Basic Mask Information!

[thecpapguy!]

I posted this from my blog. I hope someone can benefit with some general information over the three main style of masks and what they can offer! This is how I feel towards the mask and I hope it helps!

What type of mask interface is comfortable or troublesome for a patient? This is a much debated topic with a high amount of opinion, which is a great thing! A high amount of opinion shows how important it can be for a patient to find the right mask fit. I have used this analogy for a great number of patients and I stand by it to this days. A CPAP mask fit is just like the shoes you wear, sometimes they are comfortable and sometimes they are not; sometimes what works for one patient will not work for another; sometimes you have to put a great deal of thought into your next mask you choose. The market is flooded with an assortment of interfaces that it can be very difficult to choose a style, let alone something functional, for a new CPAP user. Let's touch the four types of CPAP mask interface "styles" and then we will move forward into the right fit for you!

Style number one: Nasal Mask
The first style that most new patient's associate with CPAP therapy is the nasal mask. The reasoning for this styles name is pretty self explanatory, it simply covers the nose entirely reaching from the upper lip to the bridge of your nose. This style has progressed greatly in the technology applied in the recent four to five years offering a great number of masks on the market that are much lighter and more conventional for the more modern style of CPAP machine's available to patients.
This style offers versatility with a patient that may struggle slightly with mouth breathing and exhalation discomfort. The mask will allow the exhaled air from a patient to exit through more space allowing for it to be slightly more comfortable that a nasal pillow style of mask (we will get to in a moment). A nasal style also provides more support for users that movement factors into their sleep habits disturbing the mask seal. More support equals less leaks in most situation.
The style does have a few cons that typically can arise and changes per patient. A few of the most common are irritation of the skin either on the bridge of your nose, cheeks or upper lips due the mask being over tightened or improperly fit. Most of the time this problem can be corrected with a simple headgear adjustment, but sometimes an entire mask change is required to remedy. This style is a typical choice, and popular, amongst users.

Style number two: Nasal Pillow
The second style is nasal pillow. I describe nasal pillows in a little bit different way to the patient's I work with. It is a bit of a different style of mask to wear due to the interaction it creates between the patient and the therapy. Whereas the nasal mask above is much more traditional in expectations, the nasal pillow is somewhat unpredictable as to if a patient will acclimate well or struggle throughout the night. So, as I said before - here is how I describe a nasal pillow stly of CPAP mask! Have you ever met a person that truly has an understanding of wine and enjoys to drink it? That person typically understands why they enjoy a particular brand or type of wine and can tell you exactly why they enjoy and what they expect when taste it. This is the same for the nasal pillow mask user - typically these patient's have a higher tolerability to CPAP pressures and can tell you exactly why they prefer the nasal pillow of the other style of mask. It isn't that these users are "picky" or "particular", they just understand the mask fit more than others.
This masks style greatest strength is it's convenience of minimal headgear which makes the style the least cumbersome. This can be especially important for the female population of CPAP masks as it helps with feelings of claustrophobia, night sweats and overall discomfort in anyway to headgear (which the male patients receive benefit from as well!). This style does have drawbacks that cripple it greatly causing it to a very specific fit for certain patient's and somewhat difficult for some technicians to use. The pressure interaction with this mask and the patient can cause high amounts of discomfort and even irritation of the skin within the nairs. This mask is somewhat risky to trial for a brand new patient, but if you are comfortable with the fit then it is likely the style you will use for life.

