(06-19-2015, 07:28 AM)MobileBasset Wrote:

(06-19-2015, 06:53 AM)Mark Douglas Wrote: .....Once you get into deep sleep you relax and then get leaks internally and out your mouth. This arouses you just enough to ruin your sleep but maybe not enough to completely wake you. Once aroused you reseat your tongue and go back to sleep......all....night....long....

I agree with this. The mouth leaks were arousing me all during the night and I discovered them on the ResScan data when I got my new data capable device. I tried a serious chin strap to correct the problem and felt the difference right away. Once I corrected the problem I have experimented with just how much chin strap is necessary to control it.

(06-19-2015, 06:00 AM)quiescence at last Wrote: A previous post on the subject of how you can post links from imgur.com is:
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-how-to-post-images-attachments-sticky-it?pid=110420&highlight=imgur#pid110420

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(06-19-2015, 02:36 AM)GWild Wrote: I'll add to the 'hang in there' sentimentality. It took me three or four masks to find one that I can actually use. Ultra-Mirage II. Large, bulky, but the large straps - when newer - work amazingly well for a bearded guy. Face-planting into a pillow isn't good, but most other positions work well - with leaks - but those are mostly beard related and go away when I shave (or wake and tweak the mask position).

The fact you aren't falling asleep during the day is an indicator the therapy is working; so consider how long you suffered poor sleep and how your body has acclimated to that old state. It will take a while to start moving again, but it can happen if you let it.

To me, an AHI of 5 is marginal - you really want it lower, under 2 is my goal, even with a leaky beard. I averaged 2.3 this past year, and down to 2.0 the past month --- and I hit a low of 0.93 a few weeks back (woot). I read of folk here who average under 1... pretty amazing. You can do better than 5.

And remember that AHI number means that you're probably waking up from sleep that many times per hour... and that may be why you are also tossing and turning -- a defense against running out of air even 5 times an hour.

There are places out there that don't charge arms and legs for masks ... ask around here for ideas that might work better for you, then diligently shop the web for them. I think I paid under $75 for my mask the last time I replaced it --- new parts are a lot less --- gasket, strap, hose. So once you find a good fit, keeping it working like new is pretty inexpensive.

(06-19-2015, 02:00 AM)me50 Wrote:

(06-18-2015, 10:40 PM)dancutmore Wrote: Thanks for the response and advice. I just can't afford to keep buying masks at $200 a pop. I feel like this mask is comfortable enough and I am getting used to it. I am definitely getting 4 hours, most of the time 6 hours at least. I didn't know about the tightening opposite the leak thing, so I will give that a go. The problem I have though is that when I go to sleep I don't have any leaks and yet every night there appears to be leaks.
Thanks again for you response, much appreciated.

Since you had trouble with 2 other masks it would be hard to really count that as cpap therapy because either you took the mask off or there were leaks or whatever that caused you not to get good therapy. Now that you have a mask you think is working, give it time so you can catch up on the years of sleep depravation and repairing your body. It is worth the effort and a whole lot better than waking up dead and leaving your wife and family without you.

(06-19-2015, 06:53 AM)Mark Douglas Wrote: I use the wisp. Very comfortable and adjusted properly doesn't leak much at all. Have to wash it frequently and face every night as facial oil can increase leakage. I suspect you have same problem I have. Once you get into deep sleep you relax and then get leaks internally and out your mouth. This arouses you just enough to ruin your sleep but maybe not enough to completely wake you. Once aroused you reseat your tongue and go back to sleep......all....night....long.... I have tried three FFMs so far and as a self pay I feel for your pain$. I am using the chin part of a chin strap and stick it to the wisp head gear and is better but not complete solution. (thanks to who ever first suggested the partial chin strap idea!)