Do You Use More Than 1 Mask?

[millich]

I'm wondering if any of you regularly use more than 1 mask. This is just my first week of therapy. I first used a Comfort Gel full face mask. It rubbed my nose raw so I switched to Swift nasal pillows. So far so good with that, but I'm thinking I might should have a back-up mask for when I have a cold. Any of you regularly use more than 1 mask? Any chance that insurance would pay for two?

[WindFlyer]

Yes, I have 2 full face masks that I am switching back and forth between right now. For the last couple years I have only used one, but I got this new one and it has it's pros and cons so I switch back to the old standby every so often. Both are full face masks so I don't need to do anything special if I ever get a cold. One thing I can say is it's always good to have one in the drawer as well as on the night stand- just in case something happens to one you will have a backup.

Insurance pgms vary- mine will spring for a new mask every 8-10 months, but the Hans-Rudolph I got is gonna be out of pocket anyway since no DME's carry it.

[millich]

Thanks for answering WindFlyer!

[SaltLakeJan]

Hi millich,
You are not the first one to report that the Comfort Gel rubbed their nose raw. You seem amazingly confident for just one week of therapy. And you are fortunate to find this forum. When you have problems, many people will do their best to help find a solution.

I have two masks, unfortunately they are both nasal masks. I do need a full face mask, but I have tried a couple and the R.T. could not find a way to stop the leaking. There is one from Fisher & Paykel and the new Respironics F.F. that my DME hasn't had in stock . . I have hopes for one of them.

Congratulations on completing your first week of therapy. If the pillows mask continues to work well for you, you've passed a major hurdle. It took me 4 months, and 5 masks to find one that fit. My DME reluctantly let me turn back the ones that didn't fit.

Jan

[millich]

... You seem amazingly confident for just one week of therapy. And you are fortunate to find this forum.

Me confident? I'm not often acused of that. I'm actually one of the least confident people I know so it's interesting that I come across that way online. Thanks for answering my question!

Newbie lesson learned last night: Don't wait until you are already falling asleep to re-assemble your gear. I had a bad night last night with the nasal pillows leaking all night. After throwing it on the floor this morning in disgust, I discovered I had put it together wrong. Of course it leaked. It's a wonder that it worked at all.

Millich

PS. I do know how lucky I am to have found this board. I can't imagine getting started on CPAP without the help I've found here. You guys are awesome!

[SaltLakeJan]

Hi again
You learned one of the important newbie lessons after just one week!! Think of your therapy as climbing a ladder, one step at a time. Successful cpap therapy comes from practice and consistency.

Newbie lesson learned last night: Don't wait until you are already falling asleep to re-assemble your gear. I had a bad night last night with the nasal pillows leaking all night. After throwing it on the floor this morning in disgust, I discovered I had put it together wrong. Of course it leaked. It's a wonder that it worked at all.

I sometimes waited to put my mask on until I was to sleepy to know which way was up . . . in addition to being confused, I couldn't get my mask on right -- got leaks, leaks & more leaks. Another newbie trick is to want to lie in bed for a while before putting your mask on. . . I'd awaken in the middle of the night & try to put it on . . didn't work.

You are learning valuable lessons so early. . keep going

Jan

[millich]

Thanks for the encouragement, Jan! You are very nice. I guess there is a "sweet spot" for when to put on our masks, too. A little sleepy, but not too sleepy. So much to learn....

[Uncle_Bob]

I'm wondering if any of you regularly use more than 1 mask. This is just my first week of therapy. I first used a Comfort Gel full face mask. It rubbed my nose raw so I switched to Swift nasal pillows. So far so good with that, but I'm thinking I might should have a back-up mask for when I have a cold. Any of you regularly use more than 1 mask? Any chance that insurance would pay for two?

i'm coming upto six months on CPAP and am currently averaging a mask a month
I regularly use two of them right now. The Swift Nasal pillow work 100% but i have to completely mouth tape my gob shut which i'm not happy with, so I experiment with a full face quattro every few nights. If my face gets sore or i get a bad night numbers i revert back to the Swift LT and taping to recover.

[WindFlyer]

I guess there is a "sweet spot" for when to put on our masks, too.

That's true, and also a good trick that I always recommend is that you strap on the mask while you're still fully awake watching TV or whatever. Take all the time you want to tug and snug on the straps. Relax your face a bit, see if it causes leaks, adjust straps to compensate, do the same with putting a bit of side pressure on the mask to simulate laying on a pillow... When you go to lay down and sleep all the work of strap adjustment can be over so all you need to do is mask up and turn off the light.

[millich]

Thanks, Windflyer, for the advice. 13,000 hours on CPAP??? Now that's impressive!

Good luck, UncleBob, to both of us on our mask-quest!

[LinkC]

I'm wondering if any of you regularly use more than 1 mask.

No, I just use one at a time...

Yeah, I rotate between the Hybrid and the Liberty. But only because I can't make up my mind.

I, too, had nose probs with the CG FF early on (not to mention several other FF masks...)

[millich]

No, I just use one at a time...

You're too funny!

[GaryG]

I'm wondering if any of you regularly use more than 1 mask. This is just my first week of therapy. I first used a Comfort Gel full face mask. It rubbed my nose raw so I switched to Swift nasal pillows. So far so good with that, but I'm thinking I might should have a back-up mask for when I have a cold. Any of you regularly use more than 1 mask? Any chance that insurance would pay for two?

Millich, its nice to hear I'm not the only one moving from mask to mask. I first started with a Quattro full face mask, irritated my nose, so went to Comfort Gel full face mask. Still had nose irritation so switched to Mirage Activa but that still irritated my nose. (See a pattern here?). So for tonight, I'm going to try Swift LT Nasal pillow mask with headgear.

I've been CPAPping now just a few weeks and its been a rough start. But I think its important to keep trying until you get something that works. Trying to hang in there, and reading posts on this boards really helps me to know there is a whole community out there for support.

[millich]

How'd the Swift LT work for you last night, Gary? I had a good night with it.

[GaryG]

Millich,

I'd prefer not to use a humidifer if I don't have to, so I started without it, but after an hour, I woke up and noticed I seemed "dried out", so I attached the humidifer and it worked fine for me. No bump on the nose.