How many masks do you have?

[nineteencats]

Man, I have tried so many masks I can't even remember how many. Right now I have three floating around the house, one of which is the one I use every night, my trusty F & P 406. It's not ideal, but is the least objectionable of the (feels like) millions that I've tried. I think I just have a weird face.

[Denial Dave]

FYi ---The Resp Comfortgel Blue FFM size is a Large.
The Resmed Quattro and Quattro FX's I have are mediums.
I used the Comfortgel Blue FFM for 3 days, it was great for about 4 hours and then the leaks were uncontrollable for me.

I'd like to trade it for parts for my medium Quattro FFM... but I'll consider any FFM in trade

My deviated septum prevents me from using any nasal masks.

Dave

[LSAT]

I have 2 masks...they are both Quattro FF

[Bon Bon]

I have 2 masks...they are both Quattro FF

It sounds like a lot of people have at least one extra of their favorite masks. That is a really good idea. I should probably get a second Swift FX w/bellas when insurance allows for it again.

[Tino2You]

I have two. One which resides in the closet is a Comfort Blue Gel. I got it during my sleep study. It has two nights use and I hate it.
I got a Swift FX (Medium pillows) with my machine. While love is a strong word, I will say I do like it. I would prefer to just mundge my face into the pillow and sleep but the FX is close to letting me do that. From my last resupply, I got three new pillows and three new swivels (with attached short hose and pillows - I used one so far) so in reality I have two more new masks minus the headgear. And I see the Bella Loops in my future out of pocket but inexpensive.
I've was toying with the idea of a FFM for when I have a cold, but the FX worked through my last one, so I don't think I will go there. My six month resupply is coming up. I may ask for a different mask. I am not sure what I would like to try. A Hybrid sounds inviting, just not sure which one.
-tino

[Bon Bon]

I have 8 as of today.
5. Swift FX for her. Well, I've ordered the Bella Loops to give this one another try. I cannot seem to keep the nasal pillows in. Not as easy for me as it is for others here. I'm probably going to take some jokeing for this, but one of the reasons I like that mask it because its pink. There, I've admitted it.

This is my review & I'm sticken to it.
Jen

Great review! I loved reading about all the different masks, thank you.

I admit, I love the soft pink on my bella loops. The brighter pink on the original headgear was pretty too, but I really like the soft pink I sleep with now.

Thanks to those on this forum, I learned of a great simple, inexpensive way to help stabilize the Swift FX pillows so they don't slip out of the nostrils....o-rings from the local hardware store. I'm recommending this trick to everyone who uses any type of nasal pillow - it really works. Here are a couple of threads explaining it:

viewtopic/t32164/viewtopic.php?p=475342#p475342
viewtopic/t72939/Any-ideas-to-tweak-my-Swift-Fx.html

[Bon Bon]

And I see the Bella Loops in my future out of pocket but inexpensive.

I had to buy my Bella Loops out of pocket also, but they were worth every penny I spent and more. They made me go from liking my Swift FX a lot to True Love.

[Bon Bon]

I have 12, 2 of which are duplicates. I think only 4 were covered by insurance,
the rest I bought from our hosts, except one, a gift.
If you gotta burn FSA money, this is a great way to do it.

Do you still occasionally use all twelve (or eleven)?

I had a little cushion in my FSA account this year, that's how I was able to get the Aloha when I did. Otherwise I'm not due for a new mask through insurance until next month. The Aloha used up all the extra I had in my FSA account so now I have to wait for insurance to kick in again before I can afford another mask.

All the talk yesterday about the Hybrids really got me excited to try one. I called my DME yesterday afternoon to talk with my RT about it. I told her about not being able to make the Quattro FX work for me, and about being eligible for a new mask in a few weeks. She told me to drop by this morning and she'd fit me with a Mirage Liberty to try out for a few weeks!!! She did explain that I'm only eligible for a new mask next month, not new headgear, so I'd have to buy that myself. But after we talked a little more, she said that if the mask works for me and I decided to get one she'd throw in a headgear for free. YES!!

This could be perfect timing because I woke up in the middle of the night thinking 'I feel like I'm getting a cold.' I feel great this morning so hopefully last night was just a fluke.

[nanwilson]

FYi ---The Resp Comfortgel Blue FFM size is a Large.
The Resmed Quattro and Quattro FX's I have are mediums.
I used the Comfortgel Blue FFM for 3 days, it was great for about 4 hours and then the leaks were uncontrollable for me.

I'd like to trade it for parts for my medium Quattro FFM... but I'll consider any FFM in trade

My deviated septum prevents me from using any nasal masks.

Dave

I have a box of quattro ffm parts...do you have a hybrid ffm for trade.
Nan

[lazer]

I started with a Swift LT (used) thanks to Pugsy!

Later, once I got a DME on board, I switched to the Swift FX. (I have also used this mask with the bella's on occasion)

Also have tried a (used) Mirage Quattro FFM.

Then I purchased out of pocket a "SleepWeaver Elan" from our host cpap.com

Next, once my insurance verified coverage with my DME, I switched off to a Quattro FX

I'm currently back on board with the Swift FX Nasal pillows full headgear (non-bellas)

So I guess that would make 5 masks for me not counting some kind of "Nasal" mask that I haven't tried yet that came with some other cpap supply that I acquired via my backup machine purchased with the help of Pugsy and a craigslist ad in her area.

