Mask Fit Issue

[atruvirgo]

I have had the same mask issue with every mask I have used. I use a small or petite nasal and the seal fits okay but the vertical size is always too long and slides over my eyes and sometimes my lip. I like the F & P 406 petite but it was too shallow and my nose bumped the rough edge inside. I have modified the F&P petite headgear to make it fit smaller and that took care of the headgear issue a long time ago. I just use the same altered headgear with any mask I try. Any suggestions from anyone who has had the issue with the mask being too long? I think this is not only a fit issue but, a leak issue as well. I just tried the small softgel and again it slides down too far.

Debbie-Bound and determined to figure this out and get more than 3-4 hours a night on the machine!!!

[cflame1]

what about nasal pillows or prongs (Nasal Aire II)?

[bap40]

As another poster said, maybe it is time to try something totally different. I have small head also and have had problems with the way they fit like yours. Overhanging my upper lip and or being parked right under my eye. Of course the leaks were there and hard to fix for a whole night. Then about 18 months ago I tried the Swift LT for her and that was all she wrote. I love it. I get good numbers and very low leaks with this mask. I haven't tried a new type of mask since. I just keep ordering this one over and over again. Don't be afraid to try as many masks as you need to until hopefully you find your best one.

Good luck

[robysue]

I use a small or petite nasal and the seal fits okay but the vertical size is always too long and slides over my eyes and sometimes my lip.

I'd say that if the vertical seal is too long and slides over your eyes or lip, the mask is TOO big and if that's as small as it comes, you need a different mask all together. That's just my two cents.

As others have suggested, have you considered a nasal pillows mask? Since they are designed to seal directly against your nostrils, the vertical sizing is not a factor---sure helps those of us with really small faces.

And yes, the idea of a nasal pillows mask may sound bizarre at first since it fits right up against your nostrils. But the next time you are trying on masks anyway, try on at least one or two of the newer pillows style masks. The frames are soft and the headgear is designed to be worn rather loose. There are no issues with these masks slipping over the eyes or over the lips. [Although there are plenty of other issues with these masks for some people, including overall mask stability for the Swift FX in particular.]

[Goofy]

I tend to agree with robysue. Nasal pillows are great! I use the Swift FX and love it! I have run into some problems lately with colds and I went to the Doc and DME. Since I can't use the nasal mask (can't have anything on the bridge of my nose) they suggested the FitLife. I actually love it too! I use the large one but the small seems really small so you might check it out.

Hope this helps.

[atruvirgo]

I have tried all of the nasal pillows and had a terrible time with leaks on all of them. Also, I couldn't keep it from pressing on my nose (pig nose). I could try again but, I doubt anything has changed in the market. The latest one was the Swift LT for her. I had pretty much concluded that I was not a good candidate for pillows but, will re-visit that idea.

Debbie

[robysue]

I have tried all of the nasal pillows and had a terrible time with leaks on all of them. Also, I couldn't keep it from pressing on my nose (pig nose). I could try again but, I doubt anything has changed in the market. The latest one was the Swift LT for her. I had pretty much concluded that I was not a good candidate for pillows but, will re-visit that idea.

Debbie

Debbie,

I tried the Swift LT and could not tolerate it for longer than 5 minutes. The Swift FX, on the other hand, has been the one and only mask I've used these last four months. The difference for me is that the LT"s frame dug into my cheeks in an uncomfortable fashion, but the FX's frame is completely soft silicone.

Some folks do have trouble with leaks. I'm not one of them. I think there are several tricks. One is to make sure that the pillows you are using are LARGE enough. They are not supposed to go into the nostril---except for the tiniest bit of the top of the cone. The bulk of the cone rests against the nostril. If the pillow is too small it can get jammed too far into your nose. That's quite uncomfortable as well as leaky. The second thing is that the straps on the Swift FX are supposed to be quite loose---in order to AVOID piggy nose among other things. That's one of my tests, actually: If I feel like I've got piggy nose, I know I either have the pillows at the wrong angle or one of the straps too tight. A simple adjustment fixes both the piggy nose and the leak that always seems to accompany the piggy nose feeling for me. A third trick is that a bit of lanolin really does help the seal if you're having trouble. I don't always need it, but if I have trouble, the lanolin seems to fix it.

To get a seal on the FX, the best technique seems to be to hold the pillows just barely touching your nose and turn the machine on. The pressure will inflate the pillows and they will seal against your nose ideally without pushing too hard against it. If they seem to be pressing too hard, gently pull them away and reseat them.