Mask fitting advice for Newbes and Strugglers

Finding the correct mask for you, can be the difference between success and failure. I have only been on CPAP since January, but, I tried lots of masks to find the perfect one for me. I think I have come up with the perfect steps to finding the right mask for you.

1. Find out how you sleep and how you breathe when you sleep. Do you sleep on your side? All the time? Do you breathe thru your nose or your mouth? Do you keep your mouth shut when you sleep? Do you grind your teeth? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, ask your bed partner. If you don’t have a bed partner, maybe you can video yourself. If you are about to go thru your titration, ask the RT to take note of some of these things for you. The answers to these questions are not part of the summary, but, the RT or RPSGT should be able to answer some simple questions for you.

2. What is the shape of your face? What is the shape of your head? What is the shape of your nose? These three questions all play a part in what kind of mask and headgear will work for you. For those with long hair, do you tie your hair at night? Do you leave it loose? What will happen to your hair with that type of headgear? Will the headgear damage my hair? Maybe I need to cover my hair before I put the headgear on?

3. Have an idea what kind of masks exist before you have a fitting. Take a look at all the masks on a website that sells them. Our host, CPAP.com, has lots of pictures of all the masks they sell. They also have some reviews of the masks. Reviews that are non-specific with the negative issues experienced with the mask should be taken with a grain of salt, but there is some very good information there. There are also reviews of most, if not all, the masks on this message board. They will be detailed and include responses with them. If you see a mask you want more information on, I suggest coming here and doing a search of topics. You will find lots of information here.

4. Decide what you can tolerate, and what you can’t. Do you have claustrophobia? Issues of feeling strapped down? Do you wear reading glasses at night? What style of mask do you feel you can tolerate, and what kind is a deal breaker for you. I have learned this part of the treatment is all about what you, not anyone else, can tolerate. No one can tell you what will work for you. They can only tell you what works for them or for others.

5. If you are using insurance, get them to purchase the most expensive of the masks you want to try. For example, I use the Respironics ComfortCurve (cost $109), or the ResMed Liberty (retail $175). I have my insurance purchase my Liberty and I pay out of pocket for my ComfortCurve. If you are using a Brick and Mortar DME, they will usually trade out a mask that doesn’t work for you in the first 30 days. You should know in a week or so if a mask will work if you are using it every night.

6. Padacheeks (strap and buckle pads) are your friends. Even if you can’t afford to buy the real thing, go to a dollar store and buy a fleece scarf and cut it up and make your own padding for straps and buckles. I have no idea who thought it was a great idea to put a hard plastic buckle in the back of the headgear for some of these masks, but, you will feel much better if it is padded. Padacheeks stop strap marks from telling everyone you sleep with a torture device on your face all night. They make your life easier and more comfortable. I do highly recommend the Padacheeks brand for those that want the best. They can be found at our host, cpap.com, on cpapauction.com and on http://www.padacheeks.com.

The mask or interface is the most important, and the most personal part, of this treatment. It is up to you to make it work to make you feel better and live longer. It will save your life, only if you use it. The part that is in contact with you, at all times of use, is extremely important. It is the difference for almost everyone, in success and failure.


One other thing that seems to help with success of xPAP therapy, total acceptance. This is the current treatment offered that will save your life. Until something better, or more successful, comes along, this is the treatment that will provide you with a normal life outside your bedroom. If I have to have something weird on my face, in the privacy of my own room, to have a normal, productive life, I’ll take that and run with it.

If anyone else has some great tips that I didn't think of, I would love to see them posted here as well.

Well you left out decapitated masks and RG's pantyhose ... but you seem to have covered most everything else. Nice job!

Well you left out decapitated masks and RG's pantyhose

I didn't want to scare them with the decapitation and, a really wierd thing that is just part of me, I'm allergic to nylon. I haven't used panty hose in over 10 years, for anything!

Excellent post aza!

Also, there are some Mask Fitting tips and leak adjustments under the Red Ball w/the Question Mark at the top of this page.

azaloune,

Thanks for sharing a great post that will be helpful to a lot of folks.

I have another suggestion, maybe not just for newbies, that I stumbled upon accidentally. I have been using the F & P 405 nasal mask for quite a while, with occasional forays into trying out other masks in hopes of finding one that doesn't leave permanent divots on either side of my nose. So far, no luck. However, a few weeks ago, I ordered a replacement cushion for the 405 and happened to also get one for the F & P 407 by accident. I looked at it when I took it out of the mailer and thought "Hm, this thing is narrower than the cushion on my 405, I wonder if...?" I put it up to my face, and lo and behold, it fit around my nose like it was made for it. So I ordered a 407.

What I didn't realize until that moment is that you can buy just the cushion part of many masks, instead of the whole thing, for a first trial to see how it fits your face. This is considerably cheaper than buying the whole mask. If the cushion doesn't fit by itself, you can be reasonably sure the whole mask won't either, and save yourself the agony.

Of course, if the 407 gets here and doesn't work, I'll have egg all OVER my face, so caveat emptor, etc.

Min