Style number three: Full Face Mask
The third style is the dreaded full face mask for some patients. The mask already has a great deal of anxiety from most patients as it covers more area of the face, has the most head gear and makes you feel like Darth Vader. Let's be honest, this style is more cumbersome. There is no denying this fact! Compared to a nasal pillow you are basically going from a Corvette to Humvee, but that is not the right mindset to adhere to when this mask is used and unfortunately patient's are forced into using this mask without the option of another. Where a nasal mask and nasal pillow mask both require the patient breathe only through their mouth, the full face mask allows the patient to breath through both the mouth and nasal passage. The mask can help with patient's that have struggled with congestion causing a highly stuffy nose to patient's with plain mouth breathing that cannot be overcome.
The style's greatest strength is simple, you no longer must keep your mouth closed causing a discomfort throughout the night - not at all and not ever. The full face mask will substitute the air through either your nose or your mouth. The problem is that due to the size of the mask it is susceptible to more mask leak and discomfort due to the weight of the frame and size of the headgear. However, DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THIS STYLE!! It is not a terrible thing to wear a full face style of mask when it is clinically needed or even for comfort in mouth breathing. The mask can offer a high level of relief to a patient.
Here is my advice on this style, plain and simple. If you have never worn a nasal mask or a nasal pillow mask; wear one before jumping to a full face. If you cannot tolerate the nasal styles, then move to a full face mask. This will help you with your mental ability to tolerate.

I hope to be going over each style and what they can off on a more detailed post coming soon, but I hope if you are on the fence about what mask to choose and why that this can help you! The one greatest bit of advice that I can give you is find a doctor, respiratory therapist or CPAP technician that truly cares about your mask fitting! Remember, that your fit is just that -YOUR FIT! You're an individual and you will have a different feeling on each mask than others. So find someone to work with you, fit you and offer detailed suggestions.

Sleep well!

[Wulfman...]

I haven't yet had time to read this post in depth, but there's at least "one more thing......." (as Columbo would say)
You forgot the "hybrid" style mask.

But, as has been discussed here for years, the mask is probably the most important component to this therapy.
And, I agree that one should not be afraid of the full face mask. I don't know why, but it has always seemed that there's an EEEEEWWWWW factor about full face masks. It's like FFM users are some kind of second-class users and the nasal pillows crowd are the "elitists" (snobs).


Den

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[chunkyfrog]

We should not forget the total face mask or the nasal cradle masks either;
to say nothing of the cloth masks, which could qualify as two more categories,
because of their unique materials and required fitting techniques.
Also, my face shape does not conform with ANY full face paradigms--and I have tried plenty.
Not everyone CAN wear the full face masks currently made!

[JDS74]

And off in its own little specialty corner is the oral only mask, the Oracle 2 from F-P

[chunkyfrog]

So, this new "expert" has knowledge equivalent to your average DME.
I guess anyone can write a blog.

[ChicagoGranny]

I think he is your average DME.

[RogerSC]

The nasal pillow one reads like astrology. Haven't read the others.

[Wulfman...]

I think he is your average DME.

Now, now, now.........
At least he found US!!! He'll be so damned smart by the time we get through with him.........

One at a time. Like the longest journey starts with the first step.
Over the years, we've had lots of DMEs, RTs and folks from the manufacturers on the forum. Many of them have been helpful in various ways to understand the business from their side of the counter (so to speak).
Oh yeah, there were a few who screamed that it's illegal to change our own pressures.......but they didn't stay around long.


Den

.

[thecpapguy!]

Man, I usually write and try to not wear my emotions or feelings upon my sleeve - but you guys are flat out cruel. So let me get this right - I've worked in the DME field for a little over a decade with CPAP therapy and now I work in a clinic under a sleep specialist as a respiratory assistant. I decide that opening a blog to HELP a NEW user to the therapy as I do on a daily basis and post my writings in here for a weary traveler searching for information on the internet. Honestly, I'm completely taken back by the way all you treat one another here. I'll keep posting, probably just ignore the comments as most of you taken something out of context, cruelly disqualify the information and you do not criticize professionally; you criticize in such a demeanor that it is hard to understand and nearly unbearable to follow up with. I'll give my follow up here my best try.

I think I've addressed the "average DME" concept that all of you like to state. If you would read what I read you would understand that what is written is for a new user. Now, from my perception it does not seem that any of you are new users? The information is basic, simple and made for a user seeking quick help on the types of mask available; not a seasoned technician, respiratory therapist or CPAP no it all jack monkey (that is what I will call the rude people here - I think - working title). I want to help a new user, that is all.

