Side Sleeper looking for mask suggestions

[smurf]

Hello all. I am diagnosed and not yet treated. I have been to the first sleep study and was told that I had 39 apneas in about 393 minutes of the test and a ton of hyponeas. My AHI is 43.7. I am a mouth breather. I went to my sleep titration study and was told by the tech. my pressure was 14. I am now awaiting the sleep specialist to read my study and make a script. I sleep on my side and back a lot and only once in a while on my stomach (I could learn to not sleep on my stomach, but must stay sleeping on my side and back). When in for my first 'hosing', I was fine when on my back, but when I went to my side, everything come loose.

Will the tried and true side sleepers please let me know what masks work best for them? I am sure I will have my script by this week and be 'hosed' forever by weekend. I would really like to start with the right mask to kick things off......

Thanks to all,
Smurf

[sleepngo]

Hi Smurf,
I like the Liberty FF mask with nasal pillows and the OptiLife nasal pillows mask. I am a three position sleeper, back,left and right side. These two mask work very well for me, very little leakage. You might try the Hybrid FF mask with nasal pillows. I haven't tried that one yet but will in the next month or two. As you can see I prefer the nasal pillows mask...I have tried many nasal FF mask and haven't found one that I like but if you go with a pillows mask make sure you have good nasal air flow, hope this helps and happy that you found this very informative web site. Welcome aboard.

Regards,

Dan

[CorgiGirl]

I tried the Liberty but found the nose pillows problematic...they kept popping out of my nares, even though I tried the "lab rat" fix of adding a shoestring to hold them in.

I have had good luck with the Fisher and Paykel Flexifit 432 full face mask. I tend to sleep on both sides and on my stomach and I sort of burrow into the pillow without the mask leaking.

Most of us seem to have tried a number of masks before settling on one. I'm about to try the Hans Rudolph V2 full face to see if it is more comfortable and that will make five different ones for me, so far.

[marshaeb]

Hi, Smurf, and welcome to the forum.

I sleep on my side 100%. I have the Fisher & Paykel Opus 360 nasal pillow mask and love it. I'd done a lot of reading here before choosing, as you are doing, and I know you'll get lots of good suggestions from others here. Just remember that the right mask for you is the right mask for YOU. For instance, I tried the Optilife and couldn't stand the fact that the hose doesn't swivel. It kept getting in my way. But as you saw, Sleepngo likes it.

Also, I'm not a mouth breather, but you'll need to deal with it. Some use full face masks because of it, and others have found ways to keep their mouths shut (a worthy goal on any day ) with such things as chinstraps, tape and Polident and so use other kinds of masks.

When I went to my DME (durable medical equipment supplier), I had narrowed my search down to the Opus 360 and the ResMed Swift LT. I tried both on and liked them, but when I experimentally put my hand along the side strap of the LT, as if I were laying on it, the mask moved. When I did the same with the Opus 360, it didn't. I'm sure it has everything to do with the shape of our faces and what "fits" best.

One note about the Opus 360... the side straps are made of a sturdy, somewhat flexible plastic. I'm pretty sure they are the reason the mask stays in place so well for me, together with the fact that I have high cheekbones. The straps lie just under my cheekbones, and they all work together to keep my mask in place. The plastic side straps do have padding on the inside, but as others have found, the plastic edges still found my face, and it wasn't comfy. There are commercially crafted pads that wrap around the straps (see http://www.padacheek.com/ for one example), and they're available through most online cpap dealers. You can see them at our host's site, https://www.cpap.com, or try looking in http://www.cpapauction.com. I made my own strap covers, using some quilted material covered by some satin stolen from an old pillowcase and secured with velcro. Even though it's satin, it doesn't slide around on my face, and it feels sooooo nice.

Masks certainly are important, and it'll probably take experimentation until you find what suits you best. The BEST thing you can do for yourself, though, is to do everything possible to get a fully data-capable APAP (automatically adjusts the air pressure within a set range). Some machines that have data cards record only the most basic information for reporting that you're using it, but the fully data-capable machines are a must so you can monitor and manage your particular version of SA. Do everything possible to get your sleep doc to write your prescription for APAP rather than CPAP. Slinky has a great article about prescriptions in Our Wisdom (the yellow lightbulb, above). Once there, go to Diagnosis and Prescription --> Suggested Specific CPAP Equipment Scripts. Also, you'll do yourself a favor to read the articles in the "Selecting Your CPAP Equipment" section of Our Wisdom.

