Newbie....and HATE my mask

[erwink]

Thanks for the explanations.... I will call the office on Monday....in the meantime, I have to decide if I should use my mask for the next couple of nites or not--last nite without it was so much better than the previous three with it..... sigh.

[FeelingBetter]

You know, any place that provides CPAP equipment should have drawers FULL of different masks. If they don't have what you want, they should be able to order it so you can try it. FYI, Fisher & Paykel, Respironics and Resmed allow CPAP providers to return masks to them for replacement with a new one so it should not be a problem if you need to try 25 different masks/sizes. If they tell you you have to deal with the one you have, then you need to find another provider. Trust me, I've been on CPAP since August and have gone through several masks and due to a pressure change (had to higher), we are back at ground zero because now my masks leak and I can't tolerate my good old nasal mask (that I loved) at this pressure. Find someone who will help you succeed, not fail.
Hope this helps!

[rested gal]

Welcome to the forum, erwink.

Years ago, during my first 5 or 6 months using CPAP, I tried several brands and sizes of Full Face masks. ALL of them leaked badly for me as the night went along, even though I could get them to "fit" fine when I first went to bed. I hated every FF mask I tried.

I was not able to use the simpler nasal or nasal pillows masks because I would mouth breathe during sleep, even with the addition of various brand/styles of chin straps.

Finally I read (on another forum) about using tape over the mouth to prevent mouth breathing. I tried that - putting tape over my mouth, with a little turned down tab on the ends of the tape so I could take hold of it easily in the morning for removal. With tape to keep me from mouth breathing and losing "cpap treatment" out into the bedroom, it opened up a world of options to try many other masks. I didn't have to use a FF mask after all. With tape over the mouth, I was able to use much more comfortable (for me) nasal pillows masks.

I'd suggest trying other FF masks, if you can -- as well as trying chin straps with non-FF masks. If a chin strap can't prevent mouth breathing for you, then you might want to consider tape over the mouth in order to be able to use nasal and nasal pillows masks. There are other ways to prevent mouth breathing too - using polident strips, or by fashioning a boil'n'bite mouthguard into a "DIY" device to make the tongue keep an airtight seal inside the mouth.

LINKS to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard
viewtopic.php?t=8011

As far as Full Face masks go, my current favorite (if I had to wear a FF mask) is the FitLife Total FF mask that Sheriff Buford mentioned.