What was your first mask - sleep study and beyond.

[fortomorrow]

My sleep center used Respironics machines exclusively and the first (and only) mask used on me was a ComfortGel nasal. This was also the mask I was sent home with from the DME.

I have noticed a LOT of people get stuck with this mask at first, so much that it's become the "newbie" mask in my mind.

And I have also noticed not a lot of people stick with it. Someone around here said that anything with COMFORT in the name is usually anything but.

So what was your first mask? Did you choose it or did someone pick it for you? Did you like it? How many masks did you go through before you found The One?

[echo]

You forgot "I got some other lame-o cheapa$$ mask and had no other choice"

I got the ComfortClassic crappy mask for my titration and to take home. Ewwwww. So I didn't vote in your poll.

Luckily I found the forum, which led me to the Activa. Ahhhh the Activa, love it. I also use the UMFF but I'm looking for another FFM.
(Edit: The hospital wouldn't give me a FFM, so I had to get one on my own. It was a tossup bewteen the UMFF and the Quattro, and for whatever reason, I don't remember now, I went with the UMFF. Eventually I read about the Liberty and the Hybrid so I'm looking into those now. Cpap.com is very rich because of me )

The angels who saved me from the "CrappyClassic mask" and led me to My Salvation (the Activa): viewtopic.php?f=1&t=23026&p=198711#p198711

[sleepyangler]

I had a comfort gel nasal at my titration and was given a choice from many resmed, respironics, f&p and others for a 1st mask. I picked the swift II as my first and it worked well enough. I now use a swift LT with a resmed quattro for when I need a ffm. I also tried a comfort gel ffm which didn't suit me at all. So I guess I've used 5 different interfaces and found 3 that worked for me.

[Paul56]

My sleep lab is just another department in one of the local hospitals. They had me on the ComfortGel during my titration study. I don't remember much about that night because I arrived very sleep deprived and very ready for sleep.

I do remember hearing all these "weird" noises from the mask very early in the morning when I woke up. I now realize that was massive leakage that should have been attended to. No one attended to it. I assume with all the hookups they could see the leakage real-time.

No parts of my face felt sore in the morning so in that respect it seems the ComfortGel was working for me.

The DME provided me with the Quattro. That was acceptable to me considering I was getting a Resmed machine and did not want the multi-vendor hassles that I have endured for years in the computer business.

[Snoredog]

I had the Crappy Classic, when I started the Crappy Gel wasn't invented yet.

But your experience describes why the Crappy Gel is so popular and always a top seller, if they start everyone
off using it the theory of that is you will buy replacements and why this mfg. used to give X amount of them away with every machine purchase. They still give the labs a certain amount of masks probably for free. The price of that mask is included in your cost for the PSG.

My lab didn't give me the mask to take home, I think they just washed them and used them over and over, as they pointed me to a laundry basket full of used masks to pick through (like I knew what to look for in a mask at that point). At 2AM they brought out a mask for me to put on, they could have gotten it out of the toilet for all I knew.

My first PSG was $5500 and another $570 for interpretation of it, think my Insurance at the time paid like $3800 for that study, I had another one about 3 weeks later then a couple more after that.

My insurance was Aetna at the time, they said I had to use Apria for the equipment. Since it was December and it would be some time before I got the equipment, I always got a copy of every test for my own personal medical file, I also got a copy of my prescription. My GP had experience with this process, took the Sleep Doc's script for the cheapo Plus machine and tossed it in the trash, got out his pad and said what do you want me to write on it? I said Autopap, Heated Humdifier and a mask. He said well Aetna isn't going to pay for that, I said I'm not worried about that, I already know where I can buy it for less than my co-pay. So I faxed it over to cpap.com and my machine showed up at my front door. About 6 months later (it was July by then) Apria finally called me to come in for my 45 minute training session and pick up equipment. So I scheduled an appointment, didn't bother showing up, they called back a few days later you missed your appointment, so I set up another one, didn't bother going for that one either. They called back again you didn't show up again? Yeah I know I thought I'd give you a taste of your own medicine, but I've been on therapy for nearly 6 months now, I don't need Apria or its equipment.
So you want us to cancel your equipment order? ah yeah. I asked why it took them so long to contact me, oh we have been real busy. Yep too busy for my business I took it elsewhere. I seen the doctor fax the script over to you before I took the original copy.

[fortomorrow]

Snoredog, don't tell anyone this, but you're my favorite person around here.

[jasper]

Like SD, I had the "Comfort" Classic for my titration. When I picked up my machine, I asked for the Activa, and really liked it for many months. Howver, I decided I was a mouth leaker, no matter, and couldn't tolerate the nasal masks.

Went to the F&P 432, and when my nasal bridge finally healed, I was already looking in a different direction. Let's see, there was Activa with taping, Optilife with and without taping and so forth. Finally arrived at the Hybrid and It's great! Haven't looked back since, and my AHI is around 3 for the first time ever.

Did I mention they gave me a "free" Comfort Full to take home? DISASTER!!!

