New to CPAP and SO DISGUSTED with MASKS!!!

[Whimpurr]

Hello, everyone! I am newly diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. I’ve been so excited to get started using my CPAP and mostly to FEEL BETTER! I’ve had one issue after the next. I am on the Dream Station by Philips. I started with the nose mask (not the nostril one) and immediately had issues because I am a major mouth breather! *sigh* So, I purchased some mouth tape and still managed to push out bits of air out the sides of the tape. Then, I finally received my full mask from my sleep center (took forever) and after the first or second night, my head broke out in huge red, round itchy welts all over it! It was miserable and took about a week to clear up! That was a reaction to the headgear. I managed to clear it mostly by using my medicate Sebulex shampoo. At first I thought the full mask was “great” now it is also driving me crazy. I DO NOT understand the flipping plastic part with the slit in it at the front of the mask. I cannot seem to get it in the correct position. As per the diagram that came with the mask, it appears that it certainly does not belong up over your nose yet when I put it under, sometimes it works and sometimes it gets sucked up into my nostrils and I feel like I am suffocating!! Then, IF I manage to get that under control, the stupid mask itself starts “farting” all night ... aka leaking around the sides near my chin. I started with the small mask, then changed to the MW (med. for women) and still it is hit or miss. I am beyond frustrated and am down to only 3 or 4 grueling hours per night of “compliance” to satisfy my insurance for 90 days.

I am DESPERATE to find a FULL MASK for MOUTH BREATHERS that is not so danged difficult to get placed correctly on my face. I was looking at the website for CPAP and I do not see anything but my current lousy one for the DreamStation ... only for the ResMed one. Someone please tell me there is another option for me!! One without a head gear would be an added bonus but it HAS to cover my mouth!

Thank you in advance!!

[Julie]

If you can find local DMEs who'll let you try different masks ask around (try while lying down - facial structure changes then), or find likely looking ones on Cpap.com (with pix, lots of info) and ask about their return policy (they have a good one). All FF masks should help mouth breathers - it's what they are for (so no need to make that point when asking about them). And sometimes small leaks like you might get using tape are not meaningful enough to matter. You could also try mask liners from Padacheek.com (look at the site for more info) that help with small leaks. Don't crank your mask too tight tho' as it can even provoke new leaks and the silicone won't inflate as it needs to otherwise.

Just a thought - I know you're feeling desperate, but very many of us have been there and found answers... you need to relax a bit.

[loggerhead12]

There are about 8,000 CPAP masks. Could you be a little more specific about what you're using? Look at the box and reply with the manufacturer and model number of what you're using.

[chunkyfrog]

If the anti-asphyxia valves are hitting the nose, the mask is either the wrong size or too friggin' tight.

[Megs78]

I am also a mouth breather and struggled to find a mask; I settled on the RESMED AirFit F20. For whatever reason, the F20 For Her was no good despite looking identical to me!

[booksfan]

Another thing to bear in mind...just because you have a Dreamstation does not mean you cannot use Remed masks. Almost all masks are universal, except for the ones specifically for the AirMini. Not sure if there are any others. So feel free to look around.

[tisket]

I am guessing she is using the Amara View. I also had that nose slit part going up into my nostrils and blocking all air. Had to return it.

[tbeb]

I've been on cpap for 4 1/2 months. I breathe through mouth and nose. My machine is a Phillips Dreamstation. First full face mask (FFM) was a F&P Vitera. It hurt the bridge of my nose and I couldn't get it to seal. Second FFM was a Phillips Amara View. No go because the cushion wasn't wide enough for my mouth so it leaked. Third FFM was a Phillips Dreamwear. It fits over mouth and under the nose. After changing from a medium frame to a large frame, and a medium cushion to a large cushion, It works pretty good. It sometimes leaks and the sound doesn't wake me up. Fortunately my wife hears it. She wakes me and then I get it to seal. I've used the Dreamwear for 3 1/2 months and plan to stick with it. I replaced a "My Pillow" pillow with a Pur-Sleep buckwheat and foam pillow. I like it a lot and it helps to limit leaks.

[kurth83]

I recently had to switch masks, and switch to a full face mask for the same reason (mouth leakage). Major pain, I sympathize.

I ended up spending a lot of money at cpap.com ordering masks, the mask insurance is helpful, although somewhat painful to use. In the past, for me, ResMed has reliably made the masks I like most (of the few brands I have tried), so I bought the N20 (nasal), and eventually realized I needed a full face so bought the F20.

In the N20, I fell between a small and a medium, so I bought both small and medium cushions in foam and rubber, medium foam was the best of the four. The small foam squished my nose and nostrils, making it harder to breathe.

After that, when I bought the F20, I have done the same thing, bought small and medium cushions in both foam and rubber. At this point the memory foam small is working, but at $50/month I am still planning to try to soft rubber versions, whatever works and can last a long time between reorders is "best".

Allergies to headgear straps is a hard one.

For pillows I like almost flat pillows, especially for back sleeping. I found a piece of cut-up 2" memory foam mattress topper makes the best pillow for me.

Best of luck, CPAP requires persistence.

[chunkyfrog]

Is whimpurr still around?
Hope he/she has read the replies . . .

[zonker]

Best of luck, CPAP requires persistence.