After 3 months still trying to work things out

[Guest]

Firstly thank you for this forum and the help I have received here. I started with the Mirage Quattro mask at a pressure of 12. I found I was allergic to the silicon mask cushions after a couple of weeks. I made some T-shirt seals for the Quattro and that worked for awhile until the nose bump issue. I developed a bump that turned into a wound on the bridge of my nose after about 20 days. I seemed to struggle a lot with leaks from the mask during sleep. I switched to the Swift LT nasal pillows and found out fast I was a serious mouth breather. I use the Blue painters tape with the PAP CAP and nasal pillows. With this system, I had the greatest success yet...for almost 2 months. Until last week.

I've been using the Lansinoh around and inside my nose since starting with the nasal pillows and have now developed a red rash where the nasal pillows slightly push up on my nose and around my nostril areas. I think this is caused by an allergic reaction to the silicon of the nasal pillows. On occasion I would wake up with a puffy face and puffy eye lids. Today was the worst puffiness of face and eyelids yet. AARRGG ...I don't l know what to try next? I look terrible and people are definitely noticing.

I should add my AHI was at 3.0 the first month and is now down to 1.0 sometimes under that. I do feel better form this cpap therapy and I desperately want to make this work. The first couple of months I was groggy all the time on cpap. I'm now feeling more like my old self. I just need to get this mask thing under control. My next mask would have to come out of my money as my insurance will only take the Quattro or Swift LT. What mask would you recommend for me? Is there something I can use for the rash caused from the nasal pillows? How about the puffiness? Does that go away after time using the machine? Finally...The blue tape does cause me to slightly break out on my chin area even though wash my face good before and after sleeping. Has anybody had some of these symptoms and come to terms with how to fix them? I'm open to suggestions. Thank you.

[LSAT]

Firstly thank you for this forum and the help I have received here. I started with the Mirage Quattro mask at a pressure of 12. I found I was allergic to the silicon mask cushions after a couple of weeks. I made some T-shirt seals for the Quattro and that worked for awhile until the nose bump issue. I developed a bump that turned into a wound on the bridge of my nose after about 20 days. I seemed to struggle a lot with leaks from the mask during sleep. I switched to the Swift LT nasal pillows and found out fast I was a serious mouth breather. I use the Blue painters tape with the PAP CAP and nasal pillows. With this system, I had the greatest success yet...for almost 2 months. Until last week.

I've been using the Lansinoh around and inside my nose since starting with the nasal pillows and have now developed a red rash where the nasal pillows slightly push up on my nose and around my nostril areas. I think this is caused by an allergic reaction to the silicon of the nasal pillows. On occasion I would wake up with a puffy face and puffy eye lids. Today was the worst puffiness of face and eyelids yet. AARRGG ...I don't l know what to try next? I look terrible and people are definitely noticing.

I should add my AHI was at 3.0 the first month and is now down to 1.0 sometimes under that. I do feel better form this cpap therapy and I desperately want to make this work. The first couple of months I was groggy all the time on cpap. I'm now feeling more like my old self. I just need to get this mask thing under control. My next mask would have to come out of my money as my insurance will only take the Quattro or Swift LT. What mask would you recommend for me? Is there something I can use for the rash caused from the nasal pillows? How about the puffiness? Does that go away after time using the machine? Finally...The blue tape does cause me to slightly break out on my chin area even though wash my face good before and after sleeping. Has anybody had some of these symptoms and come to terms with how to fix them? I'm open to suggestions. Thank you.

This insurance company doesn't care what mask you get...they pay the same amount regardless. Who told you that. You might look at the
Total Face Mask.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... dgear.html

[rickymarkokc]

Leaks, pressure sores, mouth breather.....your story sounds very similar to mine. I'm now using the Hybrid mask. It seems to work well but I don't necessarily feel any better. Its encouraging to read that you began to feel more yourself after a couple months. I shall use this as encouragement.

[sickwithapnea17]

is this mask really good? I tried it but it doesn't seem to blow a lot of air into your lungs. I like the mirage quattro full face better....

[Mary Z]

The mask I found that works for me is the Respironics FitLife Total Face Mask (not the one size fits all). I am a mouth breather and can't have any mask that touches the bridge of my nose. I have a scar there and thin skin from the Quattro. The Total face mask is daunting in appearance, but very comfortable. I generally have very low leakage. It took me awhile to find this mask. It had just came out and I jumped on it because of the nose issue. Good luck.

[Pugsy]

You might consider trying the barrel cozy for the nasal pillow. It covers the bulk of the silicone that touches your nostrils. Originally designed to help with rain out but the material is super comfy and I ended up using it all last year for comfort.

http://www.padacheek.com/PACSwiftII_Barrel_cozy.html

[Guest]

Thanks for recommendations. I'll try the nasal barrel cozy thingy first and see how I do.

[chunkyfrog]

Again, insurance rarely restricts you two one of only two masks.
If you were told this by anyone not employed by the insurance company, I would assume it to be pure hooey.
I have used a band aid over my nose to stop a little sore from becooming a big one.
Did they show you how to adhust the forehead brace on the Mirage quattro.
It is the most adjustable one made. This mask also has the most awesome clasps between headgear and mask.
Pity their face model's face is shaped so very differently from mine.
The Philips/Respironics size paradigm seems to be the one most suited to my face.
(I'm not ugly--just the mean kids in junior high said that)