Many many hours spent searching this site

[Guest]

I am very discouraged after spending many hours searching and reading posts. I have not found the solution for my problem.
I can only sleep on my sides and wake frequently during the night, and always have to switch sides.
Sleeping on my side results in an almost face down position which causes my mouth to open.

Is there a mask that covers the mouth and nose, possibly with a fairly hard plastic frame but using a soft plastic 'bag', kinda like a Walmart bag but more durable?

This mask I imagine could contort to any position my face presses against the bed pillow but would still inflate to supply air and an open mouth would not matter. I can not afford to buy masks indiscriminately hoping to find something that will work. Not at $100 and more EACH!! Thank you

[Wulfman]

Have you checked out all of the ones that are available from our host's website:

https://www.cpap.com/

Good luck in your search.

Den

[ozij]

Try changing you bed pillows.

A pap pillow - http://www.talkaboutsleep.com

A tempurpedic pillow

A Shapable pillow <---- (click on the link).

They've all made a big differnce to people.

O.

[SleepyScot]

It's not quite what you described, but the Total Face mask does cover your whole face and is less "cushion" based than most of the other masks. I've never used it myself but it is an interesting concept.

http://www.cpapxchange.com/cpap-product ... -mask.html

Good luck, S

[Offerocker]

Have you done a search on "side sleepxxx"??

Why not register so that you can receive PM Private Messages?

Also, by remaining as a "Guest", you may get confused with another "Guest"

[ozij]

Guests can ever chose their own name without registering - if they want to be distinguished from other guests.

O.

[Guest]

thank you sleepyscot. That mask has appeal. I'm kinda surprised that no one else has replied. Does no one else have this problem?

[Wulfman]

I'm definitely a side-sleeper and turn a number of times during the night, and find that my mask serves me extremely well.

Best wishes,

Den

[rested gal]

Hanging the main air hose up above my head so it won't pull masks out of position when I turn....and....taping my mouth works for me. Otherwise, my mouth would hang open all night (chin straps don't stop air puffing out my mouth.)

Aeiomed's "Headrest" (Aura) mask allows me to sleep in any position easily. I add my own tweaks, like a soft stretchy homemade strap around it to keep it steady for toss'n'turn sleeping. Taping my mouth lets me wear that good mask. Otherwise, I'd have to wear a fullface mask all the time.

[NyNurse33]

Glad you brought this up Laura..Since I found this site, almost right from the beginning, I "rigged" a hook with a large plastic hoop right over the top of my bed, on the wall above where I sleep. I feed my tube through it and this helps b/c of the type of mask I use. I need the tubing to be above and behind me and not from the side where the machine is. This way it doesn't pull or tug on my mask when I turn positions. Now, my husband this morning trying to help me figure out my rain out problem was wondering if, b/c the tube goes up and down this way, is that contributing to the problem? It creates a peak, so to speak.

[CollegeGirl]

If anything, Melissa, having the hose hanging above the level of the machine supposedly helps with rainout, because the moisture has to travel against gravity to get up to the top of the "peak." This is what I've heard from those experienced in the ways of the humidifier, anyway. I'm not one of them, so I can't speak from my own personal experience.

The three things I've seen listed here as working for rainout, from least to most effective:

Having the CPAP lower than the hose level (either by hanging the hose or putting the CPAP on the floor).

Hose covers.

The Aussie heated hose.

Hope that helps! --CG

[rested gal]

If anything, Melissa, having the hose hanging above the level of the machine supposedly helps with rainout, because the moisture has to travel against gravity to get up to the top of the "peak." This is what I've heard from those experienced in the ways of the humidifier, anyway.

Makes sense, yep. On the other hand, if the warmed humidified air is miraculously able to hold onto its moisture all the way up, but after going over the hump has finally cooled down to the point of not being able to gallantly hang on anymore.... gravity's gonna pull those pesky droplets down the mask side of the hill pretty fast.

Good list of what to try from simplest to "surest", CG.

Especially....

a u s s i e h e a t e d h o s e

[DreamStalker]

I think the best thing to do is to not hang your hose much higher than you need … less than a foot above your head when in your sleeping position. Most of the hose length should be between its highest point and the machine which will allow most of the condensed moisture to run back into the machine reservoir rather than into your mask.

I have placed my hook about 2 feet above my sleeping position. I then use a small key chain made of coiled plastic (found for $1.50 at Home Depot key/lock department) to attach to my hose. It stretches to about 18 inches if needed but usually stays stretched at about 12 inches and thus keeps the hose only about 1 foot above my head. It is very easy to put on my interface then lay down and just hook the key chain loop onto the hook and go to sleep … never had a nasal shower with this rig.

- r

[Arizona-Willie]

Or you can move to Arizona like 3/4 of the rest of the world has done and get away from that humidity