mask that I find good

I have found some mask that I find good but have not seen then recommended so much on cpaptalk so though I would share my mask I have used and my experiences with them. Hope it will help some one.

First I have problems breathing through my nose so it is hard to use a nasal mask with out breath right strips or similar device, I have also found that two breath right strips can work better then one.

1. Breeze - Ok if you do not mind waking up a 1000 times a night to readjust it. I heard they have redesigned it and there are newer models out there. Also made nose sore.
2. FP 405 - fair to poor and not for mouth breather. Also if you are a denture wearer and take your dentures out at night as most dentist recommend it will not seal at the bottom.
3. Comfort Curve - not bad but leaks more then other mask I have but Ok. It leaves really bad marks on your face that last for 24 hours. Yes even after modifying the pads with memory foam pads. I think it could deform your face if used for long periods.
4. Comfort Lite - Just got this mask and it seems very good compared to others but the nose prongs are harder then other nose prongs. But a good mask over all. Stays in place while a sleep and seals good, with nasal prongs or the cup type nose seal
5. Mirage Swift - a good mask. Seal very good but some trouble with mask moving while a sleep But Good mask over all.
6. Ultra Mirage FULL FACE - very good mask if you need a FF.
7. Nasal Aire II - the best I have found. Very comfortable and less leaks then other mask
8. Simplicity - A Good mask, if you are a mouth breather you need to add breath right strips but works very, very Good.
Gil

Nice reviews, Gil. It's always interesting to read about what works for different people. Everyone's "mileage varies" when it comes to masks. It's a good thing there are so many different types of interfaces out there!

Thanks for sharing your mask experiences!

If you can't breathe through your nose, has your Dr. recommended a nasal spray to help with the normal congestion that happens when you lay down. This has been a Godsend to a lot of CPAP users. Not an over-the-counter type, but a steroid type that is by prescription. You should also see an EarNose& Throat Dr. for an exam to make sure you do not a a greatly deviated septum or polyps in your nose which will restrict airflow.

Hi Eveyone!!!
I have just found and joined the site. Why didn't I know you were here 3 years ago when I was diagnosed? ANNNDDD WHY did no-one tell me ( including hospital and medical staff) that there are lots of different brands of masks that I could be trying. All I thought I had to choose from was full face or nasal -- one brand! Three years thinking that the leaks I have are because my face doesn't fit the mask. NOT that the MASK itself might be the problem!! I had a sleep study last week and the tech's solution to the leaking was to tighten the straps. Pressure sore city!

I live in Australia - on the west coast - so we do sometimes find we are behind other countries. But even so... Oh well, I know now! And now I have found you all I guess I will be hanging around and haunting the place.

Anyway...... Hiiiii from Ozzie.

I wish more techs, drs and DMEs would be aware of exactly how to fit a mask and be educated that tighter is not always better to get rid of leaks. AND I wish they would give their patients a sheet with the URLs of the forums that are available on the internet as well as the URLs of some of the websites on Sleep Apnea. There is a wealth of information out there, besides the fact that quite often the OSA is not all that is going on for most people. Quite often there will be other conditions like narcolepsy, Restless Leg Syndrome, that need to be treated to.

AND I wish they would give a list of the surgical procedures available and for what severity of OSA they are advised for and the truthful success rates of such surgeries, not to mention recovery time, level of pain to be expected, etc. I have an ENT was says she is 100% successful in eliminating OSA in the patients she operates on. But she doesn't follow up on them more than a year afterwards. It is pretty well known that the type of surgery she does is often useless in a few years, so the patient who was lead to believe they would never need a XPap again, find out they will, but after having that surgery once, they certainly aren't going to want it again, and they won't have the tissues left to remove anyway.

OSA is not a simple thing to cure, because there are simply too many factors involved. Removing tonsils, soft palates, tongue tissue, fixing deviated septums, turbinates won't do a thing to alleviate central apneas, nor the lack of deep sleep, nor generalized nasal congestion.

