to not2worry

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
tiredascanbe
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 4:45 am
Location: Brisbane, Australia

to not2worry

Post by tiredascanbe » Mon Oct 04, 2004 2:03 am

dear not2worry,
how is your cpap machine going? Have you been having success with the mask and airflow?
Last night I had a terrible night and woke up with a puffy sore left eye which I found out was due to an air leak. Have you had any of these and if yes, what did you do?
hope to chat soon
tiredascanbe

not2worry
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2004 2:53 pm
Location: Sunrise Beach, MO

Post by not2worry » Sun Oct 10, 2004 2:24 pm

Dear Tiredascanbe: Hi from the Middle of the USA. I am into my third week of CPAP. I have tried three masks provided by my insurance provider. The one that seems to work the best for me is the Ultra Mirage. I still was getting the red mark on the bridge of my nose and someone on the board suggested using a piece of surgical tape on my nose. I found some at the pharmacy for sensitive skin and it did the trick. I did have some leakage when I first put the tape on around my eyes, which then gave me bloodshot eyes the next day. I now just get a scissors and cut the tape to just fit over the bridge of my nose.

I tried the pillow mask and hated it. Some folks just love it, but I couldn't stand the "pillows" just stuck up my nostrils. I guess I was also use to a mask since I did a lot of scuba diving.

I also tried the Comfort Select mask and it's very similar to the Ultra Mirage, except I didn't like how the air exhaled out the mask. They said it was a mask that would be good for my "sleep partner" in that the air would be dispersed rather than come out of a single hole. Might be better for my husband, but the air comes right back on to my face and was very annoying.

I make sure I wash my face every night before I go to bed and put on a moisturizer. Before I put on my mask I just take a kleenex and blot off any excess mositurizer so I get a good seal.

I like the head gear with the Ultra Mirage as well. The headgear on the other mask is a bunch of velcro straps and are hard to work with and leave marks on my face in the morning that don't go away for a couple of hours.

One other thing, if you get any skin irritation on your face from the mask, try using some zinc oxide on them. I found a great product in the baby product section at Target. It's very creamy, disappears nicely, actually gets rid of the redness almost instantly. The name of the product Balmex, its for Diaper Rash and is made by Johnson and Johnson. My doctor said to be sure to get something that has zinc oxide in it.

I guess I must be getting use to the mask, since one night last week I got up to get a blanket and forgot I was "hooked up".

Life's an adventure. My husband never thought he'd be sleeping with an Alien every night. I have a lot more energy, my husband sleeps more soundly without me snoring, and sex seems more spontaneous either before I put on the mask or in the morning after I take it off! Actually that's been our love life pattern for 25 years, so the mask really doesn't change that area of my life.

I count my blessing that I can improve my quality of life with somethng so non-invasive. By the time you are my age they probably will have invented something that will be way beyond what they have on the market today.

My 30 day therapy is coming up, so I am searching for what the best Bi-Level Device is for me. I love the heated humidification but it would be nice to have everything in one self-contained machine.

Let me know how things are going for you.

Take Care,
Lorraine

tiredascanbe
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 4:45 am
Location: Brisbane, Australia

Post by tiredascanbe » Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:32 pm

Hi Lorraine,
sounds like things are going well for you. That's great! I'm at work at the moment so I can't spend too long here but thought I'd quickly let you know I read your reply, so thanks.
Things aren't going so well for me. The mask is wrong for me, I think. But I'm going to speak to my sleep doctor today.
I will write a longer reply soon,
Take care,
Kay

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Lana
Posts: 30
Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA

I'm curious

Post by Lana » Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:56 am

Who are your DME providers and what kind of insurance you people have that alows you to have tried 3 masks in such a short time?
I have Blue Shields, Apria as DME and was told I can get new mask and hose every 6 months, only.
Yesterday on my first check up since on Cpap, MD gave me a new Rx for mask of my choice but also said I'll have to waith 6 months or to pay out of pocket.
Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe!

Guest

Post by Guest » Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:13 am

Dear Lana: My provider is BCBS as well and the DME is Apria. I bascially called Apria after they "fitted" me with a mask that made the bridge of my nose so sore I couldn't stand it. In short, I talked to the Manager at the Apria office I went to and complained that I thought they did not do a very good job at spending time with me and showing me other alternative masks. I indicated that I had gone on the Internet to see how to solve the sore nose issue and found that there are lots of different types of masks.

The told me to come in and they then had me try a mask that uses the nasal pillows. Again, the therapist seemed in a hurry and went over the "fitting" in less than 5 minutes. I took the mask home and hated it. I called Apria the next day and told them of my dissatisfaction and asked if they had someone who was skilled at fitting masks and who had the time to spend more than just 5-10 minutes with me.

I took back the nasal pillow mask and they told me just to keep it, that they could not reuse it.

I was told that my BCBS will cover replacement parts every 3 months. That is the seal element, which the Branch Manager indicated wears out from the use and oils it absorbes on our faces. We haven't gotten into the mask
replacement yet,

I am still fighting BCBS to go to a bilevel CPAP. The one I have is exercisting my exhale so that I am waking up with my chest hurting and sometimes feel like I am smoothering. Under my BCBS plan I have to use the CPAP machine I have for 30 days, then I have to have another Sleep Test before they will issue a bilevel machine. My doctor says I need the bilevel, but tht the insurance company won't pay for one until I have been on the CPAP for 30 days AND then I need another Sleep Test. Go Figure!
The sleep test will cost the BCBS another $3,000 but to upgrade to a bilevel machine would only be half that cost. I can see why health care cost is so high!

If you are unhappy with your mask, I would put the burden on Apria. They evidently have a lot of EMD contracts with BCBS and should be fitting patients with the proper masks. Complain to the Branch Manager of Apria and if you don't get any satisfaction from them, I'd tell them you are going to call your BCBS Rep and complain about the service you are receiving from Apria. I think that might solve your problem.

The hardest thing for me is finding the right mask. As I have said before, so far the Res Med Ultra Mirage is working for me, but then I say that and this morning I woke up with the dreaded red bride nose.....thought I could get by without putting on the surgical tape.

Let me know what happens. And sorry if I went into a "rant".

Good Luck!
Lorraine

User avatar
Lana
Posts: 30
Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2004 11:00 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA

Post by Lana » Thu Oct 14, 2004 8:25 pm

Thank Lorraine, I'll try to follow your experience/advice:)
Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe!