New Mask is WONDERFUL!!!!!

SleepySparky · Post by **SleepySparky** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:25 pm

I finally did it. I finally found the mask that will let me sleep through the night. The CL2 with small pillows is a heaven sent. I finally, in I do not know how many years, have slept through the night. All Night Long. I did not wake up not once. Man has that been absolutely awesome. I love this mask. I do not even feel like I am wearing a mask when I go to bed. It is awesome. I love it. Let me say I have only used it three times and I know that sometimes thing do not turn out like they seem. But I have a positive attitude and lots of different size and interfaces to try before I let this one go. I really like it so far and I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will continue to be an awesome mask I can live with.
Tina

alnhwrd · Post by **alnhwrd** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:29 pm

Wonderful News! I wish you many more nights of blessed slumber!

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:35 pm

Great news! It's amazing to love a mask, considering how they look, no? But I love my Headrest, yes I do . I thought I was doomed to having to "hang the mask off the edge of the pillow" for the rest of my life. This did not let me relax and was darned uncomfortable. My neck was stiff a lot. Kind of like sleeping on the edge of a cliff or something . But the Headrest lets me sleep in the positions I used to before cpap.

If it doesn't continue to work as well for you, you should consider some of the lab rat modifications to make it work.

Sleep well.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:51 pm

Tina,

Feels like striking gold, doesn't it! I have used the CL2 pillows and found it quite comfortable. Hope it keeps serving you well.

Kathy

P.S. I found some lavendar girls tights at a thrift shop and the legs were just the right length to cut off and sew for an extra band - they're so cute.

Check your PMs.

Moby · Post by **Moby** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:34 am

Great News, SleepySparky!

Very encouraging.

Di

SleepySparky · Post by **SleepySparky** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:00 pm

Thanks a bunch for the encouragement. Yes, it is like finding gold. A good nights sleep is so absolutely wonderful, people who do have our problems do not know just how good they have it I tell ya. I did not even realize how good a great complete night of sleep was till I had one. Thanks again for all the suggestions and the encouragement. You all have been great.
Hugs to all of you,
Tina

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:19 pm

SleepySparky,

You must made my day

I'm still struggling with masks and have a CL2 on order (due to arrive this week). I've been feeling very discouraged and your news has perked me up. Even if the CL2 doesn't work as well for me as it does for you, it still gives me hope that I will find *something* that will do the same for me. Next on my list is the headrest if CL2 doesn't do it!

Thanks!!
MIndy

SleepySparky · Post by **SleepySparky** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:58 pm

Mindy,
Please do not give up. I keep reading posts on this site and a few others I frequent, all everyone keeps telling me is to keep going. You will find that mask that is perfect for YOU. Once you do that it all worth it. The mask is the main hill you have to over come, once you do that it is smooth sailing from there. So please keep your spirits up and keep trying you will persevere. You just have to keep trying. You have a positive attitude and that is half the battle right there. Good Luck and keep trying.
Tina

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:29 pm

Hi Tina,

Thanks for the words of encouragement!

I'm nearing the 6-month mark on cpap and although mostly it's gone well enough that I feel much better than I used to. I started off with a Swift II which was reasonably good but went to a FFM for winter because I get congested and get nosebleeds daily. Masks are definitely the big issue for me as well as for many others. Every time I think I've got it worked out, I find that it doesn't seem to stay that way. I have a list of masks that cpap.com sizing tool came up with for me and am selectively working my way through. It's good that my insurance paid 100% for the machine since buying all these masks is making quite a dent

If I can get settled in with one or two masks I will be ecstatic

Let me know if the CL2 keeps working for you!

Mindy

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:41 pm

Sparky....

The CL2 worked for me......and was far better than the "titration special" (cheap junk) the sleep lab sent me home with.

I used the CL2 for 3 or 4 months......learned a bunch.....and then, (listening to Rested Gal) learned about the Aura.

The Aura (non-decapitated) is doing nicely for me....and recently, I've begun to use tape so that I can reduce mouth leaks.

The mouth tape experiment is going nicely......and my scores are better. I've found that 3M Blue "Delicate Release" masking tape is the best for me.......along with a couple of layers of panty-hose tights to keep the tape from doing a "blow out" during the night.

Also, I'm using Lansinoh Lanolin on my nares........and you may want to try it.

Keep us posted on your progress.....and what you learn about the CL2.

Gerald

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Aura

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Aura

Thren · Post by **Thren** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:00 pm

I'm so jealous. I've been eyeballing that very mask for the last three weeks. Sadly, when I went to get the pressure on my machine changed and got a chance to try it on, I found out my nose is too narrow to get a seal, and my head is too fat for the headgear.

But yay for you! Hope it all works out for keeps.

