Problems with my Respironics Comfort Gel Mask

[amason53]

I'm new to this group, and very thankful to have found you all! I was diagnosed with apnea this summer and have been struggling with masks since. I started with a nasal pillow mask, but found that having to switch the input tube every time I turned over didn't work for me.

I now have a Respironics comfort gel mask that goes over my nose. Some nights I can deal with it, and others I can't fall asleep (even with a sleeping pill) because I just can't get the mask to be comfortable. The biggest issue right now is that the area between my nose and my lips gets very irritated by the mask. It feels like there is too much pressure right under my nose. I've tried loosening the straps of the headgear, but then I don't have a seal. I give myself an hour, and if I haven't fallen asleep by then, I take off the mask. So far, I've been able to sleep for a between 1 and 3 hours with the mask.

If anyone has any experience with the comfort gel mask, I'd appreciate some advice.

thanks
Andrea-the-newbie

[Jimster]

I have found that the cleaner I keep the the surface of the gel mask that touches my skin, the less irritating it is. At first, I didn't understand why it was leaving red marks where it touched my skin. I thought maybe I was allergic to something like the gel but after I cleaned it every night after use I found it less irritating to my skin.

[amason53]

Can you be more specific about how you are cleaning it?

When I first got the mask it smelled bad and I was told to soak it in a mild soap with a little bleach to get rid of the smell. I did that, and the smell went way.

thanks
Andrea

[Snoredog]

I would try re-boiling it for a better fit.

Take some boiling water, pour it in like a measuring cup deep enough to submerge the blue mask part, hold it in the boiled water for 4-minutes, then have a cereal bowl of ice water standing by, after the 4 minutes soak in the boiled water dip it in the ice water for 5 seconds then hold it to your face and press, this will mold the mask to your face. Connect the straps snuge them up and keep it on for about 5-minutes until it cools.

Then it should fit you better. If you want a quieter more comfortable mask look at a Somnotech Soyala.

[bairdbeth]

I couldn't get the comfortgel to work for me, but my problem was the sore on the bridge of my nose.Try the boiling to refit your mask. If that doesn't work you may want to try a new mask. I did try the Soyala, but got the wrong size. It is quiet and I didn't have pressure on my lip. So I second Snoredogs suggestion. I am using pillows now. I use the comfortlite 2. I am not sure what you mean about switching the input every time you switched sides as I don't have to do that with the CL2. Good luck!

[thisgeek]

I've found the comfortgel to be very comfortable.
You need to ensure that you've adjusted the straps correctly. They shouldn't be too tight.

Before you start, ensure that the stability selector has been fully extended.

Start adjusting via the top head straps. While sitting up, adjust the top straps so that the head gear is resting lightly on your forehead, then lie down and adjust again. It must be touching the forehead lightly.

Adjust the bottom straps until the mask is lightly pressing on your upper lip. Attach the hose and switch on your xPAP unit. If you experience leaks at the top of the mask (bridge of your nose), move the stability selector down a few notches until the leak goes away.

Adjust the bottom strap until you have no leaks from your lip. Sometimes it is necessary to gently lift the mask away from your face and allow it to re-settle.

Check this page: http://comfortgel.respironics.com/Fitting.asp
There is a little interactive animation that loads that shows how to fix any leak issues.

This page should also be useful: http://comfortseries.respironics.com/MaskComfort.asp

I've been using my mask now for around 5 months..

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[sleeplesscoot]

I had the same problem with the Comfort Gel. Tried the reheating etc. It just didn't fit. I have had the best result with the Resprironics Classic Mask. From what I can gather from talking with friends that nobody has a mask that fits. This makes sense as the Manufactures are interested in a profit not in the comfort of the buyer. It is a prescription item and you are stuck. I am waiting for the day when you can send in a mold or measurements of your nose and face and they can make a mask or have enough sized to fit most. I don't have this problem with shoes.

[DAVID83]

I HAD BEEN USING THE SAME TYPE OF MASK FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS SEALS WELL BUT IT WOULD BECOME UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SOME MORNINGS I WOULD AWAKE WITH A SORE AREA UNDER MY NOSE. I JUST SWITCHED TO THE COMFORTLITE 2 WITH NASAL PILLOWS HOPE THIS WORKS BUT I CAN ALREADY TELL ITS GONNA BE AWHILE BEFORE IM USED TO THIS TYPE LIKE NITE AND DAY