Newbie needs help with masks

[Lisaintosa]

Hi all!

I'm a relative newbie to all of this and having a really hard time adjusting to the masks. I "suit up" every night but I find that sometimes I take it off and have no memory of it. I've had my new "bed buddy" for about 2 months now and my machine shows only 128 hours of use (usage reads 43/56, don't know what that means). On average I think I use it about 1-2 hours a night. The longest, and I still have NO idea how this happened, was 9 hours.

I don't know how to put those little pics of the equipment that I have but I have a ResMed Elite set at 11/6. I have tried soooo many different masks and none seem to fit correctly. A couple of them even gave me what I think are pressure sores, one on the bridge of my nose and the other on my forehead.

Please help, I really want to be able to use it all night.

Thanks!

Lisa (in Wisconsin)

[Pinhead]

I think that the Full face masks are easier to get use too. I didn't like the air going right up my nose. After I had used the cpac for a few months I tried a nasel mask and was able to handle it ok. I have trouble with month breathing and went back to the Full Face. I have used the Quartro and the Ultiva and like the Ultiva better.

Jack

[maddiecakes]

Being even more a newbie than you (just since 12/31), I, too, have been trying different masks. Started out with with the LT nasal pillows and just couldn't get used to it and switched to the comfort gel nasal mask/headgear. Being a mouth breather was a bit of a problem although I did get 5 hours of sleep with it. Last night I tried a full face mask by Fisher-Paykel - managed to get a good seal and all and got over my claustrophobia fears and went for it. Slept almost 6 hours with it (found it much easier to fall asleep with it than the nasal mask). Got up to go the bathroom and then decided it was bugging my face and took it off and went back to to comfort gel. I'm gonna need a whole closed by the bed just for all the gear, LOL!

[RipVW]

Hello & Welcome, Lisaintosa! Glad you found this forum--SO much useful info and SO many helpful people here!
Yep, the "mask quest" is something we all go through--I must have about a dozen or so, but I finally settled on the Ultra Mirage Full Face mask as my best choice. And, many of us, including me, unconsciously removed our mask during the night a few times in the beginning--just a natural reflex, I guess, but after wearing the mask awhile, you should stop doing that. Good luck!

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

[alnhwrd]

Lisa,

Welcome to the forum! If you are able to figure it out, it is better to enter your equipment description in text rather than with the icons, because the icons take us to a new webpage, then we have to scroll back, then to a new webpage for the mask, etc.

You state that you have the Elite, which is a straight CPAP (this is my machine too), but you list two pressures which makes me think you have an APAP. Which is it?

Masks are tough to get right, everyone's face is different, and it is hard to get used to wearing hunk of plastic and rubber strapped to the face. Believe it or not, you can and will get to the point where you forget you have it on. Some people have tried wearing the mask for an hour or two while NOT trying to sleep, just to give the brain a chance to get used to the idea. Some have had success using a product called Pur-Sleep to help them relax and not be overcome by the rubber and plastic smell of the new mask. I have read posts by people who put a band-aid or piece of adhesive on the strap to stick it to their skin so if they try to pull the mask off while they are asleep they will feel enough of a pinch from the adhesive they wake up and keep the mask on. Most people adjust in time.

If you are getting sores on the bridge of your nose, your mask is probably either the wrong size or is adjusted too tight, which may be contributing to your problem with keeping it on all night. You can try some tape or moleskin on the affected area, or some cortizone cream the next day to help it heal faster, but proper fit and adjustment are the best cure.

It is important that you actually wear the mask for as long as you can every night, that is the only way you can get the benefits of it. I hope some of this helps!