British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Hi,

Just joined this evening. It's good to find this forum.

I've had problems from the get-go (diagnosed in 2005) and still am with using the CPAP. It's a case of one-size-fits-all. Only, it doesn't.

I'm claustraphobic, wake up through the night with a mouth drier than Ghandi's left flip-flop and it's an effort to open my mouth for a sip of water. I've constant rhinitis - I've got Nasonex for this and it's usless - asthma, atrial fibrillation. Can't wear a full-face mask as it panics me so.

The right side of my face has gone completely numb. Not sure if this is due to a mild form of Bell's Palsy through using the CPAP? Anybody else suffered this?

Hospital phsysio said I can't have a mask at all if I don't accept the full face mask. Luckily I was able to persuade this bossy madam to let me keep my old nasal pillows.

The only way I can get any sleep and not wake up with rhinitis is sit in my armchair all night and then at least I can get snatches of sleep for maybe 40 minutes to an hour or so at a time. Good job I'm retired, eh?

Has anybody else given up the ghost

Hi Vee. Have just read your post and so sorry to hear you're struggling. Please don't give up as your health is likely to go downhill. CPAP is hard for most people, and even harder for others. Check out this video on Claustrophobia, and there's lots of other videos in the series http://youtu.be/CtmCJxMvsuM

There is a products too that can help with dry mouth, which can also be used whilst sleeping. I've not tried it myself, but here's the linke http://www.orahealth.com/products/xmdm/

Do you use a humidifier? If not, then that can help too and the hospital should supply you with one.

I don't have rhinitis, but have had 2 nose operations due to a deviated septum. I use the Breatherite Nasal Strips (which you can get on this British Snoring site. I use them all the time and have come off Nasonex since I've been using them.

The hospital are trying to persuade you to use a full face mask due to your nasal issues as you probably mouth-breathe due to this, but there are lots of masks on the market that feel less claustrophobic. My 2 favourites are the FitLife by Respironics, which looks a cumbersome mask, but in actual fact doesn't feel that way when it's on. There's a clear line of sight too. The other favourite of mine is the Innomed Hybrid, which has nasal cushions plus a mouth cushion. Try Googling them both to see what you think.

Good luck and hope this has been of some help!