interface question

dustbunny · Post by **dustbunny** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:58 pm

I am relatively new at having a CPAP. I am wondering -- for those who've been using for awhile --- do you know quickly whether a certain interface will work for you? Or does it take days and weeks to figure it out if it's the right one?
The first one I started out with I tried really hard for eleven days and gave up. It was a minimalist type, which I really liked, but I couldn't seem to get it to seal enough. I was messing with it all night constantly and wore out after eleven nights with it.
The second mask I had an allergic reaction to --- red welts on my cheeks. The third one is working for me but I call it the Elephant's Trunk -- with reason. It is awkward and heavy. But I am keeping it on all night now. Is it possible I gave up too soon with the nice little lightweight nose buds?
thanks
dustbunny

Wistful · Post by **Wistful** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:45 pm

There are endless posts on how to fix problems with different masks, so you may want to look in the FAQs or search your mask's name. It is also a good idea to include what masks you are using by name in your post, that way people with experience with that mask can answer you.

I usually try for about a week with a new mask and if it doesn't work I take it back to the RT.
Only you can decide when you've found a mask comfortable enough to dedicate yourself to solving any problems you are encountering. I don't think there is such thing as a perfect mask, so you have to figure out what you can live with.

So post again soon with more info

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 4:34 pm

Before you give up on any mask, come here and post the problems you're having. You will get loads of helpful info and tricks for tweaking. I've had 5 masks so far and only one that I couldn't get to work for me.

Brenda

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:00 pm

It may just be the wrong minimalist mask for you. I have real sensitive nares and it took me a long time to find one I could use over time. different pillow shapes, the softness of the pillows and how they rest agaisnt your nose varies for all the different types. You just have to keep trying. You might want to consider what many of us do which is use a couple different masks.

I used to always fall back to my Activa if the latest pillow was making me sore. Have to say with both the Optilife and the Opus I never had to do this. wish I could tell you the search was easy.
good Luck.

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:51 pm

mikemoran wrote:I have real sensitive nares and it took me a long time to find one I could use over time.

Question for Mike, does one's nose "toughen up" over time? (yours in particular, since you mentioned it). My first "interface" was the Swift®, which lasted all of about one night. Actually less. I have since used it now and then, but NEVER when I'm in a bad mood, or melancholy, or frustrated or angry or depressed or overly tired, or overworked and frazzled, unfrazzled, or just plain grumpy, (i.e. most of the time). Come to think of it, is there really a GOOD time to put a foreign object up both sides of one's nose and then try to sleep with it?? Rhetorical question. I wondered if you are able to grow the equivalent of callouses? fewer nerve endings? smarter nerve endings? Should I keep trying this? Is this like SUSHI, I may NEVER get used it? (I haven't tried the Optilife or the Opus).

-Ric

(The pad-a-cheeks help, thanks Karen!)

Wistful · Post by **Wistful** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:48 am

Funny how different we all are - I found the comfort lite and breeze so invasive that the swift was a welcome relief

Just goes to show you that one needs to try and try again to find the right mask.

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:06 am

do you know quickly whether a certain interface will work for you? Or does it take days and weeks to figure it out if it's the right one?

dustbunny
i've only been on cpap for 3 months, but i went through 5 masks in the first 8 weeks: f & p (two sizes) nasal mask, swift nasal pillows, comfortlite, opus and now i'm on the comfortlite 2, using the direct seal nasal pillow...i've got an aura (NP twilight) coming though, so looking forward to trying that...i couldn't use the regular nasal mask, too much condensation, pressure sores, etc., the swift started out ok, but couldn't get a good seal on my side, the comfortlite was pretty good, although the headgear is huge!, and the new improved comfortlite 2 is very comfy, although i wonder if the headgear will be uncomfortable in the hot weather...hence, the aura...so i guess my answer is that i know pretty much right off if something is going to work, and after i've tried all the tweaks and custom fixes, i move on to the next option...so far my supplier has been great about that...i read on here so many times that the mask is the thing, i decided not to fool around once i found something wasn't working

good luck!
sharon

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): nasal pillow, swift, CPAP, Aura, seal, Nasal Pillows

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:27 am

dustbunny wrote:I am relatively new at having a CPAP. I am wondering -- for those who've been using for awhile --- do you know quickly whether a certain interface will work for you? Or does it take days and weeks to figure it out if it's the right one?
The first one I started out with I tried really hard for eleven days and gave up. It was a minimalist type, which I really liked, but I couldn't seem to get it to seal enough. I was messing with it all night constantly and wore out after eleven nights with it.
The second mask I had an allergic reaction to --- red welts on my cheeks. The third one is working for me but I call it the Elephant's Trunk -- with reason. It is awkward and heavy. But I am keeping it on all night now. Is it possible I gave up too soon with the nice little lightweight nose buds?
thanks
dustbunny

You didn't mention which one you were using now. Sometimes the ones that "work", aren't necessarily the "prettiest". If it's heavy, maybe it's holding your head to your pillow better.

The first mask I tried is the one that's worked for me for 2 years. I tried a Comfortfull 2 for all of 3 nights before I gave up in pain. It doesn't take long to find out if they're gonna work.

