Try something new or if it ain't broke, don't fix it?

I seem to have been one of the lucky few who has been happy with my first mask from the get-go. I'm trying to decide if I should stick with the mask I have or if it's worth checking out something else? Thoughts?

Doesn't your thread title tell you something?

Julie wrote:Doesn't your thread title tell you something?

Yeah, probably lol.

I was just thinking that maybe there is something out there that I don't know that I'd like better because this is the only one I've tried. KWIM? I'm only a couple weeks into this, so I don't have a lot to go by.

I started out with the mirage quattro, which someone threw in with the first machine I got off craigslist. it just happened to be the right size for my face.

since then, in my quest for something better, I've tried the

nasal aire ii
hybrid
resmed liberty
piliaro q
and maybe one or two others,... and always came back to the quattro.

I've now discovered the resmed p10, and have finally gotten my nose mostly used to it, and it's working pretty good, but I've still got the quattro for 'in case'

If you're happy with your mask, why do anything?

On the other hand, if you think that there might be something better out there for you, I'd try some nasal pillow masks. Like the Swift FX and/or the AirFit P10. They're pretty comfortable (in my opinion *smile*), and a bit more minimal than the one that you're using. You can use return insurance if you buy from cpap.com, too, which makes the cost of trying a new mask fairly minimal.

Up to you, if you think it might help to try something new...

Duffy08 wrote:I seem to have been one of the lucky few who has been happy with my first mask from the get-go. I'm trying to decide if I should stick with the mask I have or if it's worth checking out something else? Thoughts?

In my case, I started in 2005 with the ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face. In about mid-2006, I got curious about the mask I had used in my sleep study. It appeared to be the Respironics Comfortfull 2......so, I bought one to try. I could only tolerate it for almost three nights before I gave up and went back to my UMFF. In 2007, I had an opportunity to buy a ResMed Quattro Full Face mask from one of the forum members. I used it periodically for some months......not too bad, but again I settled back into my UMFF. Somewhere in around those years, I received a Zzzz Full Face mask as part of a forum trial to compare. I couldn't even manage a nap with it......it was a disaster.

So, what I'm saying is it doesn't hurt to TRY different masks.
Maybe it's like other relationships......you don't know what you have till you try something else......but, don't burn the bridges or dump the one that's "comfortable" for a new one (which may be different, but not as comfortable).


Den

.

I would definitely recommend trying a few new masks, maybe a nasal pillow mask. I used the same nasal mask for years, but after I found this forum I started to try new masks. The new masks I had tried on my own, after the headgear for my 'then' mask was discontinued, didn't fit well enough to even wear. With help from forum members, I began to see outside my own box. I learned that what I thought was the perfect mask for me was actually a torture device. I didn't realize that I could get a mask to fit & not leave red marks & sores on my nose bridge. Even a couple of years later I still have scars & probably always will. Without the guidance I got from this forum, from reading & asking for help, I don't think I would be wearing nasal pillows nor would I be receiving the optimal therapy I enjoy today. It all started because I began the search for another mask.

You may learn your mask is indeed perfect for you, or you may find something much more comfortable. Either way, you won't know unless you try. I didn't think my mask choice was 'broken' but was forced to look for another because of a headgear change. I'm glad I found nasal pillows that work for me.

Jen

Not to be fickle, but it is good to find other masks that work for you, in the event of an illness, injury, allergy,
or some moronic company discontinuing the one mask you like.

How's your insurance work in terms of replacement masks?

I recommend getting a spare mask or two. It's good if you break one. You can clean one set it aside to dry for a while to keep down germ growth, and use the other.

It's nice to have a full face mask to use if you have a cold and can't breathe through your nose.

I find a nasal pillow mask much easier to live with than a nasal mask. I can wear my glasses easily. It was nice to be able to wear it for a few hours at at time and go back to the nasal mask until my nose toughened up.

archangle wrote:How's your insurance work in terms of replacement masks?

I have to double check, but I'm pretty sure that I can get a new mask every 3 months. My DME has a 30 day exchange period, so if I get something that I absolutely hate, I can exchange it. The nice thing is, my DME is actually through my healthcare provider, so I am able to just go into their location to make any changes that are needed.

I am thinking that I will try a different mask next time. I am intrigued by the nasal pillows, and I think that I'd like to try the mask that they used on me at my sleep study. I wear glasses at night and in the morning, so it would be nice to have a mask that doesn't interfere with that.

I love to experiment. Helps with the boredom.
And I say that no experiment is ever a total failure....now sometimes the only thing I learn is how bad I hate so and so mask...but I learn something with every experiment.

Having tried over 20 masks, I have learned a bit about my face,
and that some companies and their mask design teams
apparently see me as some kind of hideous freak.
(They must have seen my driver's license picture.)

Duffy08 wrote:I seem to have been one of the lucky few who has been happy with my first mask from the get-go. I'm trying to decide if I should stick with the mask I have or if it's worth checking out something else? Thoughts?

Hi Duffy - I am new to cpap therapy also, and have been fortunate to have had 3 different masks to try so far - one if a FFM (Quattro Mirage) and the other two are nasal pillow masks (the Swift FX and the Nuance.) Prior to getting my equipment, I had read info on this forum that indicated what CF and others are saying, in that it's probably a good idea to find different styles of masks that you are comfortable with wearing, in case you can't use one for some reason for a period of time.

My suggestion would be to try to find alternate masks before you run into a situation for needing one; this way, you can feel confident knowing your sleep is less likely to be negatively affected.

it took 3-4 mask trials before I settled on the Mirage Quattro 2 year ago....

Since then, I've tried just about every new FFM that has been introduced. (thank heaven for cpap.com and their return insurance) I keep going back to my Mirage Quattro as my mask of choice.

I've got several backup Quattro mask assemblies / parts stored away, just in case Resmed ever has a brain fart and decides to discontinue it.