British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Well, after getting on really well with my blue gel nasal mask, I've only gone and caught a cold.

Woke up this morning with the mask on my forehead, feeling terrible, headache, sore throat.....

Then I realised, this is how I used to feel every morning for as long as I could remember before I procured my CPAP. So, in a roundabout kind of way it's made me feel a bit more positive.

So, I suppose with a full face mask for those bunged up times, things are looking good! I turned up for an appt. with my OSA friendly GP yesterday to insist on another study. Unfortunately, I booked it online for next week doh

Anyway, does the NHS supply a full face mask along with a nasal one for any of you guys? I'm sure it varies with the postcode lottery!

To help with the bunged up feeling - which is miserable! - pop a couple of drops of Olbas or other 'smelly' oil on a tissue and place it close to the air intake vent. You will hopefully get some 'help' with your breathing at least initially before you go to sleep. Hope you feel better soon.

That is a very good idea, I will try it tonight along with decongestants

Hi, I'm really new to all of this but I've opted for a nasal mask from NHS. I was also told that if I have any problems with it then they will happily issue a full face mask. I don't know if that is only if I don't settle with my mask because it's nasal or whether that offer also covers problems such as having a cold and too bunged up for for it. They only said that due to the cost of masks they won't just issue more than one at a time unless there's 'a problem'.

Hope that helps and that you feel better soon

The cold not a problem but thanks for the get well wishes! The tiredness back for a few days is kind of positive in a roundabout way, made me realise how 'less tired' I've been

So one mask at a time eh?
Easy enough, as I have a decent nasal one that I like with a spare erm...gel hovercraft part...that will last a while. I'll just ask for a full face one.

On another note, I found out today that a colleague that occasionally works at my dept has OSA. He also has the same amount of apnoeas as me....but as he falls in a different catchment area he gets a fancy aPAP machine which he highly rates.

What a difference a postcode makes

Was, good to have a chat with someone who understands though. At least he didn't say something like, "can't you just go to bed earlier" LOL"!

CLASSIC!!

My favourite so far

I was quite impressed with, 'Oh, I couldn't get to sleep last night either, so I know exactly how you feel' and 'at least you can have a lie in on Sunday'

But going to bed earlier is still my fave.

New one this morning, 'That's exactly how I feel until I've had my breakfast'.

Think we might publish a book of useless OSA sayings .... but it might be too embarrassing for the general public!

It's got to be worth a whole thread at least?

There's got to be a lot more comedy suggestions out there in osa-land!

Had to laugh today, my sleep apnoea is now euphemistically referred to as my 'snoring problem' by the management

What about these:

"Why are you so tired, you've been asleep all night!"
"You're asleep...AGAIN!"

Sadly these are not 'one-time use' comments! Shows how much education the general public need about OSA ........ SIGH!

Indeed!

There does seem to be a common element of trivialisation. I shall await my first 'lazyness', or 'pull your socks up' type comment

Has anyone been asked about their CPAP: "How long do you need to wear that thing for?"

Err, every night for the rest of my life...