How to choose the first mask

[jackr]

Ok, here is my story.

On Tuesday (jan 30) I will be going to my second sleep study and I'll try cpap for the first time.

I will not be using insurance to buy my equipment since I have a $5000 DME deductable.

I seem to be ok with buying the machine from what I have researched here but the mask is a real individual preference.

I am afraid to spend $150 or so on a mask and it not be what I want. I will mostly likely buy from cpap.com. I dont know policy on returns or exchanges but it doesnt seem like the type of thing I can just keep sending back until I get one that is just right for me.

Aside from trying whatever they have at the sleep center that night, anyone have a tips so I dont waste oodles of money? Or just get what I think will be right and hope for the best?

[bookwrm63]

Jack,

I would try as many as they let you at the sleep study. I just took the 1st one they put on me and am on my 3rd mask now. I do believe though that cpap.com has "return" insurance on many masks so if one does not work out, you can send it back. It's not cheap but may be worth it to you.

Good luck!

[Wulfman]

Do lots of reading and researching. Give it lots of thought.

Start here:

cpaptalk-articles/CPAP-mask-choices.html


Best wishes,

Den

[Slinky]

By all means take the opportunity at the sleep lab to try several different masks. They really need you to spend a minimum of 6 hours w/lights out (preferably sleeping, but at least trying to sleep). So get to the sleep lab as early as acceptable to them. The sooner they get started "wiring" you for sleep the better. They'll take a guess and try a mask or two until they find one that "seems" to fit. They "should" try those that seem to fit w/some PAP pressure to better ensure they've made a good educated guess. Even when you find one that SEEMS to be a good fit, keep that one in mind, have it set aside as a possible and ask to try some more. Try as many as they have or they let you. Don't be bashful about asking to try several of them, and to try the different types, nasal pillows, nasal cushions, full face, etc.

Try going to sleep as early as you can but bear in mind, if you go to bed and try too early it may be all that much more difficult for you to get to sleep. And sleep is what both you and the sleep lab want!

WHENEVER during the night you feel air blowing on your face or in your eyes, lift the mask slightly away from your face to let the cushion fill w/air again and try to re-settle it. If that doesn't work let the sleep tech know right away so he/she can come in and re-adjust/re-fit it.

Hopefully, you will get at least two, preferably more, hours of sleep. Whilst you are sleeping the tech will be adjusting the air pressure up and down as needed whilst monitoring any and all "events" of apneas, hypopneas, mixed apneas and any central apneas that might occur. The tech is also noting any other cause of arousals as well, such as periodic leg movements, which side, stomach or back you are sleeping on (most of us tend to more apnea, hypopnea events whilst on our backs). DO NOT let the tech tell you you HAVE to sleep on your back all night. The idea is for you to sleep AS NATURALLY as possible. They will need you to try to sleep on your back a little, even if you don't usually, just because we are more prone to apneas on our back and they "are" trying to find your ideal pressure ranges. BUT you do NOT have to sleep on your back all or most of the night if it is not natural to you despite what some techs might try to BS you with.

Don't waste sleep time, if you have to go to the bathroom, SAY SO, have the tech disconnect the wire box, get up, do your duty and get back to bed!

If you have trouble w/leaks (air blowing in your face or eyes) during the night, SAY SO! The tech should be willing to make some fitting adjustments AND if that doesn't work, should be willing to bring a couple of more masks for you to try.

I believe cpap.com's "mask insurance" policy is $25 per mask, plus the shipping. But be sure to check it out. Also, it doesn't hurt to check w/local DMEs. You don't have to give them your script and commit yourself to them tho you will have to produce the script to verify you "might" become a client. See how many masks they will let you try. And sizes as well. Not many will do that from what we read here at the forum but some do. You might get lucky.

Hopefully, KansasRT, MattMan, SAG or any other sleep RTs who frequent the forum will jump in on this thread w/further recommendations.

Good luck!

[Linda3032]

I agree with the others. Try as many masks as you can at the sleep lab. Explain to them that you are paying out-of-pocket and they should be more understanding and accomodating.

Try a nasal pillow - the breeze, the CL2 (comfort lite 2), and the Swift.

Try a nasal mask - the Activa if they have it.

Try a full face mask - (you need to research that one on the forum).

And ask if they have the Hybrid.

Many sleep labs will give you the mask (I guess it depends on state laws about reusing one on multiple patients). If they do, take the most expensive one that works for you. Then you can buy a less expensive one later.

Write down the names of the masks you are interested in. Take the list with you.

Good Luck.

[Slinky]

I forgot to mention: cpap.com has a mask fitting guide online (also a video). Get someone to help you do your measurements according to that guide and then submit your measurements to cpap.com and they will make some recommendations on which masks MIGHT work for you. Not an exact science w/o actual trying on pressure and in various sleep positions but it does help to sharpen the choice of masks to focus on.

Respironics also has a mask fitting guide on their website for their various Respironics masks. Try that site too to help narrow your field of choices.

I don't know if Resmed, Fisher & Paykel, Puritan-Bennet, etc have such mask fitting guides at their websites but it wouldn't hurt to check them out.

[tbrown1]

I don't know where you are but my sleep doctor's office let me borrow masks to see which would work best for me. Don't worry they are clean & sterilized. I actually started off with a "loaner" machine from them too. It was going to be a month before they could fit me in for a titration study and I needed immediate relief. They sent me home with a machine and Resmed Mirage Activa full face mask. I THOUGHT i wanted the Swift nasal pillows because it was so small and LOOKED unobtrusive. I hated it. I called back to docs office and told them I had made a bad choice. My insurance will only pay for a new mask every 6 months so they traded with me. They gave me a loaner resmed acitiva and i gave them my swift nasal pillows. In six months i will give them back the loaner and get a new prescription. I am rambling... but what I am saying is don't be shy about asking about loaners to try at home. If you get the wrong mask it will making compliance almost impossible. Good Luck

[jackr]

Thanks for all your comments guys.