Poll: Do you use your mask as it came or with modifications

[cmm]

Most importantly, I've made two mods, and continue them for every mask I've used over the last 25+ years of CPAP use.
1) I added a home made counter-current flow humidifier to the mask elbow/swivel. I tightly pack the swivel (between the mask and the vent) with small straws or coffee stirrers. When I breath out, moisture condenses on the straws (they provide a large surface area). When I breath in, the condensation evaporates, humidifying the air. I've done this with CPAP machines that have no other humidifier, passover humidifier, and heated humidifier, and the results are always better than not having it.
2) I've added a sound supressor consisting of fabric gauze loosely wrapped arount the ventilation ports. This supresses the "hiss", and makes the mask and machine combination much quieter.
-- Carl

[Sloop]

And what box contains the regulation face to fit the mask?

Why mine of course. Doesn't everyone's? heh heh heh

[GumbyCT]

And what box contains the regulation face to fit the mask?

To me that is the whole point. Faces are like fingerprints and that masks fit (out-of-the-box) like personalities.

Meaning how could anyone expect their mask to fit perfectly right out of the box?

[Mask2fit]

Pant hose mesh over outlet port of Swift LT to suppress noise, have to wash regularly as black mould soon appears!!

[Shellie_p]

I use the strap covers that came with my swift fx for her, but modified them so they would stop falling off so much.. then added a 1 inch wide elastic strap that sits at the base of my neck and keeps it in place way better then the originals.

And a chinstrap

[-tim]

I use a resmed fx mask with F&P zest headgear. It works for me.

[McSleepy]

I probably have to modify mine the most and I'm one example where no mask that I've ever seen could work even remotely for me out of the box.

Forget comfort. Not even leaks are my main concern. It is the fact that I sleep face down (on my stomach, prone position) that gives me the biggest trouble. That already limits the choice to very few, nasal-pillow-type masks (so that the front-side quarters of my face are clear) but what happens without modifications is that the exhaust vent gets blocked as I bury my face in the pillow or sheets and I keep rebreathing my exhaled air, quickly depriving it of oxygen. Gives for a nasty and perfectly justified feeling of suffocation. This problem requires a fairly complicated modification where a duct has to be added to route the exhaust air up the mask and to the top of my head, where it cannot be blocked (also because it is much wider at that spot).

I also have other modifications. One is to hold the pillows against my nose to minimize leaks. It is a fine balance between not allowing the seal to break and saving my nostrils from being flattened against my face (ouch!) Another is the self-made chin strap and mouth-guard that I need to avoid my jaw slipping out and having TMJ issues in the morning. I also wear a blindfold for a couple of reasons: to shield my face from the blown air of the exhaust (mostly with the short-exhaust-duct version), which can get significant in the cold winter months; and to block light on summer mornings or when I need to sleep in. Sometimes I just feel Darth Vader had it easy...

For this reason, I haven't ordered a new mask since the very beginning (9 years ago) - the old, modified ones are doing just fine, and if I got a new one, I'd have to do the same modifications, anyway. During my last sleep study the technician appeared a little disgusted by my using a 7-year-old mask, and one that looks quite ugly (as I haven't worried too much about aesthetics when modifying it. ) I wish there was a suitable mask that I could get and use as it is, but I just haven't been able to find one.

McSleepy

[sewsleepy]

"Pimp my cpap mask"