Den

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:29 am

Ric,

From my experience the answer is no. My nares didn't toughen up over time. I think the technology caught up with nostrils. I base this on the fact I have tried to go back to some of the other pillows and have had the same soreness even though I was using the newer pillows right before switching.

The key for me I think is pressure. The harder the pillows the tighter they must be agaisnt my nares to stop leakage. This basically causes pressure sores. The newer soft silicone pillows I actually have a small gap with them below my nose when the cpap is not blowing. When it is on they inflate and create the seal so the pressure agaisnt my nares is minimal. I actually snuggle my nose into them.

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:13 am

Nice to meet you DustBunny.

The two interfaces that suit me the most are the Nasal Aire II and the Hybrid. They are both from Innomed, now I think it is called Teleflex Medical/Hudson RCI.

The NA II I like better, but the Hybrid gives me the deeper sleep, so I will wear that one for now all the time and see how I feel in a couple of weeks. In the past I wore it for colds only.

My skin reacted badly to both of the masks. I needed to wash the masks several more times so my skin would not react to them. I was surprised by how my skin went red where the mask made contact. (I do not mean inditations.) and with the Hybrid, I got little blisters above my lip. I would buy these masks again in a heartbeat, but know to wash them many times before using them.

Karen from padacheek.com made a little sleeve for the NA II. Which I really like.

If you ask why would I even put them on again: They felt comfortable, I had tried so many other masks at the DME, that I would not wear to sleep in. I was getting desperate to find a mask I could sleep with and these felt promising to me.

I like to use lanolin on the pillows or prongs to get a good seal.

I tried other masks on at home before deciding on these two.

My first mask was a comfort curve, it was minimal, light weight, did not move but I could not get a good seal and it always leaked by my nose.

I then tried the swift. It sealed well while awake. I kept having to move it in my sleep to stop leaks. I did not realize it but it left me exhausted.

Then I tried the NA II, and it was great for me.

As for the Hybrid, I tried many at the DME, they all hurt. I took a major chance with the Hybrid and now I love it. Feels a bit award and big compared to the NA II, but I feel I get a deeper sleep with it.

DustBunny, you asked if you gave up to early on the "nice little lightweight nose buds". It depends, if you tried everything and they could not seal for you, no you did not give up on them. (If you still have them try with the lanolin and see if that helps.)

I know I did not give up to early with the Comfort Curve. It just did not fit my nose right. With the Swift, I tried to much. I just tossed and turned to much for it.

I think the interface is the most important part of the therapy to work right.

If you like the third one called the Elephant's Trunk and it is working for you keep it. You can still keep looking for one that fits you just the way you want to.

You may ask how do I know? Just like I did. Because you are getting good deep sleep. You still need to have the right pressure etc.

Good Luck to you.

Xian · Post by **Xian** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:26 am

so i guess my answer is that i know pretty much right off if something is going to work, and after i've tried all the tweaks and custom fixes, i move on to the next option...so far my supplier has been great about that...

Dustbunny,
I also am new to all this (12 days and counting), and I am asking myself the same questions... Am I giving my current mask enough time? Am I being too demanding??? My current mask is not horrible and I am not in terrible pain, I just have sore nares and, even though it is supposed to be light (Optilife), I find the tubing in front of my mouth and chest cumbersome at best, especially when moving side to side... My personality is not to complain too much, and make do, but, for this, given the life long commitment, it might be worth experimenting at first. I am sure that after trying on a few masks, a few recurring problems will surface and we will be in a better position to recognize what is best for us.

Good luck!

Sharon: does your supplier let you switch masks so often (8 times in a few months...) and does your insurance allow this? So far, my DME has not been very responsive... Good for you!

PS: new to your system... not sure how the quote of Sharon's text will show! Sorry

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 1:11 pm

Sharon: does your supplier let you switch masks so often (8 times in a few months...) and does your insurance allow this? So far, my DME has not been very responsive... Good for you!

yeah, my supplier just keeps telling me to try them and bring back whatever doesn't work, when i've gone back there asking for advice on how to make it work, they just take it back and say "here, try this one"... i'm not sure how the insurance works on this, the provincial gov't here pays a portion of the machine and my extended health benefits through my husband's employer pays the rest, and that also pays for upgraded masks (the province pays for whatever crap comes with the machine) then again, my machine is a bare bones minimum with no data tracking so i feel kind of ripped off in that area...don't get me started!

as far as giving an interface enough time, i judged by how much i was waking up to fuss and fool with it...i'm supposed to be getting better sleep, not worse, right?

sharon1965

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 11:32 pm

mikemoran wrote:Ric,

From my experience the answer is no. My nares didn't toughen up over time. I think the technology caught up with nostrils. I base this on the fact I have tried to go back to some of the other pillows and have had the same soreness even though I was using the newer pillows right before switching.

The key for me I think is pressure. The harder the pillows the tighter they must be agaisnt my nares to stop leakage. This basically causes pressure sores. The newer soft silicone pillows I actually have a small gap with them below my nose when the cpap is not blowing. When it is on they inflate and create the seal so the pressure agaisnt my nares is minimal. I actually snuggle my nose into them.

