Newbie with questions about finding the right mask.

[Jenbayler]

I am newly diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. I went for my second sleep study in which I used, for the first time, a CPAP. I used a Fiskal & Paykel Flexi-fit nasal mask. I did pretty well sleeping and I am excited to get my own machine to use at home. My question is about finding the right mask. I found in the morning that I was very sore under my nose, it almost felt bruised. I also did not like the feeling of the mask being right under my nose. So I am waiting to be contacted by my doctor with my referral for a DME, so ideas on masks to try would be really helpful.

[ccrandall77]

I use a Sleep Weaver and after my first night I had the same problem. A few days later, I noticed the soreness turned into a sore. This was a little over a week ago. Now, I put a small band aid over that area before putting the mask on it has helped a lot. Otherwise, the Sleep Weaver is very comfortable.

[LSAT]

When you go to see the DME...Be prepared to try on a lot of masks. If possible try them on lying down with your machine on.
Also...ask the DME about their 30 day trial period. Most manufacturers will allow exchanges of their masks within 30 days. When accepting a machine...be sure that it is a data capable machine.

[Sheriff Buford]

There are basically three kinds of masks and they all have advantages and disadvantages:
- Nasal masks
- Full face masks
- Total Masks

-The nasal masks are less intrusive and I recommend everyone either start out using this mask or at one time or another try it out. The upside is (as I said) it is less demanding and easy to work with. The downside is that you cannot be a mouth – breather. If you breathe thru your mouth at night, the cpap air will exit your mouth instead of entering your body for therapy. If you are a mouth – breather, you can use tape, a chinstrap and some folks use a strip of pantyhose to keep their mouth closed at night. Some folks, like me, encountered sores inside their nose until they are used to wearing the mask.

-The full face mask covers the nose and mouth. This allows proper therapy for mouth breathers. A hybrid mask is also considered a full face mask, but I have always thought it wasn’t. It covers the mouth and includes nasal pillows, similar to the nasal mask. The Resmed Liberty is a popular hybrid mask. The full face is more bulky and intrusive than the nasal mask and some folks, like me, encountered sores on the bridge of their nose.

- The total face mask is the type of mask I use and as you can see in my profile it resembles a gas mask. Most folks don’t like it because it is a little harder to adapt to, it’s hard to stop leaks because there is more sealing area. The flip side is that the mask sealing area is around the temple and cheeks which, with most people, are smooth. The upside is there are no more inside or out nose sore problems. I use pad-a-cheek liners and they are very comfy and reduce the redness the mask seal causes. Every time I speak to my DME, she takes it upon herself to try and get me to use a full face mask. I politely tell her that I love my mask and I’m sticking to it.

A mask is like a pair of shoes. What I like and find comfortable, may kill you and vise versa. I always recommend starting with the nasal until you decide you can’t live with it for whatever reason (sores, uncomfortable, leaks, etc…). Then I would move to the full face. If you were destine for a full face, there are so many different kinds that fit differently, you’ll find the one that’s “yours”. I would then move to the total face mask. Most folks that use the total face mask “end up” using it as I did, though I know some folks that started out with the total face mask and were very happy with it. Cpap.com says they are getting more and more popular and they can’t keep them on the shelves. My DME says they will eventually stock them on their shelves due to their increasingly popularity. People’s faces are different and some masks fit some people better than others.

[jweeks]

There are basically three kinds of masks and they all have advantages and disadvantages:
- Nasal masks
- Full face masks
- Total Masks

Hi,

I'd toss in "nasal pillow mask" as being a separate type, and hybrid masks should at least get an honorable mention. I would suggest that the original poster try a nasal pillow mask, and go with one unless there is absolutely no way to make it work.

-john-

[Sheriff Buford]

There are basically three kinds of masks and they all have advantages and disadvantages:
- Nasal masks
- Full face masks
- Total Masks

Hi,

I'd toss in "nasal pillow mask" as being a separate type, and hybrid masks should at least get an honorable mention. I would suggest that the original poster try a nasal pillow mask, and go with one unless there is absolutely no way to make it work.

-john-

If you read what I wrote, the hybrid is mentioned under full face mask. The industry considers a hybrid a full face mask because a full face mask is defined as a mask that covers the mouth and nose. I agree it should be separate because it utilizes pillows. Also I do recommend newbies try a nasal mask first because its less intrusive.