[Slinky]

The Fisher & Paykel HC 407 Flex-Fit seems to be the mask of choice for sleep labs around here to first offer the patient. I used the Breeze for my titration, but selected the original Swift when I picked up my equipment. I HATED that side hose idea on the original Swift so it didn't last long at all.
I used the Fisher & Paykel HC 407 FlexFit for a short time (didn't know that the HC 406 was the same mask in a smaller size) as the lab let me take it home - just in case.
I next tried the ComfortLite 2 and liked it very much. Except after a time the headgear was breaking my hair shafts and thinning my hair. By that time I had switched from the CL2's nasal pillows to the simple nasal cushion and found I much preferred the simple nasal cushion. I very much liked the several areas of fit adjustment w/the CL2.
I then tried the old, relatively inexpensive Respironics Simplicity Simple Nasal Cushion and quickly decided IT was THE mask for me.
Along the way between the CL2 and the Simplicity I tried the Respironics ComfortGel Nasal Cushion in both Small and Petite sizes and the F&P Aclaim2 for just one or two nights each. I also tried the Simplicity Medium Simple Nasal Cushion before settling on my first love, the Simplicity Small Simple Nasal Cushion.
My sleep doctor surprised me by scripting a Resmed Mirage Micro when he switched me to a bi-level and it has become my second favorite mask.
I did ask for a full face mask for those times I was badly congested and received the Resmed Mirage Quattro. Its the only full face I've tried.
I'm guessing from a failing memory that it took me 7 to 9 months to discover the Simplicity and probably I used the CL2 for 3-4 of those 7-9 months.
At my recent re-titration the sleep lab suggested the Opti-Life and I did well w/it the first half of the night but when I woke to use the restroom just under my snozz was a bit sore and irritated so they let me switch to my Simplicity the rest of the night. I might like the OptiLife given a change to fit it myself. The sleep techs always seem to fit the masks too tight.
And I was just recently given a chance to try the Swift LT and I really expected at first to REALLY like it. But my nostrils are more rounded and not as slanted as the nasal pillows design and it didn't quite work out for me. Its too bad too 'cause if my snozz and the Swift LT could have gotten along better I know I would have liked it VERY MUCH! My snozz seems to "drip" a bit at night and even the smaller barrel of the Swift LT was beginning to cause some skin irritation due to the moisture. It was suggested that I turn my humidifier lower when using it and I'm going to give it another try 'cause I was impressed w/it. It seems to me I remember a "fix" w/fishing line in the forum for changing the angle of the Swift pillows a bit and I intend to try that when I can find it again. But for now, I'm enjoying being back on my faithful ole Simplicity.

[BeanMeScot]

I was tested with some type of F&P nasal mask. I picked out a Swift LT when I went to the DME. I didn't care for the F&P. Too much stuff on my face. I am not clostrophobic but it did wake me in a panic. My prescription was written so I could get whatever I wanted.

[Babette]

Can't vote. Have no clue what they strapped me into. Didn't know masks HAD names that night.

It was something nasal-only and triangle-shaped and annoying.

Would it show up on my PSG?

Cheers,
B.

[MurphysLaw]

Before my titration in June, I found this forum and learned about the OptiLife mask, since I'm mainly a side-sleeper. After reading the reviews on cpap.com, I asked to try it. She felt that it was a good match for me because the cushions come in a petite size, unlike many masks. I gave it a try that night and have been happy with it ever since.

Lynne

[carbonman]

Sleep study:
whacked on ambien
machine-no idea
mask-nasal, only know this because they put a chin strap on me.
left w/nothing except an ambien hangover.

Masks:
Optilife pillows-just asked for nasal mask, afraid of claustrophobia w/ffm
DME cheap, piece of crap chinstrap
Papcap
Polident strips-intolerable

FFM:
Quattro-large, med, small
UM-med, small, regular, shallow
PapCap2 UMm regular Life is good.

[2girlsmom]

I was given an ultra mirage ff mask and ended up hating it but love my quattro.

[stacia123]

But your experience describes why the Crappy Gel is so popular and always a top seller, if they start everyone
off using it the theory of that is you will buy replacements and why this mfg. used to give X amount of them away with every machine purchase. They still give the labs a certain amount of masks probably for free.

Yes, my medium ComfortGel mask has a big stamp on it that says "NOT FOR HOME USE", but it's what the DME sold me anyway. Now I wonder if they got the mask for free and charged my insurance company anyway.

Anyhow I can't vote, I had a full face mask during my titration testing. They offered me Fischer & Paykel, ComfortGel or Mirage Quattro. ComfortGel is the best of the 3 I tried, but it's not great and I'm on a quest for another type.

[Quinda]

I'm like most everyone else here, had no idea about masks at the time of my first PSG ... I did start with a nasal mask, but that lasted only an hour or so when I was found breathing through my mouth ... they then brought in a Mirage Quattro and the rest of the night was a blur ... ... before I knew it I was packing up and heading for home ...

I've tried a variety of ffm's but always came back to the Mirage Quattro ... I do use it with a Respironics Comfort Gel head gear though ...