Hi @ConvivialPrussianBlueLobster1063 . It can happen that on your first sleep study night you had what is commonly referred to in the sleep lab community as "first night effect"- just meaning perhaps you did not sleep as soundly in a new environment. Upon the second night, the feeling of "not so new environment" perhaps allowed you to sleep more deeply where your upper airway could relax and reproduce the apneic events for your study tracing.
Generally, obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that worsens over time, until it is highly noticeable. A person may just start out with some benign snoring. Hope this helps, and thank you for your question.
@IntellectualViridianMule8841 - You have a very special circumstance. I have some information for you that I hope you will find helpful. I will be back in my office Monday and will reply then. Thanks so much for your post.
@SeattleGrant I have heard very few problems from my patients that use a full-face mask. Most of the time the few complaints were related to claustrophobic feelings.
Your ENT physician should be able to monitor anything related to your jaw if you have concerns.
I actually know quite a few patients that rotate their masks, and sometimes have two or three on hand.
Reimbursements on PAP mask replacements vary from one insurance company to another, so it is best to check with them on your "refils." Many will allow mask replacements every few months. Ancillary equipment such as hoses and filters are also on fee schedules.
Regarding a good seal, there are numerous sizes to fit most faces. Your durable medical equipment provider (DME) can provide you with fittings and your face dimensions can be measured for a champion fit! Has anyone here been measured for a full-face or other mask?
At the end of the day, @SeattleGrant , the options you choose are totally up to you and I am sure you will do what is best for you. Being proactive in your own treatment and gaining all the knowledge you can about mask interfaces is certainly a wise move. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts and asking questions!
Keep positive! Theresa
Thank you for your posting, @DanM .
Dan gave you some sage advice, @SeattleGrant . The pressure can be intolerable for some, so the full face mask can be just the tonic for using PAP when a deviated septum is present.
Because this type of mask is bigger and the pressure is distributed to a larger surface area of the face, the PAP pressure feels more comfortable. I remember quite a few of my seasoned patients (who did not have septum issues) in the sleep center would keep a full face mask on hand for when they had a cold, or it was allergy season. Their rationale was ‘everyone gets a cold sometimes, so why be more miserable?’ They routinely used their nasal mask interfaces, and kept the full face mask tucked away for such times. They kept them wrapped or covered so they remained dust-free. The downside of having the extra mask was cost, but they wholeheartedly considered it worth “the spend.”
Regarding cost, trying one chin strap after another can get quite pricey. I was happy to see some of my patients took the initiative of crafting their own chin straps. The used various inexpensive sewing notions to help get the right fit just for them. Has anyone in this community ever heard of this or tried it?
In your case, @SeattleGrant , Dan has given you some great advice about considering the forgoing of the strap, and using the full-face mask instead.
Good luck and thank you for sharing!
@barbz
This could possibly be the best advice I have seen! You are so right. Never give up looking for the culprit! Thanks for sharing.
@SeattleGrant
You raise some good points, and I would like to give you some information I hope is helpful. I am just running out for an appointment now, but will gather some information for you when I return. Thank you for your post.
@GoodVioletCrow9215 You can check with your sleep center and ask them if they also do home studies. If not, check with your CPAP supplier and they might be able to direct you to someone in your area.
@Pada Congratulations & best wishes on your continued treatment success! Persistence pays off~! Thanks for sharing!
@Pugman - Try asking the equipment provider to see if it possible for you to be connected to their system remotely. Some do provide this to subscribers. Good luck!
@MichaelJ Many people here can relate to this, Michael-- so you are not alone. When that anxious feeling comes along, some people have success with relaxation exercises. Sometimes it helps if you relax each part of your body, concentrating on one part at a time. Start with your toes and work up, just completely relaxing all the muscles related.
It is also very important to let the pressure fill the back of your throat- letting the throat relax. It is likened to letting the machine do what it was designed to do, and trying not to breathe against that pressure.
Does this make sense? I am happy to talk to you one-on-one if you like. tshumard@sleepapnea.org