[Burkebang]

Here is my masks, with my comments

DeVilbiss FlexSet Nasal Mask with gel cushion. My first mask, still have it but it's been long since I used it. Worked well, fits well but it is noicy at high pressures.

Resmed Mirage Quattro full face mask: My second mask, PITA to clean, PITA to adjust and leaks a lot. But once it's tuned in, I can sleep well with it. I only use it when I have a cold or problem breathing through my nose.

Resmed Swift FX. Best thing since sliced bread Very comfortable and seals very well, I use it most of the time.

Resmed Mirage FX. Very good nasal mask. Very light and comfortable, easy to clean and seals very well even with little tension on the headgear. If I don't use the Swift FX, I use this mask.

Respironics TrueBlue. The concept seems like a good idea but it does not work for me. The smallest amount of tension on the headgear squishes the very flimsy cushions to a mess and this is less tension than it takes just to keep the mask in place securely. Leaked like crazy. The Mirage FX is MUCH better for me.

Resmed Swift LT. Comfortable mask. Seals very well indeed, the firmest seal of all the masks I have tried. Severely let down by a very bad quality short hose with a very noicy outlet port. If the Swift FX short hose could be used with this mask, I'd actually be using it.

Fisher & Paykel Opus 360. The noseraper That thing goes way to far up my nostrils, can it be cut off and shortened and still seal? I just got it and have not been able to sleep with it yet. I think this mask will seal allmost as well as the Swift LT, if I can get used to the "penetrating" pillows. Lower quality shorthose than the Swift FX, but much better than the Swift LT. Makes a bit of noice, but not too bad. I love the ball joint that connects the shorthose to the mask, it's very nice to have this extended range of motion here. Now if I can only get used to having the pillows touching my brainstem, this mask could turn out to be something I'll use.

Philips Respironics GoLife. Only tested it in the hospital in a recent mask fitting session. Comfortable, but the shorthose attaches a mile away from my nose and any movement of the hose broke the seal.

[chunkyfrog]

My mask collection:
Mirage quattro, S, worn about 4 times--HATE it.
Mirage Micro, S, worn about 4 months until alternating a sore nose with sore teeth got old.
P/R Comfortgel FFM (2), S, stuffy nose reserve mask. (newest cushion is a blue) --Wore +/- 18 months
F-P Flexifit 432 FFM; wore a month or two. Nose pressure CAUSES congestion.
Swift FX--S pillows. 2nd fave to the élan
Sleepweaver élan (2) (my Precious!)
Hybrid: Cut some interior support from the S (or was it the M?) cushion. Still couldn't get comfortable/leak-free.
P/R FullLife, (3sizes-used the small) Headgear is ungodly awkward!
zzz mask FFM--Non-replaceable cushion model -- a really bad idea, -mad leaker, stiff cushion, but felt like it fit!
P/R Easylife nasal. wore a month or so (sm cushion) outside support makes my cheeks sore.

[SnorkelPuss]

I have eight but only settled on the last, the Eson. I am not 100% happy but close. Still looking for the next best.

Can I ask which 7 you didn't choose? It's always good to know which ones to avoid.

This is not to say they are bad masks, but just didn't work for me:

Resemed Mirage Swift Nasal Pillows) A lot of people on this sight seem to use these but I can't stand them and they don't stay in place for me either.

ResMed Mirage Fx Small & Medium, just too leaky on my face. Had to tighten too much to stop the leaks. Maybe not a big deal on the leak scale but kept me awake

Resmed Activa LT - Big profile for a nasal mask and I just didn't like the fit.

Resmed Soft Gel, this cushion fits into above frame. Stayed in place better and was a nice soft gel, but still, the mask frame overall is too much for me and I just didn't like it

Resmed Mirage Ultra II - Not comfortable, too rigid I guess.

DeVilbiss Silk Gel , didn't like the gel, was too rigid. Leaked too much for my comfort. I had ordered this hoping it might be the same softgel material as the Resmed but it was more stiff.

The F&P Eson seems to be the best one I've gotten so far. It's nice and light and small and stays put for the most part. Sometimes I find it slips if too much moisture gets in it. It does leak a bit but very minimal and I have had some nights with it where I didn't wake up from leaks so that is saying something.

I am looking forward to trying the newest mask I saw advertised on here called the Wisp. Can't remember who makes it but I will definitely try it because it looks like a design I have wished for. We'll see how it works out.

Hope this helps and if you are interested in any of them you can PM me and buy one from me for cheaps. Anything is better than nothing.

[SnorkelPuss]

[

I'd suggest trying the Eson. It's pretty great.

[ColinP]

I have two masks, a Swift II and a Swift FX.

I started with a Swift II, and kept that for a few years until my puppy chewed it. I tried to find another one, but they had been discontinued, so I got a Swift FX, which is much more comfortable but leaks a bit more. After I bought the FX, a supplier I'd tried to source a Swift II from called to say that she had found one in their stockroom, but it wasn't listed as stock and she was sending to to me free of charge, so that is my backup mask.