Thanks Mike, that is good information !

(You do a valuable service to this community with your endless shopping, field-testing, and reporting. And the unlimited budget. That is much appreciated.)

Both the Optilife and the Opus look interesting, and as you say, sooooo minimalist. The former has a sort of eerie "f16 pilot" look about it (my take). Or would it be the "speak no evil" look? (wife's opinion). Is the chin strap an issue? That would be an advantage for a mouth-breather (i'm not one), or an annoyance. Did that take some "getting-used-to"?

I like the way the Opus hose goes up and back, but it looks like one must choose sides. I guess I could live with that. (does it come with a mask and flippers?). The CL2 is ideal in that regard.

Both are reasonably priced. I think I feel another shopping spree getting ready to happen. Thanks for the update.

-Ric

(I was almost ready to buy a Soyola, then I learned it WASN'T a breakfast cereal. May get one anyway, otherwise I won't have one. I DO like the legendary QUIET of it's predecessor, but the interface is a tad rigid, can't use it for weeks on end).

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 5:47 am

Ric,

The chin strap on the Opti is more to stabilize the head gear than it is to keep your mouth closed. I found that i actually kept it loose, just enough to keep the mask from being pushed up. The Opus has no chin strap but doesn't seem to need it. I would try it first because of the great swivel that allows you to run the hose wherever you want. Pillows are about the same on both.

You don't have to choose sides with the Opus. In fact I run mine over the head board and don't even attach it to the head gear. It free floats.

Good Luck.

dustbunny · Post by **dustbunny** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 1:47 pm

I really appreciate your responses. I am pretty much working at this alone since my DME appears to have lost interest as soon as the sale officially rolled over from rental. He didn't give me much info starting out so it has been a learn as I go experience for me. Maybe I expected too much help from him?
I'm sorry I didn't give you enough information. I am still learning what all of the technical terms and this forum has been a tremendous help with that.
My machine is a Remstar Pro. It has a SmartCard in it and I am still trying to learn about it lol. I do have the heated humidifier with it, had to. I was soooo dried out after the first night. My setting is 11. I am not having trouble with the setting at all now. After the first week I've not had to use the ramp feature at all.
I am a side sleeper. I also have a type of lupus, fibromyalgia and extensive osteoarthriitis.
The first interface I had was an Opti Life and I am not sure if there is more description of it. I have nothing written down about it and they took it back. It is the one I was having a load of trouble getting to seal enough to not keep me awake all night messing with it. It was wonderfully lightweight though, which I liked a lot. I was just worn down with getting so little sleep and gave up at 10 nights. Now I wonder if I should have kept trying with it.
That was before I found this forum.
The second interface was a Comfort Gel mask. I achieved keeping it on all night by the third night but by then I was getting red welts where it touched on my cheeks and it was getting worse. I did not wash it repeatedly, as one here mentioned doing. I am sorry I had no idea that it might make a difference or I'd have certainly tried that. But I do not still have that one either, even though I found out a couple of days ago, they billed the insurance for it. I phoned and the lady said they can't do that if they are going to take it back.
This third one is the one I really dislike even though I am keeping it on all night most nights. It is the only one I have right now. Last night was another one where I couldn't get it to seat properly and messed with it most of the night. It is really tough on my nares and today they are sore again. It is the Snapp-X Nasal Cushion. The interface has thicker tubing going down the front from the nasal cushions into a Y that hooks into the CPAP tubing. That thicker tubing is long, heavy and drags at it. It can be velcroed up to the headgear, which I do but it still is heavy, awkward and drags at the cushions somewhat even in the up position. I do not think I am getting into deep sleep with it most of the time even though I am keeping it on nearly every night.
My DME lost interest pretty much as soon as I got close to the automatic insurance-buy at 30-days. Even though in the beginning he told me he'd be calling to check on how I'm doing, he never has yet and it's been over two months. I had to keep calling him to find out about taking my smart card in to get it read before the end of the first 30 days. This leads me to believe that he has no interest in how I'm really doing unless it means another sale. He told me I'd need to get my doc to write a new prescription for a different interface for the insurance to pay -- and naturally I'd like for the insurance to pay.
I notice some here have more than one mask and I assume since insurance has paid for this one, I will be able to keep it as a backup along with another mask if I get one.
I can ask the doc. The question is -- what do I ask for? I do not think I can tolerate the full-face masks -- claustrophobia. I wanted minimalist and lightweight if I can make it work. In retrospect, I think with the tips, info and help here, I might be able to make either of the previous interfaces work for me and they both would be tolerable for me.And, I notice online sales of interfaces and headgears are less expensive. I would be willing to invest in paying for a new one myself if need be. Do you find it hard to order the right size when ordering online? I started the CPAP committed to learning to sleep with it, hoping to feel better. Instead I feel the worst I've felt in about 8 months due to the exhaustion and nares' discomfort. I do have some cream the DME gave me a sample of and that helps some with the nares.
thanks ever so much
karyl

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