What Pro2 is Up2

This innovative product acts as a soft, comfortable seal between your skin and your CPAP mask.

Do you suffer from:

Noisy and annoying air leaks?
Skin irritation?
Ugly pressure marks?
Lack of a tight fit because of facial moisture or oils?

If you experience any or all of the above, give RemZzzs a try! They consist of a very soft, thin cloth with an opening for your nose. They help protect the areas of your face that come in contact with your full face mask or even your nasal mask, which help alleviate any irritation you may receive from wearing your mask at night.

RemZzzs are a product manufactured by a company called Naturs Design, Inc. and are available for most PAP masks. They can help you better adhere to compliance requirements set by your insurance company by eliminating leaks and the irritating noises caused by escaping air. And they may also extend the life of your mask by absorbing facial moisture and oils, thus increasing the time it takes for the mask to break down.

Q: I wake up with water spraying all over my face and the CPAP machine is making a loud gurgling sound. What’s happening?

A: When the temperature drops in the fall and winter, many patients experience water condensation in their tubing and masks. The air from the CPAP is heated by a humidifier so it's warmer compared to the room temperature. As a result, condensation builds up inside the tubing and sometimes in the mask as well. When the air blows through the wet tubing, it creates a loud, gurgling sound.

Solutions:

• Lower the humidity settings on your humidifier.
• Insulate your tubing with a tube wrap or keep it underneath your covers.
• Increase the temperature in your bedroom.

Q: Since starting on CPAP, I’ve been having more stomach and gas pain. What should I do?

A: Occasionally, CPAP users will experience air trapping in the stomach and wake up with stomach pain or gas. First, make sure that you sleep with your head aligned with your body or try to elevate your head in with a wedge pillow. If that doesn't solve the problem, contact us and we can speak to your doctor about testing to make sure you are using the correct pressure.

Q: I started developing a rash on my face and behind my ears, could I be allergic to the mask?

A: CPAP masks are made of a medical grade silicone and are hypoallergenic. It's important to wash your mask with soap and water regularly to prevent oil build-up. The natural oils from our skin can cause the mask to deteriorate and also cause skin irritation and mask leaks. If you find that the headgear is irritating your skin, you can try using Snuggle Straps.

Q: I’ve been waking up with a stuffy and runny nose. Is the CPAP giving me an infection?

A: Nasal congestion and a runny nose are symptoms of a dry nasal passage. The pressure from the CPAP can be drying to your airway. When your nasal passage becomes dry, it becomes inflamed and produces more mucous. As a result, patients may experience nasal congestion, or a runny and itchy nose. Try increasing the setting on your humidifier slowly until the symptoms subside.

Q: I just started on CPAP therapy and I have trouble catching my breath when I’m using the CPAP. Is the pressure not strong enough?

A: In the beginning of therapy, it's common for patients to feel claustrophobic or feel air-starved. These sensations may not necessary mean that you aren't getting enough air, but that you are not yet accustomed to the CPAP pressure. The first 2 weeks are the toughest time for most patients. Practice wearing the CPAP while you watch TV to allow your body to adjust to the sensation. When you sleep with the CPAP at night, try to wear it as many hours as you can. As long as you keep using it, you body will gradually adjust to the pressure and having the apparatus on your face- and eventually your usage time will increase.



Troubleshooting CPAP Therapy. Retrieved September 29, 2014 from http://www.clinicalsleep.com/obstructive-sleep-apnea-cpap-therapy/troubleshooting-cpap-therapy.cfm.

With the change in seasons, a new challenge may arise for the CPAP user. Fall and Winter brings drier air and usually the need to increase your heated humidity setting.

The heated humidifier provides moisture to prevent dryness of the mouth and nasal passages. It's completely adjustable, allowing you to increase or decrease the heat level which will, in turn, increase or decrease the moisture output.

A dry nose, bloody nose, or sinus pain may signal inadequate humidity is being delivered to you. Nasal congestion or a runny nose can be the body's attempt to compensate for this dryness by flushing fluid to the area. Waking during the night after a few hours and removing your mask can also be due to congestion that develops.

Gradually increasing your humidity can eliminate these symptoms. CPAP units have various heated humidity ranges. We encourage you to adjust the settings to your own comfort level.

If you don't have a heated tube, keep in mind that during the colder months a higher heat setting will usually create condensation in the tubing. We advise you to place your CPAP unit on the floor or a short stool so that the water in the tube can drain back into the humidifier chamber. Tubing wraps are available which will help insulate your tube and reduce this condensation.

If you need any help adjusting your humidifier, please contact one of our Respiratory Therapists to assist you at 716-667-9600.

Have you stopped using your CPAP? Please know that it's immensely important for you to reconsider this decision as your health can be severely affected.

During your sleep study, you were found to have a diagnosis of sleep apnea. While you may feel that you're sleeping fairly well during the night, you have been found to either have frequent periods of hypopnea (decreased air flow) or apnea (no air flow).

When this occurs, your body is unable to maintain a deep REM sleep which is the stage needed for your body to recuperate.

The consequences, of untreated Sleep Apnea may include:

Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Myocardial Infarction
Cardiac Arrhythmias
Myocardial Ischemia
Stroke
A shortened life span
Motor vehicle accidents due to sleepiness
Decreased quality of life
Work related accidents due to sleepiness
Acid reflux
Frequent urination at night
Diabetes

We have nine Respiratory Therapists to help you and address your needs. We also have the newest masks which have been found to increase comfort and eliminate leaks. Please contact our office at (716)667-9600 Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm, to set up a time for us to discuss the reason you stopped and what we can do to help you.

Are you a frequent traveler or camper? We know the last thing you want is to feel tired or have your sleep apnea symptoms return while on the go. Don't let travel prevent you from feeling your best! We recommend you continue your therapy on a nightly basis while traveling.

Recent advances in technology and design have produced more options for the CPAP user who travels. Traveling with a full-size CPAP machine is not always a convenient option. Plus, you may not have access to an electrical power source. To fulfill your needs, Pro2 is now carrying more options, including lightweight CPAP units and a new battery option for powering your CPAP device.

Transcend Portable CPAP:

• Each unit weighs less than one pound and fits in the palm of your hand
• Power options available including Overnight or Multi-night Battery Systems
• Solar Battery Charger available to recharge both battery options
• Multiple therapy options available, including the Transcend CPAP and Transcend Auto
• Humidification options available, including a heated humidifier and Waterless Humidification System
• To learn more about the Transcend, call us today at (716)667-9600 or visit http://www.mytranscend.com/patients

Z1 CPAP System:

• The lightest CPAP machine available weighing only 10 ounces
• Sleek design with bright LCD screen
• Quiet operation- only 26 dBA of sound during operation
• Optional integrated battery system called the PowerShell which lasts 1-2 nights
• To learn more about the Z1, call us today at (716)667-9600 or visit http://hdmusa.com/the-z1/

Battery Power Solutions C-100 Battery Pack:

• Small, lightweight external battery solution to power your CPAP machine
• Works with most makes and models of CPAP, BiPAP, and other PAP devices
• Use in a single battery configuration or pigtail two batteries together for even more power
• Average run time with single battery configuration is 1-2 nights on most machines
• Battery can be recharged via the cigarette lighter (power) socket of a vehicle
• Perfect for camping, tents, and use in RVs
• To learn more about the C-100 Battery Pack, call us today at (716)667-9600 or visit http://www.batterypowersolutions.net/product/c-100-battery-pack