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Sleep Apnea
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Mask fit problems

Posted by sleepymom on February 20, 2006 at 03:06:49:

It's almost 5 in the morning. I fell asleep without my mask about 8pm. Too sleepy to put it all back together. I woke about midnight. Put it all together and got sleepy again about 1pm. I kept trying to adjust it to stop leaks but couldn't get comfortable AND have no leaks. I seem to have less leaks sleeping on my back but as soon as I relax and my chin drops closer to my neck, the leaks start again. The same thing happens on my side. I can find a position that works as long as I keep my hand supporting the mask from the side. Soon as I relax, the leaks start again. I have the gel type that cover my nose and puff up with air. The thing seems to put too much air into my stomach too. I've known I have sleep apnea for about 7 years but don't interact with anyone who has it. Are we supposed to change masks every few months? Do you keep nasal pillows to switch to on the nights when the mask doesn't work well? Is sleeping without the mask better than staying up all night surfing the net to find a better mask technique? That last one was a serious question. Is rough, strained sleep any better than no sleep at all? Help me understand how to manage this thing. I'm 45 with a 20 month old and an 8 year old and I don't want this thing to shorten my life so I don't see them grow up. It has already affected my job (fuzzy, slow, thinking some days).
My doc sent a auto pap or something to get my new settings rather than another sleep study. Should I talk to the lab guys about the mask problems or my doc?

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