Getting mask help

[Cr1kk1t]

Hi everyone,

I am doing good. My AHI is staying below 5 which is great for me despite my mask still being too big. I started my internship today and was assigned to respiratory therapy. One of the RT's and I got to talking about cpap and how my masks fit and he is going to bring me several small and xsmall/petite masks in several different styles to try. I am super excited. Hopefully with a properly fitting mask my AHI will go even lower and my neck won't hurt from tightening the headgear down so tight.

[Sheriff Buford]

Hope it works for you. A mask should never be so tight that it causes neck or facial pain. It is a natural response to tighten a strap when you get leaks. A properly-fitted mask will "float" on your face. If you over-tighten... it can cause more leakage.

Sheriff

[avi123]

make sure that the rt checks your fit while you're lying down in different body positions and a cpap machine is blowing into the mask at 10 cm. also, mask manufacturers have policies to let you take home a mask for a trial FREE. but DMEs don't like to do that b/c it costs them some money. once you are going to get a cpap machine, then make sure that it is data output capable.

[Cr1kk1t]

Hope it works for you. A mask should never be so tight that it causes neck or facial pain. It is a natural response to tighten a strap when you get leaks. A properly-fitted mask will "float" on your face. If you over-tighten... it can cause more leakage.

Sheriff

Thank you Sheriff. Unfortunately if I loosen the the straps the leakage is horrible. And I am not willing to give up feeling better over a little neck pain.

[Cr1kk1t]

make sure that the rt checks your fit while you're lying down in different body positions and a cpap machine is blowing into the mask at 10 cm. also, mask manufacturers have policies to let you take home a mask for a trial FREE. but DMEs don't like to do that b/c it costs them some money. once you are going to get a cpap machine, then make sure that it is data output capable.

I am not going through a DME. I have no insurance or money to buy masks. I already have a machine that is data capable that I have been using for about 8 weeks now. The respiratory therapist that is going to give me the masks was my trainer for the day on my rotation through his office for my internship.

[Cr1kk1t]

Got the masks today.
A xs mirage quattro, a small quattro fx, and a slm mirage fx nasal mask. I can't wait to start trying them out. Not sure which one I want to start with tonight. Going to try them all on and decide from there.
I am super excited, like a kid in a candy store.

[mgaggie]

Got the masks today.
A xs mirage quattro, a small quattro fx, and a slm mirage fx nasal mask. I can't wait to start trying them out. Not sure which one I want to start with tonight. Going to try them all on and decide from there.
I am super excited, like a kid in a candy store.

Good luck and have fun!

[DoriC]

Good luck, keep us updated!

[Papit]

Hi Cr1kk1t. If you're feeling pain due to over-tightened straps, DO LOOSEN THEM just a little bit at a time until the pain stops. The mask should actually work better for you. Masks are not designed to be worn tight. The Sherriff has that right. If when you loosen the straps this way, it causes leaks, then that tells you that you need a different size or a different mask. You should never have neck, facial or any other pains when using cpap masks. Hope this helps. Good luck to you.

Hope it works for you. A mask should never be so tight that it causes neck or facial pain. It is a natural response to tighten a strap when you get leaks. A properly-fitted mask will "float" on your face. If you over-tighten... it can cause more leakage.

Sheriff

Thank you Sheriff. Unfortunately if I loosen the the straps the leakage is horrible. And I am not willing to give up feeling better over a little neck pain.