Nasal mask and chin strap recommendations please

So yesterday I went to my family doctor for a regular checkup. She is the one that arranged my initial sleep study three years ago. I discussed with her the fact that no matter how loose I keep my full face mask along with using the pad a cheek liners, I am still getting terrible pressure marks. I also told her how unhappy I was with the current DME since they seem to offer very little help and actually asked me what different mask I wanted to use. I was told by my doctor that they no longer recommend that DME and that she is actually going to arrange for a new one to come out to my house. I was very pleased to hear this.

When I was first fitted with a mask three years ago I was given a nasal mask. However I soon found that I opened my mouth while I slept and had to change over to a full face mask. So now that a new DME will be coming to see me, I am seriously thinking of trying a nasal mask again with a chin strap. I would love to hear which nasal mask you prefer as well as which chin strap works best for you? I have never tried a chin strap so am a little apprehensive as I am quite claustrophobic. Thank you for any suggestions you may have.

I struggle between an ESON 2 nasal mask and an Airfit P10 pillow system. The pillows are way more comfortable, and simpler to keep from seal leakage. However, I get better results in my AHO by 2 to 3 points with a nasal mask. That is further confounded by the sizing of the Nasal mask, where a small size seems to be the best fit, but I get better leak minimization using a medium nasal mask. As far as mouth leakage, tape works far an away the best, but it is simpler to use a chin strap, I currently use a Resmed chinstrap, and have minimal mouth leaks, and its pretty comfortable.

Bottom line, Find what works for you, and like you, I have found my DME to be less than helpful. They are agreeable but just asking what mask do you want serves no purpose in helping me to find a mask that my work better or with less grief than what I am using. How about a little experience based advice, such as I find people with you shaped face like XXX in a nasal, and a nose like yours fits YYY pillows really well, and so on.

God forbid I would need a prosthetic from a DME, "what kind of leg do ya want?" <rant off>

My experience is don't rely on DME for anything, you have to do the homework yourself and suggestions from the sleep medicine doctor. I tried to cpap last year in Sep first without seeing a sleep medicine doctor. The sleep study was ordered by my family doctor, and even with a hospital stayed over night. Whoever stated in the report said I had both central and Obstructive apneas. And set up a bpap for 17 to 19 pressure. I sleep on my back and my mouth always open during sleep. So the DME gave me an Amara Full Face CPAP Mask with dreamstation b-pap. It was horrible experience and didn't survived for one week. Can't sleep and returned the b-pap to DME after one week. I did some home work by searching information from this form, it really helps me to understand what's ahead of me. I finally got to see a sleep medicine doctor this year, and according to the structure of my face and TMJ problem. The doctor suggested me to use the nasal pillow, better seal and less strap like the full face mask. Combined with the doctor suggestion and info I got from here, I have tried two of them, I am using the air fit nasal pillow p10 for her now with a tape over my mouth at night to prevent the mouth leaking. At least it works better and I can live with that for now. It has been 2 and half mouth so far. Still have room for improvement, but it's a good start.

TASmart wrote: Bottom line, Find what works for you, and like you, I have found my DME to be less than helpful. They are agreeable but just asking what mask do you want serves no purpose in helping me to find a mask that my work better or with less grief than what I am using. How about a little experience based advice, such as I find people with you shaped face like XXX in a nasal, and a nose like yours fits YYY pillows really well, and so on.

God forbid I would need a prosthetic from a DME, "what kind of leg do ya want?" <rant off>

Yes I was quite taken back when she asked me what mask I wanted. I felt like saying well you are the expert so you tell me which would be best to help with the issues I am having. I feel like I have gotten so much more information since I joined this forum than anything I learned from my current DME.

I have used only a nasal mask during my 30 year CPAP treatment. After trying several brands ofchinstrap, I have found that for me, the PAPCAP strap is easily my personal preference. I realize that straps are a matter of individual preference, and so are choice of mask.My local DMEs never have the PAPCAP, but it is readily available online.

TheDuke