SleepySparky · Post by **SleepySparky** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:28 am

Gerald, my titration mask was horrible for me too. They sent home the ComfortGel mask. It is not a cheap mask per sa, it is just not the mask for me. I have looked at the Aura, and might consider that one in the future. But right now, I do not want to "mess with perfection"......LOL. The mask is working wonderfully and since I am paying for these masks "out of pocket", I will stick to the CL2. I might try that one when it comes time to replace the mask, not sure though. I have trouble with trying something new right now, I live by the "if it ain't broke don't fix it". That is how I see this mask right now, I can sleep through the night so why mess with it. You know what I mean.?

Mindy, one thing I have found that works for me when it comes to the nose bleeds is Ayr Nasal Gel. I have found a lot of times the nosebleeds in the winter time are due to the nose drying out because of the heater on in the house. So if I use a Q-tip and just a put a thin layer of the gel on the inside of my nose a few times a day it stops me from getting the nose bleeds, I also use it each night before dunning the mask. This helps with the seal and helps keep my nose from drying out even though I have a humidifier. So far it has worked great. This mask has more ways to adjust the fitting to you facial features than any of the other masks I have tried and with the three different interfaces you have to choose from I think that is main it works so well for me. Good Luck with it. Let me know if I can help you at all with making it more comfy.

So far the mask is working wonderfully. Last night I tried the direct seals rather than the pillows. They worked too, but I think the 4 is a bit too big. I want to find a 2 or 3 to try. I got the 4 and 5 size seals with my mask, as well as the S, M, and L pillows. So if anyone has a size 2 or 3 seal they want to trade for one of the larger pillow sizes (M or L) or the size 5 direct seals, I would be more than happy to do this. So far though this mask is definitely a Heaven Sent. I absolutely love it, I can sleep through the night with no problem. I did wake up once last night because, I believe the direct seal was leaking a little bit due to it being a little too big. So I will be staying with this mask unless something comes up to prove my theory wrong. I am looking for a FF mask to use when I am congested. I would like to have it ahead of time, so I do not have to worry about not using the machine if it is just nasal congestion. I am looking at the hybrid, not sure yet though.
Good Luck all. Let me know if any of you are interested in trading the direct seal or pillow sizes I have for ones I might can use.

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:44 am

Hi Tina,

I used the CL2 last night and it was great! Very comfortable, only woke up once with a fairly small leak (and I do tend to move around a lot during the night). I'm currently using the nasal pillows but plan to try the simple cushion in a week or two.

Since I'm (or was?) a mouth-breather, I find my Tiara Topaz adjustable chin strap and Rose's solution of J&J 2" hurt-free wrap work very well to resolve that (and Gerald, I'm planning to try your 3M "delicate release" blue tape when my current supply of J&J runs out since I'll bet it's cheaper).

Tina - you might want to think twice about the FFM for when you're congested! I thought exactly the same thing and went through quite a few and then finally settled on the Quattro. It's a nice mask but still drives me nuts because some nights it works well and others it's awful. It was one night when using the Quattro that the light bulb went off about congestion .... I woke up in the middle of the night in a panic because I couldn't breathe. With the mask on I didn't sense that it was congestion but as soon as I yanked it off, it was obvious.

So, I got out my netipot in the middle of the night and cleared up the congestion. I sure wouldn't want to be wearing a FFM again when I can't breathe through my nose. Perhaps I'm too well trained by now to avoid opening my mouth

In any case, I now use the NeilMed sinus rinse bottle and will be mixing my own saline solution after current supply is gone. I use it every night and have no problems with nasal masks now. At least the CL2 is less cumbersome.

Eventually I want to also try the Headrest but will enjoy my CL2 meanwhile!

Mindy

SleepySparky · Post by **SleepySparky** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:56 pm

Mind
That is definitely something I will consider before jumping into a purchase for a FF mask. I too (was?) a mouth breather, after using the chin strap for over a month, I no longer have to use it. They say you can re-train yourself to breath through your nose as you did as a child. I guess I have because I do not seem to be opening my mouth and my leak rate has continued to stay down even without using the chin strap. Believe me if I was opening my mouth I would be notified before I felt the leak by hubby telling me I was snoring again.....LOL. Anyway, as far as the direct seals vs. nasal pillows, I have found the pillows seal better for me. But that might be because of me using the wrong size. I am trying to get some of the smaller direct seals via one of the cpap auctions sites. I am defintely liking the pillows for sure. I hope your experience with this mask is as good as mine has been.
Hugs,
Tina

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:30 pm

Tina........

Are you using Encore Pro or Viewer with your "M" machine?

My honey and I run our reports every morning.....and we're in a loving "race" to see who has the lowest leak rate.....and the lowest AHI.

Viewing our results at the breakfast table makes us very conscious about the little adjustments, tweaks, and mods we make as we try to improve our therapy.

Good reporting software makes all the difference....and I hope you're equipped.

Gerald

Humidifier

Additional Comments: ozzie heated hose.

New Mask is WONDERFUL!!!!!

New Mask is WONDERFUL!!!!!

Congrats