I ordered. Excited & terrified.

[Emaz]

Well… here I go. Recently diagnosed and finally just ordered.

I’m excited and terrified at the same time. I’m really excited about the potential. My sleep has been so horrible I just can’t take it anymore. And I’m imagining any better sleep than I’ve had lately is going to be life-changing.

I posted on here recently and you all gave me some good advice about sleep positional impacts (the chin tuck), but unfortunately for me that didn’t seem to make any difference at all. So I’m just exhausted all the time. 

I’m terrified because I know this is not an easy path nor a guaranteed solution. I’ve read so much here, thank you all, and yeah I’m a little bit scared about sucking air in to my stomach, mouth breathing when wearing a P10 mask (thus having to go to a full face mask), or just not adapting to CPAP therapy at all.

Based on my testing, I’ve ordered the ResMed 11 autosense with a P10 and they tell me I need a chinstrap. ?

Now the shipping wait begins. I can’t wait to sleep one day, this is just awful.

[Gideon]

I would question the chin strap.
In general we don't like chin straps that pull the chin back, which is most of them, but rather those that pull up instead.
Read the Mouth breathing section of the Mask Primer. It lists several solutions other than a chin strap.

[Emaz]

Thanks. What should I expect if I have a P10 but find then I’m a mouth breather? From what I’ve read here, it sounds kind of awful. It does not sound like just ineffective therapy, I was reading more about stomach upset, nausea, gas and that it’s extremely uncomfortable.

And how common is this? I’m generally a nose breather when I’m awake, but I don’t know what my natural tendency is when I’m asleep, though I tend to think mouth breather.

[staceyburke]

Welcome to the board...  There are some that have problems with "stomach upset, nausea, gas and that it’s extremely uncomfortable."  BUT many more have no problems with it.  For me and again, many others CPAP is a god send.  It allows me to sleep and I could not even go to sleep without it.  Don't worry about problems, IF they arise, with help for this board you will do fine.

[DaveL]

Welcome Emaz

Once you're on your machine the experts here will know quickly if you need a chinstrap.

There are lots of alternatives. soft curvical collar. Knightsbridge Dual Strap. (I have the Knightsbridge, and have had great nights and bad....but patience is the key with everything we do.

[DaveCar]

I was shocked at the difference that happened in just the first night, and it just got better after that.
No more waking up at 3am for a zombie walk to the bathroom, no more waking up at 6am for work with my eyes rolled up into my lids like a horror film actor.
Mask fit will be the biggest challenge. I couldnt use a full face mask (seemed to close off my nasal), but I do love the F30.
Best of luck, welcome to the journey.

[Emaz]

THIS is what I was hoping to hear. Anything progress from where I’m at will be quite an improvement. Thank you.

[clownbell]

IMO, there is NOTHING to be truly terrified of. Any problems that occur can be dealth with as they occur. Look to be benefits and don't freak in advance about things that haven't happened yet.

[Phaleronic]

Don't be scared, you'll get the best help here from everyone, and you will probably need to try different mask types... I don't use DMEs, sleep doctors, or Insurance companies as they are generally incompetent, but I was given nasal pillows and a chinstrap and it was really rough.. I tried many different types of masks myself and finally found the best one for me (resmed Airfit F20 system-large) so you will likely have to try a few yourself before you find the best one.

[nightgagger]

I started out with an N20 nasal mask and my machine. It wasn't until I got on this site and downloaded Oscar that I could see I had massive mouth leaks.
At that point I tried 3M tape and that helped, but I had positional apnea. So I bought a Cervical collar and that helped.

I also tried a couple of FFMs...the F30i and the Fischer & Paykel Simplus. Those didn't work well for me.

Finally found out about BSN cover roll tape, and the Knightsbridge cap and my AHI dropped below 1 constantly. Also picked up a CPAP pillow and most importantly, started sleeping on my side.

I then went to the N30i, and P30i. These worked OK, but the best mask for me has been the F&P Brevida and that has been my main go to mask...but...I also use the P10 and that mask has given me great success.

The only downside I found with nasal pillows was irritation of my nares. I then used lanolyn cream and that helped. The Brevida helps in this aspect because it has soft nasal prongs, but also envelops your nose with the pillow.

You will get help here to fine tune pressure, leak mitigation and analysis, which this board is a fabulous resource for.