How many Masks

I just curious How many mask did everyone go through before you found the right mask? I am on mask #8 and it still is not the right one. Im getting close but still not the right one I'm going to try the new Mirage FX this week. also what do I do with the masks that I dont like im buying them and it seems like such a waste is there a recycleing program for used masks?

I found the one I like on my third try.

I lost count of the number of masks I went through.

Here is a sampling:

F & P 431 FFM
Swift I (Pillows)
Swift II
Breeze
Ultra Mirage Nasal
Ultra Mirage Full Face
Snapp X
Opus
Vista Nasal Mask
Nasal Aire I and II
Optilife
Comfortfull
Comfortfit

and this is only the beginning.

I finally settled on the Headrest/Aura mask. It is comfortable, lightweight, doesn't block my vision, and is the best mask I found.

Try trading here on the forum -- many times other members have masks you want to try and are willing to swap -- just list what you have and what you would like to try.

There is cpapauction as well (will need to have an account).

Try selling them here -- list the masks and prices.

Craigslist and other local ads.

I was able to do well with the first mask (nasal mask) but the straps mark my face so I started the quest for the perfect mask . I tried 8 different masks (3 nasal pillows), 3 nasal masks, one hybrid, 2 full face.

For now I have found my nasal and my nasal pillows but I'm seeking for a FFM, I will try the 3rd FFM soon.


You can exchange your masks with people here in the forum or you can offer it to somebody who is not able to buy it and has no insurance or you can sell it for a low price if the mask hasn't been used a lot. That's what I have seen people do. Good luck with your mask research.

sleepycarol wrote:I lost count of the number of masks I went through.

Here is a sampling:

F & P 431 FFM
Swift I (Pillows)
Swift II
Breeze
Ultra Mirage Nasal
Ultra Mirage Full Face
Snapp X
Opus
Vista Nasal Mask
Nasal Aire I and II
Optilife
Comfortfull
Comfortfit

and this is only the beginning.

I finally settled on the Headrest/Aura mask. It is comfortable, lightweight, doesn't block my vision, and is the best mask I found.

Looks like my list. I think I will try to give them away here I guess I can start a new tread and see if anyone needs them.

I stuck with my first for 1 year and then switched to a FF mask...got that on the first try too.

Same as the last poster. Had the one from my original "fitting" for about a year and then switched to my current one.

The ONE and ONLY thing that has gone exceptionally WELL during my extend adjustment period has been the Mask. Got the mask RIGHT in terms of (relative) comfort AND ability to get an excellent seal with the first mask I walked away with from the DME.

It wasn't shear luck however:

Unlike many, I am NOT a mouth breather and I seem to keep my mouth closed when I sleep almost all the time---my "leak" problems occur two or three times a month, seldom last more than 15--30 minutes, and seldom result in an unintentional leak of more than 20 L/min.

And I came out of the titration study knowing that I'd need a nasal pillows mask---not because of claustrophobia, but because every time the tech tried to get the nasal mask onto my nose, I started sneezing (uncontrollably) or the top of my nose started itching (uncontrollably). It was really uncomfortable. After about the fourth or fifth try, she offered to let me try a nasal pillows mask---if I thought the idea of something touching and sealed up against my nostrils wouldn't cause me any (additional) problems. I said sure since the nasal mask was clearly NOT going to work. And when she brought in the pillows I found them tolerable, though hardly comfortable. It looked like a disposable version of one of the Bravo-nasal masks. The double hose and the long pillows barrel were really awkward to sleep with, but at least I wasn't sneezing or itching uncontrollably.

At the DME, I explained to the RT what happened at the titration study. She asked me some questions about what bugged me the most about the pillows mask I'd used at the titration study and we started looking at the pillows masks CPAPXpress had in stock and we continued to talk about what I thought I could/could not get used to. And after looking at all the masks and talking about them, she suggested that I try on three different pillows masks in the store: the Swift LT, the Swift FX, and the Opus 360. The LT was the first to go---couldn't stand the L-shaped thingies since they just hit my cheeks wrong. It was tough to pick between the FX and the 360. The pillows on the 360 felt ever so slightly more comfortable, but there's a rigid part of the frame that's close to the temples. That's what me chose the FX. And for me, it's a superb mask.

I'm a "total" mouth breather and it took 4 masks to get to the one I'm using today. If you look at my total mask below you'll see it's not a popular mask. My wife says I'm weird. I like to thing maybe "special".

Sheriff

I'm on #2 and it's working great.

It takes as many as it takes!

I hope you're not buying all those masks at full retail from a DME or even an online supplier!

Major mask manufacturers will credit DME's for masks that don't work out for a patient if they are returned in 30 days. FInd a DME with a liberal return policy (some don't want to bother with the return paperwork) and a skillful fitter and then buy one mask. If that doesn't work they should trade it out for the next.

Our hosts at cpap.com let you buy mask insurance which covers the cost of return postage and handling for a mask that doesn't work out.

Some DME's actually let patients keep the free samples they get from mask manufacturers to help the person evaluate if the mask is going to work for them (others sell their sample masks on eBay and CPAPauction.com--your loss, their gain).

You can buy masks (often unopened samples from the shyster DME's) for much less on auction sites, or trade here to try other masks.

Janknitz wrote:It takes as many as it takes!

I hope you're not buying all those masks at full retail from a DME or even an online supplier!

Major mask manufacturers will credit DME's for masks that don't work out for a patient if they are returned in 30 days. FInd a DME with a liberal return policy (some don't want to bother with the return paperwork) and a skillful fitter and then buy one mask. If that doesn't work they should trade it out for the next.

Our hosts at cpap.com let you buy mask insurance which covers the cost of return postage and handling for a mask that doesn't work out.

Some DME's actually let patients keep the free samples they get from mask manufacturers to help the person evaluate if the mask is going to work for them (others sell their sample masks on eBay and CPAPauction.com--your loss, their gain).

You can buy masks (often unopened samples from the shyster DME's) for much less on auction sites, or trade here to try other masks.

My DME did not have one that worked (I tried all the ones he stocked) and he told me to order one off line and if I found one that worked he would start stocking it sooo I have bought 4 more. I just want to find one that works the Mirage FX looks promising.

I've had my first and only mask for about 6 months now.

Got the current one on the second try... was given a Medim to try but wasn't getting a very good seal, so my tech changed it to a large. After a bit of an adjustment period, I've had good results... I broke the forehead dial guage, but have been able to glue it back to somewhat of a working order.

I am dying to try the Quattro FX mask...