Posted by George/PA on March 04, 2005 at 16:08:14:

In Reply to: ages? posted by BillBill on March 04, 2005 at 15:36:35:

BillBill, there is no "normal" age for sleep apnea. I had it when I was in my late 20's but went undiagnosed until I was 49. Had I started treatment earlier, I'd be a whole lot healthier now.
My pressure is also 14, so I know the feeling of trying to find the fine balance line between having the mask too tight so that it leaves marks and having it too loose so that it leaks.
I use a gel mask (blue) that conforms better to my own facial structure than some of the others. I have tried many different masks from the Mirage (very comfortable & can be worn more loosely than most others but also too fragile for me) to nasal pillows (which I couldn't tolerate at an IP of 14...not to imply that you couldn't) to the throwaway masks from the sleep lab, and the gel works best for me. You'll just have to experiment with yours to find where it won't leave marks. Some masks have a seam where they contact your face and, while the seam seems insignificant, it is slightly higher and harder than the surrounding material and will make you sore. I stick a piece of moleskin over the seam to make it work for me.
Hope this helps!

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