New guy, new mask, new problems...

[herefishy]

Funny thing about the Elan, which I couldn't use sleeping on my stomach. When I was on my back, it didn't leak a bit. Don't know if you can sleep on your back, but you might try.

[bavinck]

I also use the swift fx pillows and tat mask is working great for me, a side sleeper. They do not have any hard plastic, but instead are soft everywhere, easily conforming to my face when on my side. Only problem with them is that sometimes the vent hits my pillow, but it can be redirected by moving the swivel on the hose. Try the swift fx, I think you will like that mask if you want pillows.

[Portlandguy]

I used to sleep sideways, but I trained myself to sleep on my back. It was hard at first, but got easier over time. Also, have you tried a CPAP pillow with the cut outs?

I thought we should try to avoid sleeping on our backs.

It's my understanding that the pressure set in the sleep study will usually compensate for any increased symptoms from laying on one's back.

I'm sure it depends on the person too. Personally I seem to get more leaks laying on my side and find it less comfortable with the mask on.

[DaveMich]

for what it's worth, I started with Swift FX pillows and have had no problems with them - key for me (see another thread) was directing the hose up to a point on the wall above my head and then back down to my face. doing so makes the vent blow out into the room rather than into the pillows or sheets. It also makes it very natural to turn from side to side, as the swivel on the front of the mask adjusts automatically. The only adjustment point for the pillows is the inside of your nostrils, so it's not quite so hard to get a 'perfect fit' as it is when you have to fit the mask to the surface of your face.

[DenG]

Thanks for the replies.

So, I was able to get the Elan working for me again - I don't think the hot water wash made any difference.
What I ended up doing was loosening the lower straps and tightening the upper ones, since the leaks always happened at the top.
Still, despite the comfort of that mask, it's just too fussy for me to rely on it.
It seems to stretch or wear over time, so that even when you get it adjusted just right, it never stays that way.

I did order the nasal mask I used in my titration study, which is the Mirage FX and not the True Blue I mentioned earlier.
I was looking at the wrong report - I tried on the True Blue before my first overnight, but didn't end up using CPAP that night.
The night that I did use CPAP, for my titration study, it was the Mirage FX.

I've had 3 nights with the Mirage, and so far, so good.
Surprisingly, and somewhat paradoxically given its bulk, the Mirage is very comfortable.
I've been able to sleep on my side with my face buried in the pillow and it doesn't dislodge the mask at all, so no leaks, and the mask doesn't press against my nose in any way that causes discomfort, like the Wisp did.

I do have a red mark on the bridge of my nose that has gotten a bit darker each morning, but so far it is painless - I just hope it stays that way.

I used the Elan all last week and, thankfully, felt relatively well rested again just in time to attend a wedding on Saturday.

Saturday night was the first night with the Mirage and, despite finding it comfortable and not being aware of waking during the night any more than I did with the Elan, I'm feeling pretty tired and fatigued again.

This whole experience can be so confounding sometimes - there are so many variables at play in getting a good night's sleep that it can be damn near impossible to figure out why one night is better or worse than another.

For now, I'm just assuming that it's going to take some time to get used to sleeping with this bulky mask on.
But again, despite the bulk, I'm able to get perfectly comfortable in bed.
It's just not as "invisible" as the Elan (when it works).
With the Elan, I would wake sometimes and be unsure if I still had it on - it's that light and comfortable.
I'm never going to wonder if I have the Mirage on, but then again, I can sleep in whatever position I want without causing it to "blow out" like the Elan.