[Tokra]

Ihave sleep apnea and have used a CPAP successfully for 10 years. The difference in my quality of life was immediate when I started using a CPAP and I have even gone camping and traveled to Europe without problems. Sleep apnea can be a silent killer, check with your doctor if you have excessive daytime tiredness, loud snoring, a sleep partner who reports you stopping breathing during sleep or an increase in your shirt collar size as an adult.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea ( I also had a massive heart attack 9 years ago). I just cannot wear that mask. I've tried and tried and I find it so uncomfortable I cannot sleep with it. I've tired waiting until I'm just drifting off before I put it on - but I wake up in the middle of the night and find I have pulled it off.

It must be the shape of my face - they have given me 3 different masks and none of them fit. They are so tight they dig a ridge into my face. If I loosen it just a hair - then the air starts leaking out of the edge. There doesn't seem to be any in-between for me.

I heard a radio ad once for a "maskless CPAP" - but I've never heard it again to find out more about it.

The specialist I saw told me not to bother with the surgery - he said it was useless. He also said the nasal strips you see advertised on TV are also useless.

I keep hoping technology will invent something besides the God awful CPAP mask.

[6ppc]

I heard a radio ad once for a "maskless CPAP" - but I've never heard it again to find out more about it.

When I got my CPAP they had an option for a nasal type "mask" that looked sort of like the nasal oxygen gadgets. You might check with your doctor about that option.

[The_Victor]

This is probably the site related to the radio ad you heard.

http://www.nomask.com/

[caveat emptor]

It must be the shape of my face - they have given me 3 different masks and none of them fit. They are so tight they dig a ridge into my face. If I loosen it just a hair - then the air starts leaking out of the edge. There doesn't seem to be any in-between for me.

There's a company called Resmed which makes CPAPs and face masks, retailed by Vitalaire in my area, which might help. The pump exerts a very gentle pressure, not like the old Hoover-type pumps, and the mask has an inner, gossamer-like flap which presses gently against the face. The pressure applied by the mask is minimal, and there are no leaks.

You might also consider a hose with an adapter for adding a flow of oxygen, which may allow reducing the pressure.