I was diagnosed with OSA SA after getting flu-like symptoms with extreme fatigue (barely able to walk up stairs).  I took the sleep tests and was told I have mild to moderate SA. Mild when I sleep on my side and moderate when on my back.

I am on my second CPAP mask. Its a nasal pillow mask. The first one was a standard mask that went over my entire nose. It tickled my nose too much to wear.  I tried the medium nose piece for the new mask and have moved onto the large but I am still getting leaking in from the bottom of it.  This, again, tickles me and wake me up.  I usually just pull off the mask in the middle of the night.  Usually the tickling starts once the ramp period ends.

I put a little cortizone cream on my nose in these areas to help, but it doesnt help much.  I just wish the thing would fit right.  Can someone suggest what my options are here? Should I ask the doctor for a different mask? I feel that the large pillows work pretty good. I can wear the device for a few hours as opposed to the 1 or 2 hours I got with the old mask. Should I make it tighter or less tight? It can be adjusted on the top and on the back of my head.  I feel that if the hose is pulled it pulls the pillows up and might contribute to loosening the seal on the bottom.

On the plus side, the severe fatigue has been gone for a long time.  Now I have either ordinary fatigue from not sleeping enough or not well enough or I have lots of energy. Im guessing the days I have energy are the days that I have the least apnic episodes during the night. I also get days where Im so irritable I am furious inside.  Just incredibly angry.  I do my best to control the irrritablity I randomly get. Sometimes I think its a minor miracle I have not gotten into a fist-fight at work.

That said, can someone tell me what kinds of surgery are available for this? I know they remove tonsils and trim up other areas but how safe are these and what's recovery like?  I feel that at this point I truly need a permanent solution to this, but am willing to tough it out with the mask.  What criteria judges whether someone can justify an operation?

Also, is there any success in losing weight?  I probably am 20 lbs overweight, which isnt much considering my build.  

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have been misdaignosed with depression and spent more than a few years worrying and being treated like a hypochondriac to get this SA diagnosis. I even had to find a new doctor.  All of this has been extremely stressful and am just looking to get better.

I am very sleepy as I write this so please bear with bad grammar and mispellings.

Thanks

You could try talking to your local DME supplier about this mask problem. If they have a lenient mask exchange policy you might be able to try another mask or even several other masks.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Hi Lobot,
I agree with Crohnie Too, keep trying different mask options if you can and try different settings there are all the autopap, bi-pap and different ramping etc, humidify/not humidify  (I stopped that) , temp of your bedroom, it all makes a difference. Everyone's different and only trial and error will find what's good for you. I am on number three set up and mask and I have improved from averageing 2 hrs a night of hideously disturbed sleep to 6-7 good hourshours. After 3 of the worst weeks of my life - constant depression and hysterics etc - I feel nearly normal again - well as normal as I can get!!

Keep with it, I am now happily in the ranks of those that can say the fight is worth it. I was given good advice early in this forum (yay for the forum) and that was to trial the mask and machine in the evening before you go to bed. Use it while you watch telly or read. Then you can adjust the straps at your leisure not in a froth in the middle of the night. I lay on the sofa and tested my head lying on both sides for leaks etc.
Another helpful thing is to determine whether you are a nose or mouth breather. Nasal masks are no good if you are a chronic mouth breather.  And some of the full face masks won't stay sealed unless you have your mouth open which is horrible if you are not a full mouth breather. I finally settled on a nasal pillow mask and a chin strap which is just enough to encourage my mouth to stay shut kinda half way comprimise :)

The weight thing - I wasn't tooooo overweight either but my Specalist said that even loosing 10-15lbs can help -  I have now lost 17.5lbs and my CPAP auto pressure has dropped from 12 to 10 which is easier to cope with. I am going to loose some more and hopefully the pressure will drop again a wee bit. Anyway it's good for so many other things not to be carrying extra at all!!
I wish you the best and keep us posted of how you are doing
cheers
Roz


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It came to pass - not to stay!

lobot to be honest with you I am not familiar with your type of mask or shall I say nasal pillows, but I do use the Liberty and Hybrid mask and they have nasal pillows, and I swab just the inside portion of my nostrils with a liberal amount of  saline gel, just before I put on my mask. This gives me a good seal with my nasal pillows. I don't know if this will work for you or if you have already tried it, but if you haven't it might be something to consider. Good Luck to You


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White Beard with a White Beard
Resmed VPAP Adapt SV Enhanced, HumidAire 2i, ResLink with Model 8000 Flex sensor Pulse Oximeter, and ResScan 3.5 software. Respironic EverFlo OPI Oxygen Concentrator 3 lpm
EEP 9.0, min PS 6.0, max PS 16.0