On the verge of giving up after almost 4 years

[sabca]

I have been using a CPAP for almost 4 years and am about ready to give it up. I am so tired of waking up in the morning with my neck and head feeling like they have been in a vise all night. I am a mouth breather and cannot use nasal pillows, even having tried a chin strap. My facial structure is such that I am extremely difficult to fit with a full mask. I used a Quattro for a while but it leaked all the time. I have a small face and my nose is very delicate at the bridge with absolutely no padding. Every mask leaks around my nose and/or causes redness/soreness in that spot.

I have resorted to using a Respironics Fit Life Full Face mask for over a year now. It has definitely solved the problems of a sore nose. However, it only comes in 2 sizes. Large and child. The child size is slightly too small and the one I use, the large, is really too big. Consequently, I have to cinch it pretty tightly with the headgear to keep it sealed. I have no problem falling asleep but find once I wake up the discomfort from it squeezing my head and neck makes it so I can't go back to sleep. I have depressions in my scalp that are now permanent. My neck sometimes hurts well into the day. This mask would be perfect if it came in a medium size.

My pressure level is set for 15.

I have been very fortunate that the branch manager of the DME I use has been working with me for a couple of years trying to get this sorted out. I have tried many masks (samples he has obtained from his rep) and he is even stymied.

I wish someone would figure out a way, especially now that 3D printers are available now, to custom design a mask. I would be willing to pay extra for one! Makes perfectly good sense to me.

At any rate, anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

[Bill44133]

Have you tried any of the liners that available? Like padacheek or rem-zzz's, they really plug up the leaks and make for a nice cushion against the skin.

[kteague]

Have you tried an oral mask? https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -mask.html
Or a total face mask? I see the FitLife Total comes in a small adult size. https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks/total-f ... p-mask.php

Regarding the Quattro, I remember seeing links to info titled "Taming the Quattro" just in case you think another try at this one is worth an effort. Seems like this style of mask (is the Hybrid still out there?) would spare your nose and avoid sizing issues at the nose. Maybe some tweaking of that mask in addition to a liner could make it workable?

Customized masks are probably in our not too distant future, hope you can find something more workable until then.

[robysue]

sabca,

Have you considered trying one of the cloth masks made by Circadiance? The SleepWeaver Anew mask is a full face mask made out of cloth. Maybe it would be easier on your nose than the standard full face masks.

[englandsf]

Have you tried a nasal rinsing campaign so that you can use nasal pillows? I too have a narrow nose and it makes leaks a problem all the time except with pillows.

I did so after a month of horrible claustrophobia on an FFM and was convinced I was a mouth breather. I was wrong.

PM me of you'd like details of my regime/materials etc

Please do NOT give up, your life on on the line...