Please help new CPAP user

[TheeMrFrog]

Hi, I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea one month ago. The hospital clinic allows a medical equipt. store to provide the CPAP and mask, etc. I told the Dr and the store that I slept on my side (for 60 years). They provided me with a CPAP machine and a mask that fits up my nose. (Tiara). The mask has two hoses that either go over your head or down on your chest. I cannot get the darn thing adjusted so I can sleep on my side. It keeps coming loose. I went back to the store after the first week and asked to exchange for another mask. Two friends of mine both have a Resmed Swift mask that goes on either side of your head and recommended it. The store told me sorry no exchanges even after one day!!! I am on SS and am trying not to make another mistake. The Swift mask costs $189. If anyone has a thought or recommendation or knows about the Swift mask please let me know. Thank you very much. TheeMrFrog@aol.com

[RichCMH]

If you can make some modifications or use the "panty-hose" strap to get the mask to work try it. Use the "search" tab above.

A new Mirage Swift 2 is coming in May and the exhaust holes are supposed to be quieter. If you have to pay out of pocket, there are online retailers that should sell the mask cheaper than $189 when the new mask becomes available.

[alpha1340]

Also I know that being on SS puts you on a tight budget if you can't afford the money for the mask at $189. If you use ebay or yahoo auctions you can find one a little bit cheaper.

Sorry cpap.com it was just a suggestion but you guys are the bomb at helping people out. I am just trying to help a fellow paper

[snoregirl]

I just want to comment on you statement that

"the hospital clinic allows a medical equipt. store to provide the CPAP and mask, etc."

I am not sure if you mean that you got your stuff from the equipt. store with in the hospital or another place.

You can buy your equiptment many many different places that will work with (I am assuming medicare since you say you are on Social Security) your insurance, or you can buy cash online as someone else mentioned.

Some DMEs will work with you and allow mask exchanges some will not. You can shop for DMEs just like you would any other purchase providing you have your prescription and copies of your sleep studies. You might want to.

[rested gal]

The store told me sorry no exchanges even after one day!!!

That is really a crappy, terrible excuse of a DME store, imho. A "good" bricks and mortar DME store would let you exchange at least once, and some would let you keep exchanging during your first month or so, until you get a mask that you can actually sleep with.

I'm sorry to hear you got stuck like that, Frog.

There are other top quality, excellent masks that are quite a bit less expensive than the Swift. High price does not necessarily mean "best mask" or "best mask for you."

Since you said you sleep on your side, here are some other nasal pillows masks that have worked very well for me...I'm a toss'n'turn mainly side sleeper:

Breeze with nasal pillows (get the Large, light green pillows for that one...or, if you have VERY large nostril openings, the Extra Large, lavender colored pillows.)

ComfortLite 2 -- get the medium and large nasal pillows and the medium and large "simple cushion" for that one.

Twilight NP (be sure it has "NP" in the name) -- comes with both medium and large nasal pillows. This one is my personal favorite.

Another nasal pillows mask that suits some people (worked just passingly ok for me since it can't be routed overhead easily): OptiLife

Any of those masks will probably work better for you than the Tiara that pathetic store won't let you swap.

Since it looks like you'll have to pay out of your own pocket if you want a mask that will do a better job for you, I'd suggest you shop at an online store, like cpap.com

You won't need a prescription to buy a mask from an online cpap supply store.

Here's a link to many discussions about a lot of different masks:
LINKS to MASKS - nasal mask, nasal pillows, nasal prongs
viewtopic.php?p=35286

You'll see many "fixes" that can help make an 'almost works for me' mask work even better.

Another link to some discussions worth studying:
LINKS to Hose hangers and methods of managing the air hose
viewtopic.php?t=10640

Rigging a way to hang the main air hose overhead can help a lot if you like to turn over in your sleep. Keeps the hose up out of your way, and keeps the weight of the air hose from tugging at any mask.

Good luck, Frog...and welcome to the board!

[SleepySandy]

This is so disappointing to read.

My DME let me exchange my mask 5 times. FIVE. And my insurance only paid for the first one.

I can't believe the DME won't allow an exchange. That's just awful.

MrFrog I have an idea that might make keeping the Tiara in place easier, but Tiara seems to be a manufacturer and has more than one mask. Is it this one: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/tiara-snapp-mask.html?

I have another concern - what about your machine? Is it being rented through your insurance? What machine is it? I'm concerned if you have a problem how your DME will handle it.

[DP]

Any DME that is worth anything will be willing to work with you from a mask standpoint, which means swapping masks. Now the DME does have to eat this costing some cases, but a compliant patient is better than a non-compliant. If the DME has a happy patient that patient will be returning for future supplies. The DME will get their money back eventually if they have a compliant patient. Oh and here is another thing. ResMed and F&P give DME's a 30 day money back guarantee. They can send the masks back and get a replacement so for those masks they loose nothing.

I am sure the DME's do not want me exposing this information.