I was dianosed with Sleep Apnea back in July. My doctor did not want to start a newcomer off with a nasal pillow and put me on a full face mask (Petite).

At first I had a few mask leak problems & brought it up to my doctor. He suggested a nasal pillow. I am a converted side sleeper, who still sometimes rolls onto my stomach.

The leak problems either went away or ceased to bother me most nights. The new problem became the mask popping apart. Eventually, after a few months, one side broke completely down at the bulb opening. We were able to wire it closed permanently, which was not a problem as I always put it on using the other side.

Last week however, the piece that is supposed to fit against your head broke and there was no fixing it. Luckily, I was at my 6 month window so I decided to try the sleep pillow recommended the first time. I picked it up on Friday.

Now, with the new mask, the pressure seems to be too much. I cannot get to sleep with the mask on. I tried the gradual setting, but found that I woke up once the pressure returned close to normal amounts. I'm not sure if it's the pressure however, or how cold my nose gets when it is increased.

Are there any tips to keeping your nose warm? I have a humidifier setting, but it seems to only make things colder. I'm not using oxygen, so I'm not sure what makes it so cold!

Any advice is welcome! If I have to go back to the old mask, I will, but then I worry about it breaking again. My father told me this weekend he's broken his full mask several times now.

Thanks,

Tinks / Jen

What mask and machine are you using? I use a "Resmed Mirage Swift Nasal Pillow System" and have never broken mine. I dont even see how you could break it to be honest with you. I also sleep on my stomach and this mask is about the best design I could find for that.

Not sure which sleep pillow you are talking about but I spent about $80.00 on a Tempur-Pedic pillow and that has had great results.

It took me a long time to adjust to the pressure. I started using the "Ramp" (start at a low pressure and adjust up)_feature, and now I do not like to use it. I like the full on pressure.

I too had the cold nose problem. It almost feels like my nose burns because of the cold air. I started filling my humidifier with HOT water. But once the hot water would get cold I would wake up and have to fill it with more hot water. I later on figured out that my humidifier had a heat adjustment. Mine was factory set to 1 (low), so I set it to the max of 5. Now I do not have the cold nose problem. So I would see if your humidifier has a heat setting. I would imagine it does.

Getting adjusted to a CPAP takes time. It took me over a year to get to where I can sleep a whole night with mine. I still do not have all the kinks out. Now I am getting moisture in my tube. I think all I need is one of those tube sock cover things though.

GOOD LUCK!!

Hi Jen -

I'm wondering is your mask is leaking? This could cause an actual temperature change in the air that is escaping. When air is under pressure and forced through a smaller opening, the decreased pressure in the tube near the point of exit can cause a drop in temperature (near your nose). The problem is solved by eliminating the leak.