British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Phew, eventually got my 'proper' trial with an Autoset Spirit II & Mirage Quatro full face mask.

Very good, helpful & very informative tech at the clinic this time. He also confirmed he has quite a few patients with low AHIs with high Epworth scores & some very high AHIs without tiredness symptoms, so I don't feel like a 'fraud' anymore

So, the Autoset is for the trial period only to get readings over 2 weeks or so. I opted for the full-face mask as I already have a nasal mask and I do tend to suffer from being bunged up- I have all my life.

Firstly, the machine is 10 times quieter than my old out of date CPAP (which has helped me a huge amount nonetheless).

So, my biggest problem is it's back to learning curve time again. Getting used to variable pressure & a full-face mask.

I find the full face mask very comfortable and go to sleep leak free......in fact I get a great fit before dropping off!
However, after a few hours I seem to wake up with a mega leak- as indicated on the display. I'm not sure why this is happening. Also says, major leak and v.poor fit in the menu, but as I said I'm going to sleep leak free.

I do seem to get woken or semi woken with a big blast of air every now and again too. I assume this is when I have a 'long' apnoea. I expect I'll get used to this in a few more days.

When I used a nasal mask it would always be tight with no leaks when I went to sleep, but after a few hours I was sure I shrunk because I would always waken up with the mask loose and leaking like a sieve. Tighten it up and that was me for the rest of the night.
It was always a mystery to me!

Yeah, seems the same.
Leak free before sleep. Wake up leaking. Adjust for the rest of the nigh.

Still, only a few days in.

I think I may get an....erm greasy patch of skin where my glasses fit on my nose
Will give my nose a good soapy scrub before bed tonight LOL

Well, I now know what my leaking issues are.

I basically keep opening my mouth so my bottom lip is slipping below the bottom of the mask 'skirt'. So, I'm either causing a leak at the bottom end, or accidentally shifting the mask about when I open my mouth(too wide!!). Aside from this issue, I'm getting on really well now!

Do people usually wear a chinstrap with a full face mask? This seems to be the obvious solution.

This happened to me with a fullface mask as well, changed to nasal pillows and upped pressure. Now when them machine is runniing I find it almost impossible to breath through my mouth, but air can sneak out my mouth and force past my lips. But it is not a big problem.
If a chin strap works for you by all means use it.

Well, I'm used to the full face mask and pressure changes now, and I find the full face mask more comfortable.

I seem to have a good 4 hours and then open my mouth. So, I think a chin-strap may be the answer.

Not really looked into nasal pillow yet. Will see how I get on with full-face + chinstrap first!

Great to hear encouraging news! Keep on truckin' and we're all cheering you on!

If a fullface mask works for you stick with it

As far as hours used, it is a case of keep trying. Four hours is not bad if you are newish to C.P.A.P. One day you will waken up and you will have slept all night, though it might take a while you will get there.

Woohoo 8hrs 42 minutes last night

Great stuff ... and here's to another good one tonight!!

I don't spend a lot of time IN bed...

So you sleep out of bed?

I can only sleep so much because I'm off work! Between 7.5 & 8.5 hours the last 3 nights
Think I've 'got there' at last

What I meant was that I would be very lucky to get 6-7 hours sleep a night. Eight hours snooze time is a bloomin' luxury!!!!!

Sorry, just my sense of humour

Normally the case for me, but as I'm at home awaiting spinal surgery I'm catching up on some of that sleep defecit Looks like I'm used to this latest PAP now......

So, I get my 'proper' one on Monday when they've analyzed the results and decided on an optimum pressure. Another one to get used to