I need your help A.S.A.P.!!!

I need your help, A.S.A.P. in picking out a new mask.

Got my very first machine/mask yesterday, and during the mask "fitting", the tech was having a hard time getting the mask to fit, and still allowing me to breathe. The problem is, (imo) the mask isn't WIDE enough. I have the Mirage Micro Nasal mask, size large, wide with the x-large inner part (seal???). She told me to try it out for a couple of nights, and if I couldn't live with it, they'd exchange it for a different style, no charge. The "no charge" part is VERY important to me.
Before you say the tech should have used a different mask to start with, she couldn't. She had to use the mask my doctor prescribed.

Last night, my first use of the mask, was a nightmare. When I awoke this morning, my nose was KILLING me! The area between the nostrils and cheek are tender to the touch, and the area just under the nostrils just plain HURT!

When I went for my sleep study, THEY, used a mask (on the second try) that was perfect for me. Unfortunately, they didn't mark down which mask they switched me to! All I remember about that mask was that it was more than WIDE enough for me, and there was a blue gel around the nose part for the seal. (It was extremely comfortable)

I would GREATLY appreciate any of you folks who are using, or know about, any wide, or extra wide, masks that I can get to replace this one. Time is a BIG factor! If I don't get this old one replaced soon, my insurance won't cover the cost of the replacement.

Thank's in advance for your help!
John

Hi Komodo

I suggest you call into the sleep study place, tell them your problem, and ask to look at the masks they have. You may be able to find the type you used. Even if some of the types are out they should still have descriptive brochures somewhere. Then get your doctor to prescribe the correct mask, although I thought that only machines needed a prescription. If your DME does not have that mask, and will not get it, then I suggest you try on-line with cpap.com.

I would say that the Fisher & Paykel 342 is the widest mask I have used,but I know little about masks. Only that it is essential to get the right one for you.

Everybody here will support you whilst you are going through this hassle.

Good luck.

Mars

Browse Respironics' ComfortGel site http://comfortgel.respironics.com/ - and try cpap.com's masks lists also.

I don't know if anyone but Resprionics makes masks with blue gel.

Re the tenderness: soak you present mask, and any new mask you get in warm saopy water for 30-60 minutes before you let them touch you skin. Fisher & Paykel have foam parts that you're not supposed to soak (maybe 10 minutes is OK) but otherwise, "just do it".

I had carpet burns on my face before I soaked my mask. It's a tip I found in a chat, given by a company rep.

O.

Going back to the sleep study place to find the mask you liked sounds like a good idea. If nothing comes from that, I would ask that the doctor write a prescription that says you can have the mask of your choice. I am actually rather surprised that a doctor would write it for a certain mask.

Komodo wrote: When I went for my sleep study, THEY, used a mask (on the second try) that was perfect for me. Unfortunately, they didn't mark down which mask they switched me to! All I remember about that mask was that it was more than WIDE enough for me, and there was a blue gel around the nose part for the seal. (It was extremely comfortable)

I would GREATLY appreciate any of you folks who are using, or know about, any wide, or extra wide, masks that I can get to replace this one. Time is a BIG factor! If I don't get this old one replaced soon, my insurance won't cover the cost of the replacement.

Thank's in advance for your help!
John

Hi, John. I don't use the kind of mask you're referring to, but I did a quick search on https://www.cpap.com for you, and I came up with two masks that seem to fit your description. One is the Profile Lite Gel Mask (https://www.cpap.com/productpage/profil ... onics.html), and the other is the upgraded version of the Profile Lite, the Comfort Gel (https://www.cpap.com/productpage/comfor ... onics.html). Have a look at these masks and see if either seems familiar to you. They're both highly-rated by other users.

Of course, there are many masks on the market, and it could be that neither of these is what you used during your sleep study. Just trying to help...

FYI, AFAIK, the major mask manufactures generally have a 30-day return policy through the DME, meaning you can exchange your mask with the DME within 30 days of receipt and get full credit towards a different one. Unless your insurance has a different (i.e., stricter) policy in place, you've got time to change masks.

Best of luck.

Have you thought of trying nasal pillows. I fined them more comfortable, less leaks and less intrusive on my face. These come with 3 sizes of pillows and I cannot imagine that they wouldn't fit. When you see you DME ask to try many different masks as there may be one that is even better than what you used in your sleep study. Your doctor should change the script to ' any mask of patients choice'.

Sleepy Taz wrote:Have you thought of trying nasal pillows. I fined them more comfortable, less leaks and less intrusive on my face. These come with 3 sizes of pillows and I cannot imagine that they wouldn't fit. When you see you DME ask to try many different masks as there may be one that is even better than what you used in your sleep study. Your doctor should change the script to ' any mask of patients choice'.

+1 to that.

I was sent home with a nose mask, and that cut me between the eyes and left me bleeding, and in pain. After a few days I went back to the DME and was switched to the nasal pillows. That was about 3 weeks ago... (been on cpap for 4 weeks now). For me at least, they are great... I have no plans on changing the headgear. Def. worth a shot.

MY THANK'S TO ALL!!!!

I just got back from the rental company with my NEW MASK! (Respironic ComfortGel Nasal)

I had logged onto the forum earlier and read all the replies, clicked all the link's, and checked out everything you guys were kind enough to tell me about. The link supplied by Bleeping Beauty looked pretty close to what I had used in the sleep study, and I decided to give that one a try. Before finalizing my decission, I called the sleep center again in the hopes of finding out exactly which mask they used on me. Luckily, the tech who preped me for the study, was the one who answered the phone! She remembered me, and more importantly, she remembered which mask she switched me to!

Next step was to call my doctor and have him fax a new prescription to the rental company. Then call the rental company and arrange to swap the masks. They were very considerate. They said they could ship me a new one, or have a tech come to the house in a few days, or, if I wanted, I could come down and they'd do it today. I jumped in the car, drove the 45 minutes to their building, and was out of there in 15 minutes with my new mask! This one, I won't have any problems with!

Once again folks, THANK YOU for all your help. It was greatly appreciated!!!!!

John