Adjusting to new machine... mask issues

[slimey42]

Hello again

It's been a week (or two now I think) with my new machine, and I've had some really good nights, some not so good. The initially sent me home with a Simplus FFM, but after the first few nights I hated it with the fire of a thousand suns..called them and asked for a new Swift FX.

i love the swift FX, but I have found that mouth breathing is a serious problem now. I'm guessing because of the (much) higher pressures than I had before. I'm currently using both a chinstrap, and tape.. and some nights, ok. some nights even that fails and I wake up with air coming out my open mouth and my mouth all dry.

the chinstrap with all it's velcro really stinks with my long hair, and the tape, well.. bleh. So the initial reason I wanted to stay with my Swift was because I didn't like the giant FFM on my face, but... add a chinstrap and tape and I might as well be using a FFM....

SO, I'm game to try again. going to give the simplus another shot tonight, but I think it's too big. it's a medium, and the two nights i used it, I woke up with the bottom part down over my chin.

So I guess my biggest question, before I spend a great deal of time worrying about the use of a FFM, or trying to find the right one - the few nights I did use it, it moved as the pressure changed. as it filled up, it would expand, then contract.. it was noticeable and pretty disturbing. I do not have that feeling with the swift. Is this something I just have to get used to, or did I perhaps have it fitted wrong?

I suspect my insurance won't pay for yet another mask, so I'm on my own with this one, which is fine, but before I buy one I wanted to know about the mask movment as the pressure changes thing.

thanks!

[Julie]

FFMs Must be tried on lying down because your face changes a lot then and it makes a big difference with them leakwise.

[Gasper62]

I've found that with a smooth transition between inhales & exhales, my FFM (F10) doesn't "jump" much at all. Exaggerated breathing will make it hop up and down a lot. I don't know if the Simplus is likely to act the same or not. Do you use the exhale pressure relief feature on your machine ? That made a difference with mine somewhat. You might want to try snugging up the straps just a little and see if that might reduce it. Good luck.

[kteague]

Any chance a mask liner might make the movements less noticeable since the mask wouldn't be in direct contact with the skin? Maybe some liner users could answer that.

[slimey42]

well.. last night went.. better? i dealt with leaks all night, ended up pulling the bottom of the mask over my chin a bit to hold it down off my nose.

the lady at the DME, and the therapist at the dr. told me I have a "tiny face" (which made me laugh)... the DME sent me home with a medium, but that's my fault, she tried to talk me into a small.. so I think I need to call them to see if they'll send a small.

I tightened it probably too much, to cut down the leaks around my eyes.. maybe the small will help. once I fell asleep I didn't notice the mask moving as I breathed, but every time I woke up it was annoying.

I think once I figure out the mask that fits best, I'm going to try the mask liner. I've searched the forums here and a bunch of posts talk about how it helped.

BUT, overall.. even though I feel there are some negatives that I have to get used to, or learn how to adjust...the FFM felt better than the nasal pillows, chinstrap and tape.

[Mudrock63]

Hi. I started out with nasal pillows. A lot of folks rave about them but they didn't work for me. So I went to a FFM. Once I got used to it, I slept fine with it. Once I had the chance to get insurance to buy me a new mask, I went to the nasal mask just to try it. I like it best so far, but again, once I was used to the FFM I had no major complaints. I will say all three took getting used to and took a lot of adjusting for me to find that sweet spot where they didn't leak but were still somewhat comfortable to wear. Never got there with the pillows, but did with FFM and nasal mask. Good luck and hang in there.