How/where did you buy your mask?

[longjohn13]

I am really having a problem picking out a mask. I started with a nose pillow only
because that's what was used on my sleep test. It seemed to work.
I find out my jaw drops open and it doesn't work. I've tried a chin strap and the air pushes through my
lips.

I am now looking at a full face mask but am having trouble deciding which one.

Part of the problem is the price the local professionals want for the mask. Double and in
some cases triple the price compared to online. It would be nice to be fitted hands
on by a pro but they expect you to buy from them.

Does anyone have any tips or recommendations to help me in my purchasing a mask?
Thank you!

[raisedfist]

Our sponsor lets you buy a mask with free 30 day return insurance if you want to try them out. The prices are pretty reasonable in comparison to competitors as well. People also sell and trade masks here. Sometimes you can find complete masks temporarily on Amazon or Ebay, before they are taken down. You can also buy all the individual parts that make up a complete mask system and price it out to see what's more cost effective.

In terms of what mask actually works, if your jaw drops and you have a nasal mask, you can try a soft cervical collar or some people just simply use 3m micropore tape and tape their mouth shut. If you want to try a FFM, in my personal opinion the F&P Simplus and the ResMed AirFit F20 are the highest quality ones. I am personally not a fan of the more compact FFM ones (such as the dreamwear ffm or the resmed f30) because they bother the skin near my nostrils and for whatever reason I excessively breath through my mouth with them leading to dry mouth. The benefit of the F20 is that it has the newer quietair elbow that diffuses the expired air very quietly and gently, so it's quiet and there also isn't a jet stream of air hitting the sheets or a bed partner.

[Julie]

And Cpap.com has a huge variety, lots of pix, ratings and reviews.

[chunkyfrog]

I used it even when there was a charge.
Canadians have had trouble abiding by the 30 day time frame.
Hope they fixed that.

[Janknitz]

Be aware that if you order your masks online it's unlikely that insurance will cover them. Medicare definitely will NOT (there are a few Medicare certified online providers but they have limited "formularies" and your Medicare Supplement may not reimburse them).

As already explained, our hosts at www.cpap.com have return insurance on masks--sometimes you have have to pay for the return insurance and sometimes it's free, but very worthwhile until you settle down with a mask that works for you.

After that, you usually need to replace just the cushion/nasal pillows and possibly the straps--the frames usually last a good long time. So cpap.com is a good source, but you can also find parts you need on Amazon or E-Bay if you are OK with paying out of pocket. Prices are much better than buying directly, but you should calculate your out of pocket costs to see if it's worthwhile going through insurance as replacements are needed.

It's always a good idea to have a back-up mask, and I recommend everyone have a back up FF mask if you don't ordinarily use a FF mask--for gooey colds and allergies it will let you sleep with CPAP even when you can't breathe through your nose.

[CpapUser100]

I am really having a problem picking out a mask. I started with a nose pillow only
because that's what was used on my sleep test. It seemed to work.
I find out my jaw drops open and it doesn't work. I've tried a chin strap and the air pushes through my
lips.

I am now looking at a full face mask but am having trouble deciding which one.

Part of the problem is the price the local professionals want for the mask. Double and in
some cases triple the price compared to online. It would be nice to be fitted hands
on by a pro but they expect you to buy from them.

Does anyone have any tips or recommendations to help me in my purchasing a mask?
Thank you!

Which chin strap did you use? My husband found that a full face mask leaked on him and most shin straps did too, but the Ruby Red one that comes in individual sizes, not the adjustable one (Care Fusion? I think a couple of brands make them) works really well for him. His sleep Dr. said that it is a much tighter fit than most chin straps.

[Julie]

Would he try a soft cervical collar - holding his head up better to open his airway more, and keep jaw closed (if not lips)?

[Zomby Woof]

You might want to hang in there a bit longer with the AirFit P10 Nasal Pillows.
One simple addition made P10s the perfect mask for me: paper tape.

My issues were:
1) finding masks that could seal against the very high pressures of my initial bi-level prescription;
and,
2) finding a mask whose headgear didn't cause headaches within my bald head;
and
3) my hard to discipline flappy lips

Full face masks would not seal against the pressure, nose-only masks like the Wisp were easily dislodged
as the high bi-level pressures caused it to bounce up and down on my face like a demented spider.
The TapPap was a contender (no straps-no headaches!) but the mouthpiece could not be effectively sealed around the lips.

The P10 was heaven - vanishingly small straps, and the pillows could seal against any amount of pressure.
There was ONLY the loose lips issue; chinstraps and a cervical collar did not work for taming them.

PAPER tape of the type used in hospitals for securing bandages to the skin works great for my lips!
The seal lasts all night and my leak rate stays low.

I buy mine online from CPAP.com where they are often On Sale; my last complete mask cost $79.
You should also note that the pillows, hose and frame will easily last a year without replacement.
Only the stretchy spahgetti straps need replacement ($25.00) every 3-4 months.
As the P10 is now provided with adjustable plastic clips for the straps, we might well get 6-8 months before replacement is needed.

Best of luck in your mask search

[beautifuldreamer]

the soft cervical collar works so well for me - so much better than the chin strap.

my masks come form DME provider - Apria, and sometimes the RT will give me a mask to try out.

[Muse-Inc]

Might try my mask: pillows and covers mouth so can breath thru nose or mouth without losing therapy air. Comes with 3 sizes of of pillows and oral cushions. Click on it in my signature to view in our host website www.cpap.com