Full face mask - too much pressure on face

Hi - just signed up today. I am a new cpap user. Stuggled for YEARS with morning headaches that lasted all day, was treated for allergies, sinus and even had sinus surgery UNTIL finally a doctor diagnosed me correctly. !!!!! Now with CPAP machine, headaches are much better. But - I just can't find a good mask... My DME supplier has been so good, giving me different masks to try. But here is the problem:

Full face mask - EVERY one just gives too much pressure on my cheeks. If I make it tight enough to stop leaks at top and bottom, the pressure on my cheeks (to the sides of my nose) is just too much. I have a very average face, not much facial fat, not a round face... just average, but having so much trouble finding a good FFM. Any ideas of which ones don't have a lot of pressure on the cheeks?

Nasal mask - I got a nasal mask - resmed airfit N10. It fits, but I have air blowing out onto my eyes and lips which is cold and irritating. Also, with being a new CPAP user, I tend to open my mouth often while sleeping, using this mask. I am trying to train myself but so far haven't learned to sleep with my mouth closed the whole time with this mask. Are there nasal masks that don't blow so much air onto the face?

I didn't realize finding the right mask would be so hard.... at least my DME complany is helping with ordering masks for me to try

I would appreciate any help.

Thanks,

Most masks are made to float on your face. They should not need to be too tight. When you are trying on masks at the DME...do it while lying down with machine running at your pressure.

you didn't say which FFM mask you have in your posting

the link to the guide will help with fitting a lot of the FFM's

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/

Regarding full face masks.

And, if you're having to cinch it down so tight, maybe they're the wrong size, too.
As LSAT said, full face masks should float on your face. The cushion has to inflate with the air and provide the seal.
Maybe a different bed pillow. If your head is sinking too deeply into the pillow, it may be shoving the mask out of alignment. A number of bed pillows have been designed for this type of therapy and work better than the standard fiberfill ones.


Den

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Nasal pillows are so very comfortable, but they look/feel odd and take some getting used to. Try some and try the biggest pillows you can so your nares seal tight, and don't apply too much pressure to the straps. You might be surprised. I was - even when I'm congested...

Thanks for the info. I tried the nasal pillows last night ... you're right - they are strange, I might get used to them But my mouth opens so often. Just need to get trained I guess.

LSAT wrote:Most masks are made to float on your face. They should not need to be too tight. When you are trying on masks at the DME...do it while lying down with machine running at your pressure.

You say "trying on masks at DME" - my DME says they don't have any masks to try. Which DME suppliers do that - is it usual?

Thanks for any info.

queenbee125 wrote:

LSAT wrote:Most masks are made to float on your face. They should not need to be too tight. When you are trying on masks at the DME...do it while lying down with machine running at your pressure.

You say "trying on masks at DME" - my DME says they don't have any masks to try. Which DME suppliers do that - is it usual?

Thanks for any info.

queenbee: my DME (that rhymes with crapria) was very, very stingy with "allowing" me to try on masks. I had researched them on this forum ahead of time, and researched masks here also, so I had a pretty good idea what I wanted. I "tried on" the AirFit P10 For Her and it's the one I still use -- despite some headache issues that I'm having.

One thing I found out 3 months into my treatment: my insurance actually pays for more than the DME told me it would. The DME made it sound as though I could get a new mask -- and all components including nasal pillows -- every 6 months!!! I'm not kidding. I was so worried about having to buy replacement parts out of pocket. Lo and behold, my insurance will pay for a completely new mask/headgear every 3 months, new tubing every 3 months, and new nasal pillows and fine filters every 2 weeks!!!

It's really frustrating, and there are often multiple layers of bureaucracy between you and the machine/supplies you need. Keep coming to this forum and getting advice from the pros -- they've helped me SOOO much.

Good luck!

queenbee125 wrote:

LSAT wrote:Most masks are made to float on your face. They should not need to be too tight. When you are trying on masks at the DME...do it while lying down with machine running at your pressure.

You say "trying on masks at DME" - my DME says they don't have any masks to try. Which DME suppliers do that - is it usual?

Thanks for any info.

I think there must be a fundamental difference among DMEs. One that I visited didn't have any more than an office with two desk and one cpap machine on display. In my initial talks with them, they were going to have to order the machine and I assume any supplies. The second DME had a display with wide assortment of mask and multiple sizes and had inventory where if you wanted to try different ones, they'd pull it out and hand it to you. They apparently had all the cpap machines in stock too. Great service when your current mask isn't quite right and you want to try different sizes and different styles.

I don't know which is considered normal but when given a choice, go visit a few in your area and find out which offers the most.

Cpap.com lets you try out masks and return them as long as you pay a small insurance fee when you do it.

Julie wrote:Cpap.com lets you try out masks and return them as long as you pay a small insurance fee when you do it.

I've used this feature before when trying out a new mask. I don't use it when I'm positive about the mask of course but before that I do. I think it's a very good feature!

Often the insurance is free when the mask is being introduced;
and the fabric masks (Sleepweaver) always have thirty day free return insurance.
This is good if you are in the CUSA.

Nasal mask - I got a nasal mask - resmed airfit N10. It fits, but I have air blowing out onto my eyes and lips which is cold and irritating. Also, with being a new CPAP user, I tend to open my mouth often while sleeping, using this mask. I am trying to train myself but so far haven't learned to sleep with my mouth closed the whole time with this mask. Are there nasal masks that don't blow so much air onto the face?

Hi,

The nasal cloth mask listed in my equipment profiles does not blow air at all onto my face. Of course, your mileage will vary but it might be worth a shot?

49er