToughScarletWaterBuffalo1267. Patients often experience mouth-breathing and various other issues when first starting CPAP treatment. When I first started treatment, I would often wake myself up because I was mouth breathing and the air was just blowing up my nose until I had to somehow let it out (usually by removing the mask and breathing for a minute or two). As I practiced breathing with my mouth closed, the issue resolved. A good respiratory therapist told me to practice while I was awake by pressing the tip of my tongue to the roof of my mouth behind my teeth and just breathing that way while I was wearing the mask. A few evenings in front of the television practicing this before I went to be were very helpful. If you are not able to eventually keep your mouth closed and breath through your nose, you might consider trying a chin strap or a full face mask.

Hi @wiredgeorge. Happy to see you were able to update your user name! As for the mask, I agree with @sleep that sometimes trying to practice and get the mask adjusted in positions other than on your back may be helpful. If not during the day, maybe you can try when you get home in the evening? Otherwise, it might still be that you just do not have the best mask for your face. I know from an earlier post that you obtained one and then shaved your beard. Since you no longer have facial hair, you might require a mask a bit smaller or with a better seal.

Hi @sleepybeachoyster. The symptoms you describe are not usually related to CPAP use. Hopefully, CPAP actually improves energy levels. Patients do often describe a reduction in amount and/or severity of headaches if they had morning headaches prior to use. I encourage you to speak to your physician about these other symptoms you are experiencing to see if they may be caused by other health conditions or are possible medication side-effects. Best wishes, and please keep us posted!

Hi @IntelligentEmeraldJay4638. I had a similar experience a few years ago after some sedation. Now, I take my CPAP machine with me and explicitly tell the anesthesiologist and medical staff that I have sleep apnea and want to be placed on my CPAP if I am asleep. On a recent visit to the hospital, I did exactly this and had a really great experience with the medical team. After making them aware of my sleep apnea, the medical team came to discuss my OSA with me and changed their plan for how I would be managed. I had a great experience because my team was well-versed in sleep apnea and the potential dangers related to anesthesia. I hope more patients will have conversations with their care teams, and more care teams will become educated about sleep apnea and the effects of medications on patients who have the condition. If you need to be sedated in the future, I would encourage you to ask to speak to the anesthesiologist and explain the seriousness of the situation, and be explicit in your wish to be placed on your treatment. Good luck!

Hi @IntelligentEmeraldJay4638. It is fairly normal for CPAP users, myself included, to swallow some air. One tip I was given early on was to practice breathing only through my nose with my tongue pressed to the roof of my mouth and the tip of my tongue touching behind my teeth. Eventually, I felt that I was swallowing less air. It took some time to adjust, but I no longer have stomach discomfort in the mornings. Any other members with thoughts about this? Best wishes, and please keep us posted!