CPAP Machine for sleep apnea

[nurdlinger]

It just sort of works itself out...

On my rig, which is a Respironics Gold Seal and a Whisper Swivel 1, there is a right-angle tube on the front of the mask which swivels there in front of the nose. The "whisper swivel" thing allows the tubing to swivel at the point of connection to the right-angle tube. There is a fair amount of slack in the tubing as well. This accomodates quite a lot of twisting and turning as the night progresses.

These connections slip on and are held by the friction of rubber-on-plastic, so if you provide enough tension by turning a lot, you cause a disconnection. In my experience, this wakes you up real quick.

I had a different sort of mask once where there was a hose coming out of the mask extending over the forehead, so the connection to the tubing was at the top of the head. I have seen arrangements using very long tubes to the CPAP which are suspended above the bed, like from a bracket where you would hang a flower pot. I never did anything this elaborate, so I can't say how well that works. What did in that mask for me was other plastic parts on it cracked, and the replacements cost a significant fraction of the cost of the device.

 

[seeitrun2006]

My CPAP Machine

Mine is a Respironics REMStar M Series. By Saturday night I was very frustrated as my nose pillows kept leaking. I kept getting tangled up in the hose. Yesterday after church my wife suggested that I re-read the manuel. Got out all the material. Got a hook, some velcro and attached the hose to the back side of the upper part of the head board. And low and behold I found two other nasal pillows. The small ones were intstalled. I tried the medium ones and WOW what a difference. I slept from 9:30 pm to 3:45 am with the CPAC mask with no trouble. I also moved up the setting on the humidifier attachment.

Hopefully be this time next week I will be completely use to it!

Thanks for the encouragements!
David

 

[countryguy]

Finding the right mask or nose pillows takes some adjustment. I must have tried close to a dozen different varieties of masks until I found one that works the best. I tried the nose pillows also and couldn't stand them - felt like I was being hung by 2 hooks in my noise. I finally settled on the full face mask. It still leaks if I move the wrong way or on some nights no matter what I do I get air blowing into my eyes, etc. If you use the mask type, make sure you don't have the straps too tight.

Gary

 

[spiceman1957]

Whirlcool

Don't worry about the hoses. My (and others) have a moveable piece that can adjust as you move. I can even sleep on my side without any problem. This is the third mask that I have used since being on a CPAP machine. The latest one I am using now is a jell substance....very comfortable. It will take a little time getting used to wearing a mask, but anyone should get used to it over time. Your doctor should first send you to a sleep center in your area. It may be connected to your hospital. You will probably be seen by a sleep specialist or a neuro doctor. It is so amazing that sleep apnea is so common today. I know about 7 other people, including a brother who is being treated by CPAP. If you every been in any meeting or church, you can probably tell the ones who need it as well. In fact, anyone who stays tired all the time should be evaluated.