I hope all goes well for you. There are a lot of people here with tons of experience, great suggestions and an amazing willingness to help. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and please don't think something's too stupid to ask about. There are no stupid questions when it comes to learning about managing our cpap therapy.

Marsha

[jrfoster]

Welcome!

Everybody has to find their own personal mask. What works for one does not work for another. Most of us have mutiple masks we have purchased over the months and years looking for the 'perfect' mask.
I am a slide sleeper and also one that tosses and turns. I recently went to the Mirage Activa Nasal Mask and love it. It has a part of the Mask that moves with you (the Activa part)but does not cause the sides of the mask to leak. Check it out online and see if might answer some of your questions. Again welcome to the world of "hose heads"!

Jeff F

[Gerald]

Smurf........

I'm a side sleeper....and find that the Headrest "Aura" mask is best for me. The hose is suspended on a hanger just above my head. I use a garden pot plant hanger that swings in an arc....thereby following my movements. The hose has an insulated cover and I've added a modification (inside my mask) to prevent rainout.

The aura mask is very comfortable for me......but, since it utilizes nasal pillows, I use lanolin on my nares....and masking tape over my mouth.

My system has evolved over the past 2-years.....and I'm very happy with it.

Over a year ago, I decided to give the Headrest "Aura" mask a try....after learning that it's a favorite of Rested Gal....the unofficial "mother superior" of this forum. She knows her stuff.....and I follow her lead whenever possible.

Gerald

[smurf]

Thanks for the suggestions all. It is pretty obvious that trying out the one for me is the way to go. Not knowing because I haven't got their yet, Can you use different headgear with different brand masks to make it work any better?

[marshaeb]

Can you use different headgear with different brand masks to make it work any better?

I don't think so, but I don't know enough about it. Hopefully someone else will chime in on that. What I DID think of was the reason I focused on nasal pillows when researching masks.....

When I had my titration study, the sleep tech used three different masks on me: a nasal pillow mask, a nasal mask and a full face mask. The next morning, she told me my numbers were best with the nasal pillows. If they used different masks with you, you might consider calling your sleep doc's office to see if you did better with one of them and at least narrowing the field to that type of mask. Good luck!!

Marsha

[CorgiGirl]

Thanks for the suggestions all. It is pretty obvious that trying out the one for me is the way to go. Not knowing because I haven't got their yet, Can you use different headgear with different brand masks to make it work any better?

From what the RT at my new DME told me, each company has it's own proprietary connectors, like the easy release clips on Resmed masks. So I'm thinking that getting headgear to work on a different company's mask may not work so well...unless you are a lab rat. (Which I am not...no imagination in that direction at all! )

[RosemaryB]

Just as important for me was finding a good pillow. A down pillow would be best, since it gives when the mask hits it. I'm allergic to down, so I got a synthetic down pillow. It gives like regular down and it made a big difference with a whole variety of masks.

I'm a side sleeper and there are three masks that I've thought were good for side sleepers. The nasal aire II, the Headrest (Aura), and the Swift LT, not necessarily in that order. I find myself switching off between these masks (sometimes I use the Swift II, but that's only good if you sleep exclusively on one side or your back). The pad-a-cheek strap covers are fabulous and I wouldn't be without them. I use them for both swifts and use pantyhose tights for the Headrest or the Topaz chinstrap with the Nasal Aire II. The tights and chinstrap help substantially with keeping the mask stable.

As you can see, it's not just finding the right mask but also some other factors. It takes some work at first, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes much easier.

[Guest]

Thanks for the suggestions all. Can you use different headgear with different brand masks to make it work any better?

You can yes. Sure you have to be creative. I've had better results with the
Resmed headgear on Fischer Paykel FP 431/2, it just doesn't stretch as much which helps to reduce leaks.

[Billy6]

The FF mask I use (see below) has been great for me as a side sleeper. Rarely any leaks. But, my pressure in only 9.5.

[Marietjie]

Hi there, Side Sleeper.....I sleep with Swift Nasal Pillows and a heated humidifier - some nights are 'easy' and now and then I will have a restless night. I don't stress about the restless nights - it's part of the whole treatment! Also, try to sleep with a 'leg pillow' (the one shaped like an hour glass) Actually, the leg pillow is a must for every person. Cpap treatment changed my health for the better. Good Luck and don't give up!

[cpapoly]

I've had good luck side sleeping with a FlexiFit 432 and the Quattro. The Quattro will leak if I squirm around too much but it's usually pretty good. I've also tried the Liberty for a few nights but I'm not sure if I like or not yet.....