Newbie needs help with mask!

Hi,

I am fairly new to CPAP. I got mine in September 2008. I have had 2 different masks, and the last one I have tried, I have really worked with, but I am still getting nose sores and leaking. I have the ComfortGel Full mask. I need a full mask because I am a mixed breather. I also didn't like the Quatro because I sleep on my sides most of the time and it was hurting my forehead and cheeks. Am I just destined to have face sores because of my mask? I am almost in tears right now, I haven't slept well in days. I take my mask off somewhere between 1 and 3 am every morning because I can't take it anymore. The pain in on my nose or the leaking in my left eye. Is there a better product for me? I apparently have waited too long to exchange it and have to wait it out until March to get a new mask with the insurance. I don't know if I can make it. The other option my supplier gave me was to come in a get it refitted. They are a good 25 minutes away and I just don't get out much with 3 children under 5.

I have adjusted well to the machine and was one of the few, I guess, that felt great immediately. I was able to begin getting up and working out again and feeling better through the day, but the last month has been back to pre CPAP days because I am not getting enough good sleep.

Help and thanks,
Kathy

ComfortGel Full mask
SleepStyle 600

Have you tried a chin strap to keep you mouth closed. I was taping my mouth shut using the Breeze nazal pillow headgear for the first year, then got a chin strap that keeps my mouth shut so I breath out of my nose only. Works good.

kitkdat wrote:Hi,

I am fairly new to CPAP. I got mine in September 2008. I have had 2 different masks, and the last one I have tried, I have really worked with, but I am still getting nose sores and leaking. I have the ComfortGel Full mask. I need a full mask because I am a mixed breather. I also didn't like the Quatro because I sleep on my sides most of the time and it was hurting my forehead and cheeks. Am I just destined to have face sores because of my mask? I am almost in tears right now, I haven't slept well in days. I take my mask off somewhere between 1 and 3 am every morning because I can't take it anymore. The pain in on my nose or the leaking in my left eye. Is there a better product for me? I apparently have waited too long to exchange it and have to wait it out until March to get a new mask with the insurance. I don't know if I can make it. The other option my supplier gave me was to come in a get it refitted. They are a good 25 minutes away and I just don't get out much with 3 children under 5.

I have adjusted well to the machine and was one of the few, I guess, that felt great immediately. I was able to begin getting up and working out again and feeling better through the day, but the last month has been back to pre CPAP days because I am not getting enough good sleep.

Help and thanks,
Kathy

ComfortGel Full mask
SleepStyle 600

Sounds like it was WAY too tight. Those types of masks have to be looser to expand the seals with the air pressure to fit your face. And, unless you do the "Teflon tape fix" to the Quattro, it'll feel like it's leaking everywhere.....but it's just out of the elbow in the front of the mask. They also need to be properly sized.

Bed pillows can also make a HUGE difference in whether a mask will work or not. Some of them definitely cause more leakage problems. There are some that are designed for or work better with this therapy.


Den

Kathy, I used several different Full Face masks my first 5 or 6 months of cpap. I disliked all of them. I mouth breathe a lot during sleep. I like to sleep on my side, and turn often from side to side. The bulky FF masks often shifted causing leaks, or pressed into my face. That's even with a PAPillow to let the mask hang off the edge of the pillow as much as possible.

My solution was to start putting tape over my mouth (yeah..tape! Can you imagine!?! LOL!! ) so I could wear other types of masks instead of a FF mask. I've taped for over four years now with no problem. Lets me wear the nasal pillows masks that I find most comfy.

LINKS to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard
viewtopic.php?t=8011

Hi, Kathy,

I use the Fisher and Paykel Flexifit 432 and I like it because I'm a side/tummy sleeper and the small forehead piece is much more comfortable than any of the other FF masks I've tried (and I've tried just about all of them, I think ).

I also like the big, gray cushion that goes inside the seal. I tried the Flexifit 431, which doesn't have the cushion, and wound up putting the cushion in it! If you want to go this route, I'd try the 431 first because it comes with all three of the seal sizes. That way you can determine your size and the next time you order seals, you could order the one for the 432 and use it in the 431 -- if you want to try the cushion....

Hang in there. I think finding the right mask is the biggest obstacle to getting comfortable with treatment.

I second the notion to try to tape your mouth shut, and/or use a chinstrap. I just can't stand full face masks.

However, everyone's different. In your case, you should get on one of the free mask test drives. Click on the link in my signature to a variety of test drives currently being run - including for the Hybrid Full Face, and the Liberty Full Face.

You should also look into getting some Pur Sleep aromatherapy to help you over this really bad patch. It can help calm you down so you can keep your mask on longer: http://www.pur-sleep.com

Good luck!
Barbara