British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

I have just become the proud owner of a CPAP machine. My snoring got so bad that I just had to do something about it.

After a visit to the hospital and a test weekend with a machine it was found that 30 times an hour my breathing stops altogether for up to 1 minute and another 30 times an hour I have great difficulty in breathing as my airways get smaller. I also found that I was getting up for the loo two or three times a night!

Since getting my CPAP machine I am now sleeping better and no longer snoring or getting up for the loo, but I do find the machine uncomfortable to wear and the feeling when my mouth opens and the pressure is released isn't very pleasant. I do hope that it gets better. I also find that no matter how loose I have the head straps or how tight I always seem to have indentations on my face and the mask still moves.

Does anyone else have any problems like this?

Hi,
Really glad to hear the CPAP is working well for you. The problems you have are not uncommon.
Oral escape is uncomfortable - and noisey! Have you had palate surgery? Palatal insufficiency can sometimes be the cause of the short circuiting of air being blown in the nose and out the mouth.
Changing the pressure up or down sometimes helps but you must get your attending physician to advise you on this. Some sleep centres recommend full face masks which stop the problem because the pressure at the mouth is the same as at the nose. They are rather large and because of their size the potential for leaking is increased. They are also correspondingly heavier than most nasal masks.
Sometimes Somni Snore Guards are used to block the mouth for those who have palatal insufficiency. Snore Calm Chin-Up Strips are also excellent for this purpose.
Mask air leaks and contact pressure marks are very common and really must be resolved. Getting the right size is very important. There are many on-size-fits-all models around and if you have one of these it may be better to get one that really fits!
You could also try a Nasal-Aire II or an Adam Circuit. The Nasal-Aire II can be seen in the CPAP section. This is a picture of the Adam Circuit (http://www.britishsnoring.co.uk/pdf/adamcircuit.pdf). Most CPAP users who change from a mask to an Adam Circuit have been very pleased with their decision.
Regrettably there is a degree of trial and error, but the great news is that once you have got your formula right you will be sleeping like a log, not snoring like a hog, and waking up feeling like a new man every moring.

Allen

Hi ceejayblue

Ive got the same sort of problem I find I still move around a lot and manage to somehow always remove my mask at least 3 or 4 times a week and do you find that the pipes are so inflexable, especially as it comes from over the head to the mask fitting.

Ive just sent a letter to my specilist to see what his thoughts are on using a 420G / 420E and the nasal Aire II mask system to see it that would help resolve me taking the mask off .

Dave1961

I'm glad to hear I am not the only one who loses the mask in the night!

My husband definitely sleeps better since I have had the machine but getting the fitting right is a pain. Some nights I find myself waking up and tightening the straps and wake up next morning with marks on my face - very beautiful!

Overall since I have had the machine, things have improved - I am not sleep during the day as much, although I do still flag a bit in the early evening. I have got more energy and managed to do the housework this weekend without stopping every half an hour!

I am happy that the machine has made things better but until I can forget that I am wearing it at night I think I will still have the odd bad night. At least I am not stopping breathing as often - my record was every 30 seconds gasp for air, every other 30 seconds stop breathing (on the out breath!) for between 10 and 59 seconds! It is not wonder I felt so awful all the time.

My consultant says that I must have been suffering with this for years but didn't realise how bad it was. It is really frightening to think that I could have gone on thinking it was just something I had to put up with. On this occasions the NHS has come up trumps for me and got me sorted within 6 months of going to my GP.

Here's to the CPAP machine and the beginning of a new life for me - staying awake during the day is a real treat.

Chris

Hello, I got an activa, it is a new mask with like an air bag that like sucks to your face and can move with you. I think it is made by resmed. I have bought like 3 mask and this seems to be best for me , good luck

Hi, I have been using my cpap now for about 16 years and can no longer go to sleep without it. If my wife and I are out visiting and invited to stay over we have to decline unless I have brought my cpap with me. I went through of the problems mentioned on this site, i.e. leaking masks, chin drop, etc. but eventually found that the correct size mask is the most important factor. I need a very small mask but the style supplied to me on the NHS cuts my face when it is the size I need. My solution was to purchase a silicon gel filled mask of the same size and I haven't looked back since. These masks last me about 2 - 3 years and cost me about £100 from a company at Bognor Regis who deliver next day. My advice to you is to persevere cpap changed my life. It is worth noting that my career has been International Truck Driver (horrifying) and I don't think I would have survived too long if I hadn't been able to take my cpap in the truck with me.