Issues with masks that work

[Sleepy Illini Girl]

i first got my philips dreamstation cpap machine back in july of 2017, they had given me a full mask in the hospital sleep lab to try and it did ok, so they sentme home with it and after i got my machine and used the full mask i took that puppy right off before 4hrs ever happened...this is so stressful to find the right one. right now im using the resmed nasal pillows and them thing have so much air i can prepare for landing any moment...lol...i want to try the dreamwear nasal cushions but want to see how you all like them...thanks

[zonker]

yeah, it's definitely one of the hardest things about cpap; finding the right mask! we are all different so it's hard to say what works for me will work for thee.

while waiting for a more knowledgeable person to come along, could you go to the user control panel and fill in your equipment? that way, it will show up at the bottom of each of your posts going forward and people won't have to ask.

also, folks here are going to want to know what your pressure range is so that they can give better advice.

meanwhile, welcome to the forum!

[LSAT]

Go to cpap.com and look at the various masks. Each one will have dozens (often hundreds) of user reviews.

[DEXSUZ]

Good afternoon, fellow sufferer of the government of the state of Illinois! We are in the far southwest suburbs of Chicago.

First of all, best of fortunes and may the Lord give you patience to change your life. I have a Quattro FX - the best of many FF masks I tried in the initial stages of using CPAP - and have learned how to succeed and thrive with it after an awful first few weeks in early 2013.

I was a lousy sleeper my entire adult life and began CPAP. Right off the bat I had many problems and was frustrated as heck but have found nocturnal bliss as I got used to the gear and the way it works.I've got a simple program that did wonders for my adaptation to assisted sleep. Here it is:

This is the four-step program I devised. I had a tremendous sleep study at the local hospital but ran into a granite roadblock as I attempted to get accustomed to masks on my own. You might want to give this a try:

My main advice is to back away from immediately trying to do all-nighters with your full-face equipment. Use my four-step weekly plan which has worked wonderfully for me:

1) During the first week sit, watch TV, or read with your equipment whirring away next to you. Get accustomed to the sounds, feelings of the moving air, and all the external trappings of the great chance at quality sleep you are nearing. Do NOT go to bed with the equipment.

2) Take the phone off the hook, draw the shades, evict everyone from the house, don't think about any nearby clock, and loosen your clothing as you lie on your bed in mid-afternoon. Turn on the CPAP gizmo, put the mask on your face, and close your eyes. Think peaceful thoughts, whatever they are to you. At some point in the week you WILL fall asleep. After you have this nap, you'll be amazed at what a refreshing experience it was.

3) During the third week have all your CPAP gear ready for action as you go to bed for the night. As you've done so many times throughout the years, you'll awaken far before morning. When you do, slap the mask on your face and turn on the CPAP gear before your groggy brain has any idea what's going on.

4) After successfully completing the first three steps at your pace, decide on a night (mine was March 3rd, 2013) when you have full confidence and will retire for the night WITH your mask on. You'll succeed!

My biggest mistake was expecting everything to go perfectly from the first night. It rarely occurs because the brain must be retrained after all those years of awakening in the middle of the night. One must be patient and keep anxiety as far away as possible. On March 3, 2014 I had a goofy sort of celebration to mark one year of refreshing sleep I never had - over four decades - before 2013.

For decades, a sleep of 7-9 STRAIGHT hours sort was only a dream; now it's a reality. Last night (11/7) I dozed off at 10:30 and did not awaken until 7:30 this morning.

Be patient, best of luck, and God bless