DavidTwoTrees, Checking In

Hello. My name is David. I live in the 'burbs of Chicago. I am 43 and have a mild sleep apnea, diagnosed as a result of continued fatigue. I lost 25 pounds this summer on the South Beach, and got back to my good weight, good cholesterol and good BP. I was still fatigued. The Internist set up a sleep lab, where I was diagnosed with a mild sleep apnea. Second lab showed I could benefit from a Cpap, although I had a really tough go of it that night. I often have a stuffy nose and that seemed to hinder my use of the mask during the sleep study.
I see the cpap tech this coming Monday. I guess my question to the board is what questions should I ask when I see the tech. It sounds as if they have a brand they are happy with and use often, though I couldn't tell you what they were. Also, do any of you have sinus issues, and if so is there a better mask or pillows for dealing with that? Well I guess that is all for now. Sign Me, Trepidatious

HI,
Go to My-Better Sleep.Com and look at the comfort gel masks. I use the first one shown and really like it. I've only been on CPAP for about 2 months. I have chronic sinus infections and a stuffy nose at night. I think just as important as the right mask is using the right machine. I have C-Flex by Respironics and it comes with a heated humidifier. I have to say I had a cold a couple of weeks ago and I rarely get by with just a cold. It usually turns into a full blown sinus infection. But this time it only lasted a couple of days and I think my CPAP actually helped me through it. Also, your doctor can prescribe a nasal spray to help you if you need something like that.

Good luck to you.

Greetings David,

Welcome to cpaptalk.com!

We are happy to have new members and to learn all we can about sleep apnea and equiptment.

Thank you for introducing yourself.

Regards,

Titrator

PS. You can buy the ComfortGel mask at cpap.com $28.00 cheaper than at My Better Sleep.com.

Here is the link to our website.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage.php?PNum=752

Thanks Titrator,
I don't pay any attention to the prices since my insurance takes care of it.
Sorry.

Hi David and welcome to the board.

You mentioned this:

Second lab showed I could benefit from a Cpap, although I had a really tough go of it that night. I often have a stuffy nose and that seemed to hinder my use of the mask during the sleep study.

Trying to breathe through a nasal mask with a stopped up nose would be suffocating, imho. You said a tech was coming out to set you up Monday, which is already gone now. If they gave you a nasal mask and you still have trouble breathing through it, I'd call them back right away and ask (politely insist even) that they bring you a full face mask to try. Despite the name "full face", a full face mask covers only your mouth and nose, not your whole face. It allows you to breathe through your mouth when you just can't get enough air in through a stuffy nose.

Even if you do find you are able to use just a nasal mask, a full face mask is a very good "extra" mask to have in your arsenal for nights when you are just too congested to nose breathe easily. A heated humidifier would probably help too - a "must" if you need to mouth breathe to keep your mouth from drying out with so much air blowing in.

At any rate, don't settle for a mask that leaks a lot or hurts your face, especially the bridge of your nose. Don't accept "well, keep trying - you'll get used to it" if a mask hurts or rubs a sore on your nose. There are usually better masks than what most DMEs (local home care suppliers) hand you to start with. There are a lot of not so wonderful things we all have to put up with, but a poor mask doesn't have to be one of them. Getting a truly good mask (not just what the DME tells you is a "good" mask) will be more than half the battle...even if you have to buy it out of your own pocket online. A comfortable mask will be worth finding.

If you run into problems, click the words "cpaptalk.com Forum Index" above and post in the "cpap and Sleep Apnea" forum. People probably check that forum more often than they do the "Introductions", so you might get quicker replies (and more of them) to any questions you might have.

Good luck!

chronic sinitis or rhinitis often seems to accompany sleep apnea. Often Dr will prescribe a steroid nasal spray, eg flonase, rhinocort, .
I have found a nasal saline wash helped immensely.
It is hard to use a mask when one cannot breathe through one's nose. There are different types of masks also. Nasal pillows, full face etc. Cpap makes such a difference keep on trying to use it.