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Tired again with Optilife
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Post Tired again with Optilife 
I was diagnosed with OSA back in February, and initially had a Comfortgel mask with my Respironics CPAP.  It is NOT a data capable machine unfortunately, despite all the good advice I got here I failed to convince my insurance to spring for the higher end machine.

I had PHENOMENAL results out of the gate - I felt incredibly better rested, not in a fog anymore etc etc (documented in other threads here).  My only issue was the Comfortgel and I just didn't get along - I had open sores on the bridge of my nose, and a lot of noisy leak problems.   I was not able to comfortably sleep on my side, which is my natural position.

I wound up getting an Optilife mask after a couple of months... and initially had great results as well.  Not nearly as bulky, noisy, and was not cutting holes in my face.
Here is my issue - Ive noticed that Im feeling pretty tired again - not as bad as pre CPAP, but clearly not as good as the first several months.  Ive noticed that sometimes when I move from my back to my side that I wind up with a pretty severe leak - but not so noisy as to normally wake me up.  

Im wondering if over time you wind up having to adjust the pressure...  (trust me, I wont self adjust) or whether Im just experiencing a leak that effectively is lowering pressure below my prescribed level.

Im considering talking to the doc about doing another sleep study with my CPAP and mask... but figured I would float this to see if anyone else has experienced anything like it and has some ideas.

jc


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milehighjc I think you should be talking with your doctor about this, maybe there needs to be some changes in your pressure, maybe you do need to have another sleep study done, if nothing else to find out what is going on. If your not feeling that your treatment is helping you as much any more, then obviously something is not right!  I think I would get it checked out! 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

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I have a comfort gell, it can be resized to suit your face, also the top part of mask can be adjusted to move mask towards or away from top of nose, sometimes it helps to wear mask as high as possible on face

if your new mask is nose only, you may have got into the habit of breathing thru mouth in sleep which stops all CPAP benefits and usually causes a very dry mouth and tongue on waking


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resmed S6 lightweight, respironics comfort gell mask using CPAP since 1995, no humidifier
during my many years of severe fatigue, no doctor ever asked me if I snored

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White Beard, Im thinking its time too... however my wife woke me up this weekend to tell me to adjust the mask - apparently I was making a bunch of noise (not snoring however).

Lynn543 - I might go back to my comfortgel for a night or two to see if that helps (I still have it), but I really dont think I can get along with it long term.   I REALLY worked hard at trying to adjust it (including help from the equipment supplier).  Some nights it would be ok, then without changing the fit, I would have a REALLY bad night and wake up with a very sore nose.     Might be the way I sleep... who knows.   But I never had a problem with sleeping soundly with it.

jc

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