how long to try a mask before switching

[Hea83ther]

Do you mean that the sleep techs. are more worried about getting a good pressure versus mask comfort? They did seem to be trying. They came in probably ten times to try to help me adjust it and let me switch masks multiple times.

[magicpsn]

Hi...I am fairly new to CPAP and this forum (6months), but I saw your post and thought that I would post as well.

I know that masks are a personal choice and that what works for one person won't necessarily work for another. I went through several masks before I found one that I liked. Like you, the masks hurt my nose! Also, the nasal ones hurt my nostrils and if I loosened them up they leaked. The other problem was that sometimes my nasal passages where too plugged and I felt like I couldn't breathe. I tried some masks for just a couple of nights and stopped...I actually went for a while not using CPAP because the masks hurt too much. After a couple of months of not using my machine I went on a search for something else to try as I was feeling very tired and my wife was nagging me that I need to use my machine because I was keeping her awake too.

The one that I found that worked (at least for me) was the RespCare Hybrid mask. What I liked about the mask was that it had various sizes of the mouth portion and had support under the chin, which helps keep it in position. It also has various sizes of the nasal portion, so you are making a semi-custom mask that fists your face and nose...with nothing that presses on the bridge of your nose or forehead!

Hang in there and try several masks if you can...it will take time, but you will find one that you like.

[Hea83ther]

Thanks for the encouragement. I will keep trying; fortunately my apnea is very mild, so it was easily controlled with several different masks the night of the study. I just can't get comfortable.

[Gaga58]

Heather...just a few things here...at my titration they put me in a comfort classic, it didn't seem too bad, so I ordered one...big mistake. The one I purchased drove me nuts. It leaked and it hurt and I had face marks for several hours into the day. I think I used it 3 days before stuffing it back in the plastic where it remains! Thank goodness I had a comfort gel nasal I had received from a gal who quit her therapy...I used it until I could get the new cushion and it worked great, other than I still had face marks. In the process I heard all these good things about the Swift Fx and I got lucky, found one on ebay in "parts" for cheap which I ordered....loved it from day one! I started out with a pressure of 7, which of course I have found with time and the help of a forum member was not enough, so I have slowly worked up to a 12. I did have some nasal soreness at the start of using the Fx, but (and again thanks to a forum member!) using the lanisoh ointment, not only stopped the soreness but also helped to hold the pillows in place. With that being said, I have since ordered the SleepWeaver and I really love it! It does have some leak issues, but as I continue wearing it those are becoming less of a problem. It is a nasal mask, soft cloth, easy to wear and adjust and you can roll around and fall right into the pillow with it....you don't get the "noise" from the vent with it on your pillow like some of the other masks. The biggest problem I'm having with it now is where it rides along the back edge of my head/neck...woke up the other morning with an ache where the strap was...I fixed a fleece pad to put over the spot and that seemed to help. Today I'm going to do a little more experimenting on the head gear, I'm a small person so the headgear on these things don't always fit the best.

I also have sinus issues and have been battling those for quite some time...however, I don't have them when wearing the masks, they actually keep me clear all night, so it's just a matter of treating the daytime issues which usually has more to do with your humidifier and how to get the right settings with it. I've also noted that every so often I will mouth breathe, not sure why, but it happens. I fix it easily with the blue painters tape, but again it's a rarity for me to have that happen.

I think I would call the doc and ask him to change those choices...don't know why he would specify certain ones, but I'd be afraid your insurance is not going to cover anything that's not on the script. I'd also tend to be like Pugsy and think they either used the wrong size pillows on you and/or they didn't have the adjustments right on the Fx during your study, but if it's on your script you should be able to test try it...at home you can adjust it yourself and know what is working and what isn't. I can say I have tried two other nasal pillows masks, the opti life and the Swift Lt....didn't care for either one...I could never get comfortable with either and they just didn't seem to fit no matter what size I tried, so a lot of this is just the particular person...what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. Keep working at it and keep trying out masks...one day you'll find one that works best for you!

[Hea83ther]

Thanks for the advice. I called the DME, and they said as long as I have a script for a mask, it shouldn't make a difference which one I pick, and they were allowed to change sizes, etc. without getting the script changed. I talked to my sister today (who is a nurse) and she has had patients on cpap. She thinks my mask is too big. It's hitting me on my lower chin, and the forehead piece hits all the way up by my hairline. Plus, I have to pull the headgear straps almost to the point that they are overlapping each other to get it to stay on my face. So, I will probably ask them to try several different things tomorrow, and see which one works best.

[BlackSpinner]

Thanks for the advice. I called the DME, and they said as long as I have a script for a mask, it shouldn't make a difference which one I pick, and they were allowed to change sizes, etc. without getting the script changed. I talked to my sister today (who is a nurse) and she has had patients on cpap. She thinks my mask is too big. It's hitting me on my lower chin, and the forehead piece hits all the way up by my hairline. Plus, I have to pull the headgear straps almost to the point that they are overlapping each other to get it to stay on my face. So, I will probably ask them to try several different things tomorrow, and see which one works best.

You may want to bring the machine and your pillow. Insist on trying the masks laying down under full pressure and move your face on the pillow a bit and see what happens. Treat it like buying shoes. Your are going to dance all night in this thing after all.

[Hea83ther]

I thought about that, but I don't really want to lay on their gross floor-yuck. Those places should have washable cots, so that people can be fitted lying down. I'm definitely taking my machine though, so they can hook it up to the right pressure and see what happens.

[Kairosgrammy]

Take a washable blanket. That will solve the problem of the nasty floor. You can take it home and wash it. You really want to do it laying down. Although I do hope your bed isn't as hard as their floor.

I thought about that, but I don't really want to lay on their gross floor-yuck. Those places should have washable cots, so that people can be fitted lying down. I'm definitely taking my machine though, so they can hook it up to the right pressure and see what happens.

[LSAT]

You should be able to take the mask home and try it for up to 30 days and return it for a different one. All the major brands have a return policy. DMEs can return used masks for exchange or credit. Ask your DME...they may not volunteer this information.

[BlackSpinner]

I thought about that, but I don't really want to lay on their gross floor-yuck. Those places should have washable cots, so that people can be fitted lying down. I'm definitely taking my machine though, so they can hook it up to the right pressure and see what happens.

Bring a yoga mat.

[StevenXXXX]

I thought about that, but I don't really want to lay on their gross floor-yuck. Those places should have washable cots, so that people can be fitted lying down. I'm definitely taking my machine though, so they can hook it up to the right pressure and see what happens.

I have never used it, but my DME provider has an actual Single bed in each of the 2 tech's offices for fitting purposes.

[Hea83ther]

I went back today, and they told me that I can switch out as much as I want in the first month. They fitted me with a small Mirage Quattro full face instead of the medium comfort gel. It felt much more comfortable, especially across my nose. It seemed like it will be easier to control leaks with it, too, at least from my initial impressions.

[retrodave15]

I really like this mask - I have found that the Mask Arrayed blog really helped me adjust the mask.
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/