How to Know If Dif Mask Required or Just Tweak of Exisiting?

[Sandra]

Hi! I'm on my third week in on CPAP. I'm fortunate that I can try out as many different masks, etc. as I wish for "a month" - though she seems a little flexible. Gone through nasal pillows, not bad, okay, but not great. Just put 3 nights in on a Mirage Micro nasal mask. I LOVE that it's so quiet (last night in the beginning, I actually didn't think the CPAP didn't come on) and how it feels comfortable and so secure despite my moving around and pillow-smushing with my face. Only drawback is some irritation on my face. First night, on either side of the bridge of the nose, did some adjusting, now more just below the nose, on each side. After about an hour or 2 of waking, any redness or bumpiness goes away, but with sensitive skin worry that it will get worse with constant exposure.

Since I'm on relatively limited time for trials, should I focus on tweaking this mask, with adjustments, liners, whatev, if that might be all it'd take to be just right for me? Or should I move on trying to get my hands on other masks?

[KatieW]

I'm wondering if the one month trial is for individual masks....in the US anyway, Resmed will accept a returned masks within one month, and the DME doesn't get charged, so the patient doesn't either. It may be different in Ontario though.

I find for nasal masks, squeaky clean is essential. I wash the cushion daily, with Dr. Bronner's soap, which I find rinses cleaner that Ivory Hand soap. After washing and rinsing, I also spray with a 50-50 solution of distilled water and vinegar, then rinse well.

I don't have experience with your mask, but with the Activa Lt, it needs to be worn loosely, so that the cushion will inflate with air. And if the humidifer is set too high, it gets sweaty.

[Tielman]

For me personally (IMHO - In my Humble Opinon) here's what you need to look for:

- Comfort - should be comfortable when you sleep, and allow you to sleep in comfortable positions, also should be comfortable to wear
- Leaks - should not leak when you sleep
- Therapy - should allow you to keep your numbers (AHI, etc) at their lowest (in combination with the other factors)

The biggest issue is comfort. You shouldn't have welts, cuts, bruising after using the mask for several hours / night. It shouldn't leak, or the leaks should be well controlled. You also need to take into consideration issues such as mouth breathing when choosing/using a mask.

It's a very personal issue.

[PetrusKy]

How to Know If Dif Mask Required or Just Tweak of Exisiting?

The answer is YES.

Welcome to The Game.

[chunkyfrog]

--And those of us with oddly-shaped mugs are just SOL.

[BlackSpinner]

[quote="Sandra" I LOVE that it's so quiet (last night in the beginning, I actually didn't think the CPAP didn't come on) and how it feels comfortable and so secure despite my moving around and pillow-smushing with my face. Only drawback is some irritation on my face. First night, on either side of the bridge of the nose, did some adjusting, now more just below the nose, on each side. [/quote]

If this is "YOUR" mask (for now) then making the redness go can be done by using remzzz'z or making your own from well washed cotton knit fabric (old t-shirts). You will probably get that from all masks so find a solution now rather then wait for the issue to become a problem.

[elena88]

hi there,

I started on an opus 360 with the medium nose pillows, and it took a little getting used too, then I loved it.

I taped my mouth, but when I coughed it would come off, so I put a little slit in the tape, TINY one quarter inch or less, and that helps, but
I dont think I leak thru that its so tiny..

I tried a full life mask, still have it, it leaked into my eyes, so I used medical tape to stop that, but I had to put the tape so close to my eyes
that didnt work out. One night I was so frustrated, I took scissors to it to customize it.. it worked better, but still leaked like crazy.. so its in
the closet..

I tried two hybrid masks, one hurt my upper lip badly, the other, I couldnt get any size nose pillows to fit..

tried a FULL face mask, the fitlife, and that is shaped like a rounded edge triangle.. DUMB! It should have an oval shape, I dont know anyone
who has a triangle shaped face! It leaked like a monster at the temples where my hair line was, so I could not tape that, and sent it back.

This week, I was given a swift fx nasal pillow mask to try, with small pillows and I love it.. but I hear the swift ll is great as well, if not better..
Im sticking with the nasal pillow masks and taping.. other people use papcaps to keep their little traps shut, and those are supposed work
just great.. also I used strapsofties http://www.strapsofties.com on my opus headgear, and that helped so much with comfort, and actually snugged
the mask up to my face more, so less leaks.. I would highly recommmend getting some plush straps for your headgear.
Padaceek.com and cpap.com have soft straps too.. I would really look into that..
For the nose owie, I have read people use bandaids with great success, and there are pads you can put under your mask too, or cut up old t shirt
material and use that.. Also, I have read people use Macks brand pillow soft silocone ear plugs which can be shaped into leak prevention
strips, and used over and over again.. I bought some but couldnt stand the smell, doesnt seem to bother anybody else though..

I can tell you when you have a mask that wont work, when you try just about everything you can think of, and you are going insane with it leaking, or hurting,
and cant even THINK about getting to sleep, you need a new mask.

[sleepnationtv]

If you like the micro I would try adjusting the forehead piece out so that it puts less pressure on the bridge of the nose. Also you may want to try a resmed activa or softgel they are really similar but easier on the face.

Here is my blog,http://www.sleepnation.tv in the next day or so I am going to post a video on nasal masks that might help, check it out.