Just Performed Surgery on Mask - Hoping for No Regrets

[Sandra]

Been on CPAP therapy for about 2 months now. First month was a trial of various masks and pillows, settled on Micro Mirage as it seemed to be giving the best results. However for some reason, the inner seal has been bugging me more lately than usual. It was always close or up against the lower crease of my nostrils, but the few days or so it's felt painful - to the point of almost wanting to rip off my mask. After a sore nap today, I decided to mark exactly where the contact points are on the inner seal, and with tiny scissors I nipped that away. Feels good now. I see lots of people make modifications to their masks here; I'm just hoping I haven't made one that will compromise the seal. We shall see!

[Sillyme]

Such courage. I know those little silicone parts probably cost next to nothing to manufacture but it's like cutting into gold. Of course, if we can't wear them they're worth nothing.

[Sandra]

Courage, or temporary insanity? Like gold is right, but you do have a point about it being worthless if it's too uncomfortable to wear.

[Mary Z]

Sandra, so how did it work last night?

I took a dremel to the hard plastic nose piece of my quattro and ruined it. Sigh. But it wasn't wearable the way it was and wasn't my only mask.
Mary Z.

[sleepydawn]

Of course, if we can't wear them they're worth nothing.

That is very true. I don't blame you for trying to modify the Quattro, Mary. I find that mask to be extremely uncomfortable. It's the only full face mask my husband and I have, though. My insurance will pay for a new mask for me today. I'm going to get one that my husband and I can both use. My husband needs a new full face mask but his durable medical benefit is maxed out for the year. He has a BiPap Adapt SV so his choices are very limited. I wish I didn't have to go with Resmed but there are only a few masks that are compatible with the Adapt SV's learning circuit. The Liberty is one of them and it looks fine for me. He feels comfortable in a small or medium Quattro but I definitely need the small. Hopefully the Liberty I am fitted for will fit us both. After the first of the year, I can try something that won't have to work with his machine.

[Sillyme]

Sandra, so how did it work last night?

I took a dremel to the hard plastic nose piece of my quattro and ruined it. Sigh. But it wasn't wearable the way it was and wasn't my only mask.
Mary Z.

That's exactly what I was thinking of doing. I thought it must be that hard plastic ridge that was cutting into my nose. But when I played around with it yesterday it seemed more like it was the silicone being stretched too tight at that point - like a too tight rubber band. I used up my last exchange to try a size larger Quattro, reasoning that it would ride higher - where my nose was indented more. I was right about that. I was able to adjust the forehead piece without eye leaks and my nose is very happy. Now I just have to deal with having to tighten it more at the cheek level to stop new leaks there since it's wider than the old one. I'm getting closer to my dream mask (pun intended). I have to wait 3 mo for insurance to cover a different one. I may spring for one on my own before then. You seem to have the same face proportion problem as I do. Most people have no problems with the Quattro. PM me if you find the perfect one and I'll do the same. I started a thread about this problem and got some good suggestions. "Former Quattro Users- Find Better One For Nose Bridge?"

[OutaSync]

Sandra,

I have performed surgery on many a mask out of desperation to stop the pain.

The Activas have to be clamped down so hard to not leak at the bottoms of the triangle that it would cut into the bottom of my nose. Solution: Notch out the inner hard silicone to go around that part of my nose.

I have a large nose bridge and the soft outer silicone sould stretch so tight that it would leave a huge divot that remained sore all day. Solution: Carefully enlarge the upper arch on the outer silicone.

Now I'm using the Mirage SoftGel mask. There is no hard inner silicone. That's a big plus, but I still need to enlarge the soft silcone at the nose bridge.

I wrap it all up in a mask liner from padacheek.com and finally, a mask that doesn't hurt.

[Sandra]

Well, i have to say it was MUCH more comfortable to wear last night, lots less waking to adjust its position. I could not feel or hear any noticable leaks.
Due to an error on my part, I did not collect last night's data (when I wanted it most!) but will see how tonight turns out report-wise, and let you know!

[Janknitz]

My one suggestion for anyone else thinking of performing surgery on the mask is to have a back up, just in case . . . You wouldn't want to get stuck without a useable mask until you can get a replacement. Just saying!

It's fairly inexpensive to buy just a replacement cushion if that's the part you're "operating on". Remember, Medicare and many insurance companies will cover a new cushion every month.

[Sandra]

Good point, Janknitz, thanks for mentioning that.