How many masks did you go through when you started?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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englandsf
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Re: How many masks did you go through when you started?

Post by englandsf » Sun Jul 27, 2014 8:51 pm

Try the biggest size pillow you can as that seems to ease the pressure on the bridge...

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Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead SW. NeilMed and Alkalol Nasal rinses. Veramyst. AutoPAP 11-20 cms. Started June '14, untreated AHI 31-38, with PAP around 1.

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ShelaghDB
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Re: How many masks did you go through when you started?

Post by ShelaghDB » Sun Jul 27, 2014 8:57 pm

I don't want to keep repeating the same information but in my case I was given a QUATTRO AIR FF mask from the get go.
I started this in May but I first started with a S9 ESCAPE and nothing was working.
I felt awful although the mask in hindsight did work but i was so overwhelmed with not being able to sleep properly that everyone just kept telling me, rightly so that I needed to get a data compliant machine before they could help me.


May 28th I went out and purchased the S9 AutoSet.
They also gave me a brand new Swift FX Nasal mask in a bag but i doubt I will ever use it. ( if not I have a new FF mask for her I won't need either)

I have a couple of acquaintances I have met online that live in Toronto that are unemployed and not able to buy masks so I am just waiting for one of them to get out of hospital and if she can use the SWIFT FX I will give it to her if she knows it will work for her.
Ive already given 2 people 2 brand new Climate Controlled tubes that were unable to buy one each.
They keep throwing these things at me so if i can help a little bit by giving what i have to someone else that has a greater need than I than thats my contribution to it all.

Anyhow, got the S9 AutoSet and I had SEVERE sleep apnea but noticed immediately that the DME had reset my brick machine at the wrong setting, pressure number so I was advised by someone I trust to move up very slowly to the right number but I tried and eventually got fed up of doing that and jumped up right away one day..........but that was also combined the same day with starting to use a product that cleansed my nose out at nightie.
This was only about 13 days ago and since then I have FINALLY got where I should be.
Its been hell since May when I began this process.
( I had tried it a few times in the months beforehand but gave up and finally got it)

But in my case I was told to use a nasal mask for those first 2 months by someone that gave me the wrong advice and only got the right advice 13 or so days ago and went back to the FF mask and it was the right mask all along. The DME had been right but one person online advised me incorrectly.

So........some get it right away and some don't but i would think that if you were to describe your set up exactly, someone here might be able to make a suggestion to you that would work for you but listen to that gut feeling of yours. Its right more often that you might realize....

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ShelaghDB
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Re: How many masks did you go through when you started?

Post by ShelaghDB » Sun Jul 27, 2014 9:01 pm

F10 uses the same cushion, but does not have the forehead arm and the strap around the top of the head, which I like much better
I havent seen one.
Would you say its exactly the same as in fit, shape, etc other than the straps you speak of?
In other words, would you say that IF the QUATTRO AIR works for one person perfectly, would the F10 work perfectly as well?

_________________
Mask: Quattro™ Air Full Face Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Prescription: 13 Pressure
 5k 27" Retina iMac,
 MacBookPro 10.9.5 13" 2.53Ghz + 10.9.5 13" 2.4Ghz
 iPad 4 16Gig + 3G  iPhone 5 + One + One 64gig CyanogenMod Version
 Apple TV + Airport Extreme

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Goofproof
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Re: How many masks did you go through when you started?

Post by Goofproof » Sun Jul 27, 2014 9:06 pm

My DME got my mask size correct the first time. He reached behind me and lifted my wallet, after going thru it, he determined, I could only afford a Medium. He was correct because when I left I was broke. Jim
Use data to optimize your xPAP treatment!

"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire

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jencat824
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Re: How many masks did you go through when you started?

Post by jencat824 » Sun Jul 27, 2014 10:56 pm

More than I can count in 14 years. Initially I think around 5-6 & I settled on one the DME said 'no one likes' & I used it for several years, the old Simplicity was the mask I settled on early in treatment. Used it until the IQ came out with the old (no loner made) 3 point headgear. Then I started ordering from cpap.com, found this forum & tried lots of masks.

My early DME experiences were not good. If I had known then what I know now I would have switched to a customer friendly DME. Everyone is different & it may take several masks for you to find the right one for your face. Your DME should have patience with you during this process, but as we know too well, some don't.

Hang in there, your mask is out there waiting for you, just keep looking.

Jen

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Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
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Additional Comments: Pressure Auto 12-20cm CPAP compliant since 2000
Other masks I've tried: *=liked, #= no way
Piliaro, SleepWeaver Elan*, Swift FX w&w/o Bella Loops#, OpitLife#,Simplicity*, Mirage Vista*, Go Life for Her#, IQ (original hg only)*, Quattro FX (barely)###, Wisp*, Nuance#, Swift LT for her**