When your mask doesnt fit?

[elader]

What do you do when your mask doesnt fit?

Comfortgel 2 medium - seems to fit ok, but the machine reports lots of leaks. I tried the hot water custom fit protocol and I clearly made it worse. It is leaking from the side of my nose below my eye on one side. It just doesnt seem to fit snugly in this spot even though the mask can be cinched rather tightly to where it hurts my lip/forehead. I must have a funny shaped face?

The Swift 2 is a little uncomfortable but the data shows it leaks much less than the nasal mask. The medium pillows are a little small, but the large ones dont seal. I guess I am a medium. I slept with them last night for 6 hours, rolled over, and had cold water run into my nose. EEcch.....

The swift was just prescribed for me - am I allowed to keep trying masks? What is generally the policy? Do you keep buying and tossing masks?

[echo]

What do you do when your mask doesnt fit?

Get a different one

No really - if you're going through the DME, then from what I understand, you are allowed to trial masks for up to 30 days. If it doesn't work, you return it (and then they sell it on ebay?). Others more experienced than me can give you the right words and phrases to use so that they don't chase you out of the store/shop/whatever.

Supposedly, some DME's are rumored to be able to help you find the right mask and fit it correctly. The best thing to do is go with your machine when trying on the mask - put it on your normal pressure and see how well the mask fits. If they have a place for you can lie down, all the better! (but don't count on it).

The swift, I've heard, can be a good mask. Sounds like you had "rain out" - due to condensation of the humidifer water in the cold air. A hose cover, aussie heated hose, socks and towels wrapped around the hose, putting the hose under the blanket, reptile heater, can all help you avoid the rain out.

You can also trade masks / pillows on the mask roulette post.

[DreamStalker]

Well it is much too difficult to change funny shaped faces (just kidding ... wel sort'a --- really not easy to change any face ) ... so you may be better off changing the mask.

Cold water (rainout) can be a problem ... not fun, I agree. Some mitigate with special heated hose (Google Aussie heated hose), others just use a fleece hose wrap, and some raise bedroom temperature, while still others do some combination or all of the above.

Mask policy is up to individual DME business ... you need to call and ask if they have one and what it is. Otherwise, try cpapauction.com or trading here on this forum for low budget mask trials.

Finally, The Swift will have lower leak rate than Comfort because it is designed to have lower leak rate and this normal. I just want to stress that it is the change in leak rate during a sleep session that you should focus on ... the ideal should be to have a flat line leak curve during the night. However, that is often not possible so the more practical ideal leak curve has a zipper like pattern up and down about a semi-flat line that corresponds something close to the manufacture's designed leak rate for the average pressure used during the night. Hope that makes sense. If not clear, say so and will try to explain a little different.

[elader]

I just want to stress that it is the change in leak rate during a sleep session that you should focus on ... the ideal should be to have a flat line leak curve during the night. However, that is often not possible so the more practical ideal leak curve has a zipper like pattern up and down about a semi-flat line that corresponds something close to the manufacture's designed leak rate for the average pressure used during the night. Hope that makes sense. If not clear, say so and will try to explain a little different.

I get it. In fact, the leak rate line was really pretty flat with the swift. I just never had water run into my nose before. I can always turn the humidity down I guess. The hose is wrapped, but not the stretch between the pillow and the top of my head. When I switched out for the comfortgel after the water incident, the leak rate went back to looking like my previous mights - like a profile of the alps.

I am nothing if not determined. I also see that with the swift, the Auto stayed at much lower pressures (no doubt due to less leaking).

[roster]

Good suggestions on preventing rainout except I would stay away from the reptile heater. Also check that your humidifier is below the level of your head. This can help by letting the "rain" in the main hose just flow back into the humidifier tank. This may not help if all of the rain is originating in the little mask hose.

[elader]

Good suggestions on preventing rainout except I would stay away from the reptile heater. Also check that your humidifier is below the level of your head. This can help by letting the "rain" in the main hose just flow back into the humidifier tank. This may not help if all of the rain is originating in the little mask hose.

Actually I think the moisture collected in the cushion from my exhalations, not from the cooling in the hose. In any case, if only the cushion actually fit me, this could be the ideal mask -

does anyone have a different cushion type setup to recommend? Maybe some other model medium cushion will fit me better.

[Babette]

Oh, you asked for it.... NASAL AIRE II!

Anyway, if you want to try before you buy, here are some leads:

OTHER MASK TEST DRIVES
viewtopic/t35991/Mask-Test-Drives--Try- ... uy-it.html

HYBRID – by pjwalman
viewtopic/t33434/Hybrid-TestDrive-Continues.html

SMALL LIBERTY – by fortomorrow
viewtopic/t35474/ResMed-Mirage-Liberty-Test-Drive.html

LARGE LIBERTY – by echo
viewtopic/t35486/Large-Liberty-test-drive.html

COMFORT GEL MEDIUM – by 2girlsmom
viewtopic/t35867/ComfortGel-Medium-FF-test-drive.html

NASAL AIRE II – by Babette
viewtopic/t30639/The-Return-of-the-Grea ... Drive.html


Mask Roulette – A thread for swapping masks
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19546

The Great Pillow Exchange – A thread for swapping different sized nasal pillows
viewtopic/t36070/THE-GREAT-PILLOW-EXCHANGE.html

Cheers,
B.

[stacia123]

Comfortgel 2 medium - seems to fit ok, but the machine reports lots of leaks. I tried the hot water custom fit protocol and I clearly made it worse. It is leaking from the side of my nose below my eye on one side. It just doesnt seem to fit snugly in this spot even though the mask can be cinched rather tightly to where it hurts my lip/forehead. I must have a funny shaped face?

LOL no, I don't think it's your face, I think the ComfortGel is just messed up in that location. I have a ComfortGel full face mask and it leaks in the same spot yours does, and when I went looking online for masks the other day I noticed a lot of reviews saying the same thing about leaks right below/next to the eye.

If you can exchange it, do so. I've had mine long enough that the DME won't accept it (and they aren't answering their phone anyway) so I have to buy a new one out of pocket. So fun