What follows is the much touted sexy photo love story of my masks and me.
We start by changing from nasal mask to nasal-mouth mask. This happens, for example, when:
- before inhalation
- before bedtime
- When I have to take care of my nose because we forgot to loosen the mask again after sitting.
Good preparation is half the battle. Prepare the nose and mouth mask. Open the lower magnetic fasteners of the lower straps. Make sure that the upper straps are correctly inserted in their respective holders and have not slipped out at some point. And they should not be twisted.
Last check: Was the mask cleaned after the last time it was worn? It's disgusting to get your own snot mixed with drool and dried gum blood pressed into your face by the overpressure of the ventilation. You can still quickly reach for the CPAP wet wipe. ?
I can't stand it when my head is up (secretions slip into my lungs and I have trouble breathing), but it's much easier to change masks this way than lying on my side.
So put my head in the middle facing upwards.
The nose-mouth mask for changing is ready.
So that the machine's alarm doesn't get on our nerves any more than it already does, you may mute (pause) it for the mask change. If you want to do that, do it now while I'm still on the ventilator.
Open the first lower strap on the Velcro fastener (left side in the photo) with one hand while holding the mask with the other hand and pressing it lightly against my face.
I continue to breathe over the machine.
Open the second lower strap of the mask. For the second strap, you can leave the Velcro as it is and just unhook the strap from the holder. Just as it is best for you. Now wait for my clearly visible sign with my eyes.
I am still breathing through the ventilator.
As soon as I give you the sign that I'm ready, I hold my breath and close my eyes. It can start.
If at some point I run out of breath and can't take it anymore, I'll open my eyes and you please put the mask on my face right away - no matter if we're already "almost done".
Now I can no longer breathe.
Reach under the head with one hand and bend the neck far forward. Dare! The further forward you lift my head, the easier it will be. With your free hand take the nose mask away and put it aside.
I hold my breath.
Put my head back as straight as possible.
Correct, I continue to hold my breath.
Now take the nose and mouth mask in one hand and the ribbons in the other.
If you are (still) unsure about my masks, connect the tube to the nose-mouth mask now.
Meanwhile, I am still unbreathed.
Now comes the part that, for whatever reason, no one wants to understand. Move the mask from the bottom up, sliding it towards the underside of my nose, until the nostrils rest on the mask cushion. The mask comes from the bottom, not the front, not the top. Just believe me.
I am still not breathing.
Now lift my head up again with one hand. With the other hand pull the straps to the back of my head, but only backwards and not downwards. Pay attention to the position of the single top headband. It must be far forward so that there is no leakage.
No air for me yet...
Bring the two lower straps with the magnetic clips to the front. Correct the position of the mask again. At the risk of repetition, I emphasise that the tip of the nose rests on the mask cushion and is not inserted into the hole.
Slowly, some air would not be amiss.
Next, close the lower straps by engaging the magnetic clips.
We're almost there. ?
The nose and mouth mask is now basically in place. Connect the white tube connector to the grey tube from the ventilation.
I'm back on the ventilator. From now on you have all the time in the world to make everything "beautiful".
The creation of this photo series took 26 seconds including the mask change - which is really long. But with calm and without rushing, it's completely stress-free for me.
If the nose has slipped back into the hole, take it out. To do this, put two fingers under the rubber seal on the left and right and push it down until the nose is completely back on the mask cushion.
Turn my head back to the right side. Lift my head a little to do this because otherwise the headbands will slip and we can start all over again.
In the final position I lie straight on my back again, my neck also straight and my head turned to the right. I look out of the right of the three living room windows.