Gil wrote:1. Breeze - Ok if you do not mind waking up a 1000 times a night to readjust it. I heard they have redesigned it and there are newer models out there. Also made nose sore.
2. FP 405 - fair to poor and not for mouth breather. Also if you are a denture wearer and take your dentures out at night as most dentist recommend it will not seal at the bottom.
3. Comfort Curve - not bad but leaks more then other mask I have but Ok. It leaves really bad marks on your face that last for 24 hours. Yes even after modifying the pads with memory foam pads. I think it could deform your face if used for long periods.
4. Comfort Lite - Just got this mask and it seems very good compared to others but the nose prongs are harder then other nose prongs. But a good mask over all. Stays in place while a sleep and seals good, with nasal prongs or the cup type nose seal
5. Mirage Swift --Seal very good but some trouble with mask moving while a sleep But Good mask over all.
6. Ultra Mirage FULL FACE - very good mask if you need a FF.
7. Nasal Aire II - the best I have found. Very comfortable and less leaks then other mask
8. Simplicity - A Good mask, if you are a mouth breather you need to add breath right strips but works very, very Good.

This just goes to show how every mask is different on every face. I've tried 6 of those same masks.

My review:
1..Breeze--Finally found a mask I can sleep through the night with and doesn't require constant adjusting. Keeps a good seal. My favorite mask so far.
2..FP 405--leaky and uncomfortable.
3..Comfort Curve--Awful for me. Leaky, uncomfortable, leaves marks.
4..ComfortLite-- Ok if you do not mind waking up a 1000 times a night to readjust it. Also made nose sore.
5..Mirage Swift-- Seal very good to start but some trouble with mask moving while asleep. Hose gets in my way for side-sleeping. End up with lots of leaks.
6..Ultra Mirage FF-- horrible. Constant leaking, obscene noises. Awful.

1. Breeze- awful in my opinion. Wore off my hair down the midline, too much pressure on my upper lip and not enough adjustment to prevent it. And I had the improved model. CLip that held the hose on top broke off from the tension of the hose being pulled forward during the night. Constantly readjusting it in all directions during the night.

2. Swift- longtime favorite. If adjusted correctly, maybe tighter on the top straps to bring it up more into the nostrils, can be worn very loose. If you get the right adjustment you should be able to move the barrel sideways, back and forth and never break the seal. If you adjust the hose as is shown in the photo, more toward the front, it will not interfere with sidesleeping. Causes some irritation of the nares, just like the Breeze, but a little Neosporin to reduce the irritation and allow the nares to heal, and you'll have no more problems. PUttinng some net in the barrel will baffle the air and make it very quiet.

3. Mirage Activa. If you get the correct size, it shouldn't leak at all and be very quiet. Do not adjust the botton straps until the mask is inflated fully and you are lying down. You don't want to restrict the ability of the mask to inflate because this is what helps it to seal. Uninflated, the bottom straps are going to be VERY loose. Contrary to the fitting chart, most women will wear a SHALLOW, not the Standard, which comes away from the face quite far, and is obviously meant for very large noses which stick out quite far. It came beyond my nose a good inch but this is the size the chart said I should use, based on my nose measurements! Pulling it away from your face and letting it suck back on will help the seal.

ahhhhhhhhh "Good ole Mask Reviews" I just love em !! of course , reading them has gotten me in a bit of trouble in the past because I always want to ...."Hurry up" and get one. <restedgal can attest to this

My "Old" favorite is the Ultra Mirage Nasal Mask. It's been around for a while but works for me. Headgear has always been an issue for me. It doesn't appear that I have an odd shaped head but .......after doing a little "switch-a Roo" (switched heargear >>> put Activa heargear on my Ultra Mirage) my nights are much better.

have a great day

HEY !!! WELCOME to "tinkabell" This is a good bunch of folks here on CpapTalk

Different strokes, different folks, or something like that.

Janelle,

I told the head tech at the Sleep Center that he should provide a listing of the URL's and he did that but he didn't provide this site. When I saw him again, I told him that he left out my favorite site.

He said if I had any more ideas to let him know and I plan on doing just that.