Got a new mask yesterday, have some questions.

I've been using a CPAP machine for a little over a year and have been doing fine for the most part. My insurance plan covers absolutely nothing after the initial purchase of the CPAP machine, so I've been trying to stretch my supplies as long as they can go. I figured after a year, it was time to make an appointment with my DME provider and get a new mask.

I've been using the Swift FX nasal mask pretty successfully, however whenever I get a cold and can't breath out of my nose, I can't use the CPAP machine since the Swift FX is only a nasal mask. I went with that mask initially due to having just started CPAP therapy and I got very claustrophobic in my sleep study where I was given a full face mask to use. I think it was a combination of the mask, being hooked up to all the probes, and just not knowing what to expect. Anyway, since I've done fine since then, I wanted to go with the full face mask.

I initially asked about the Quattro FX when I went in to the DME shop, having researched the topic a bit beforehand and seeing it was a pretty popular mask with good reviews. The DME person showed it to me and said that while it had been a good mask, it also tends to ride up on your face, especially with higher pressures. She said the Air Fit F10 was the newer and improved version or equivalent of the Quattro FX. I didn't know one way or the other, so I took her word for it, and went with the Air Fit F10.

She did say since I have a beard, sometimes you can experience leaking with a full face mask, so she suggested I trim my beard a bit, but I decided to just go for it and last night was my first night with the mask. For the most part it was fine. I did experience some leaking around my beard, but it was fixed by just tightening up the mask more. I didn't have any of the claustrophobia issues I had during my sleep study, so I think now that I am a seasoned CPAPer, that issue is behind me no matter what mask I use.

The issue I noticed most was, with my Swift FX there is a maybe 12 or 18 inch smaller diameter tube that comes out of the mask and connects to the 6 foot tube that connects to the machine. That extra 12-18 inches really makes the difference for me with where my CPAP machine is. Since I don't have a headboard, I use a hose buddy so the tube goes from the machine, behind my bed, up the hose buddy, and down to me. 6 feet is a little short for that. With the new Air Fit F10 mask with no attached tube, it reached, but just barely, and didn't give me much maneuverability as I slept. Because of that I woke up with a neck cramp after having to keep my head in basically one position all night.

So do they sell those 12-18 inch smaller diameter tubes that would fit onto my new mask, or does it have to come with the mask? I see my options as

• 1. Getting one of those tubes if they are available.

• 2. Getting rid of the hose buddy, but then the tube would have to rest on the side of the bed and would always be pulling across me down to the floor. I don't like this option.

• 3. Look for a tube longer than 6 feet. Maybe a 9 foot tube, if they are available.

Does using a longer tube affect anything concerning CPAP therapy? Does it make it harder to breath at all?

Lastly, the other problem I noticed was that I am used to using the auto-on feature on my Respironics System One. In the past I would just take a few breaths and it would kick on. With the Air Fit F10, I tried this, even taking very deep breaths, and it wouldn't kick on. Does this feature not work very well with full face masks? Are there any settings I need to change?

Thank you for reading.

1) you may have to activate the auto-on feature (see manual for info), 2) you can buy hoses of almost any size - though above 10' you might need to raise your pressure a bit - and together with a standard little connector piece, you'll be able to get the length you want. You do need to look online for places that sell shorter hoses (I found 1-2 a few yrs ago, but they're no longer around) and almost all should work.

Take your choice between longer tubes or short thin extensions https://www.cpap.com/cpap-hose.php

Keep in mind you can cut your costs of supplies and masks in half on the online sites. There is less person to person support, but they do take calls and answer questions, then offer a 30 day free return.

If you ever decide on replacing the Swift FX, a mask I really liked, consider the Airfit P10. Much lighter, quieter and the air diffusion does not push a noticeable stream of air. That is really nice.

to make the auto start feature work you have to cover the anti asphyxiation opening on the elbow .