Secondly, you cut down my blog? My little blog that I enjoy doing because I honestly like to impart knowledge to others? I have four posts...FOUR. I'm beginning and I want to get a lot of the basics out of the way to reference for people in other forums or even Facebook... Thanks for stating that anyone can create a blog, yes they can. At least that isn't one thing despicably rude that most of you have commented.

Lastly, thank you for all of you that added the different types of "hybrid" mask! I thought very long and hard about that category, but I thought that could get very convoluted for a new patient to therapy. To understand the Circadiance cloth style, The Oracle, The FitLife, The Jason, The Liberty, The DreamWear and so forth would be sort of confusing. I am hoping to write something devoted entirely to the popular hybrid style of masks. What do you think?

In the end - I have one thing to say. They way you treat people, especially through your words, is a simple reflection of yourself. I don't get paid to write, I don't sale CPAP's, I don't sale interfaces - I am just a technician. I've been a part of a lot of forums along the way, but this one is especially difficult to deal with. Hopefully all of you do impart knowledge upon, I welcome it. And I can promise you one thing that none of you can no longer promise to someone - I won't be rude to you.

Sleep well!

[Goofproof]

I haven't yet had time to read this post in depth, but there's at least "one more thing......." (as Columbo would say)
You forgot the "hybrid" style mask.

But, as has been discussed here for years, the mask is probably the most important component to this therapy.
And, I agree that one should not be afraid of the full face mask. I don't know why, but it has always seemed that there's an EEEEEWWWWW factor about full face masks. It's like FFM users are some kind of second-class users and the nasal pillows crowd are the "elitists" (snobs).


Den

.

FF Mask users are Second Class users, and people that are making the best of their treatment, instead of paddling in circles, in De-Nile. Not everyone needs a full time FF Mask, but many Nasel Mask users would be better served using one. Jim

[Lucyhere]

If you would read what I read you would understand that what is written is for a new user.

When I read your post earlier this evening, I thought how helpful it would have been when I first started this therapy. Thank you!

[49er]

If you would read what I read you would understand that what is written is for a new user.

When I read your post earlier this evening, I thought how helpful it would have been when I first started this therapy. Thank you!

Totally agree Lucy and even though I am an experienced user, I still thought it was a great post. Loved the shoes analogy by the way as that is exactly what I was thinking regarding my issues in trying full face masks. In seems all the ones I try that are the "best fit" are like the 7 medium show size when I need a 7 wide. Thought maybe the Simplus would work but unfortunately, I am getting elevated AHIs over 5 even though I have raised the pressure and didn't tighten the straps. This was my previous experience with many of the full face masks I tried.

And before anyone thinks I am a mask elitist, in spite of my septoplasty, the elan cloth mask still seems to be the only one I can tolerate the best.
Am looking into other options after a long struggle with pap therapy but meanwhile, I can't just stop using my machine no matter how much of a struggle it is. So maybe even if I had access to a better mask fitter like you seem to be, perhaps it wouldn't matter in my situation.

49er

PS - Cpapguy, I don't take back what I wrote above but after reading your post again, I do have some concerns which I expressed in other posts that I hope you will address along with the points other posters have made. Yes, it may seem like we are cranky negative but most of us have not been served well by the sleep medicine industry. I think you need to keep that in mind.

[Sheriff Buford]

Never would have guessed he was a DME... the award goes to Chunky.

Sheriff

[Air Jordan]

Thankful that I found this forum of experienced users. The advice I saw them giving saved me from abandoning CPAP.

I have no desire to read what medical professionals post here. No matter how smart they think they are, they don't know what a large group of experienced and concerned users know.

I came here because the medical professionals had failed me.

Thanks to all the users at cpaptalk dot com.

[chunkyfrog]

Sheriff; he only thought there were four types of mask, one of which he did not detail
Who does THAT remind you of?
Real experts always keep learning, and never assume they know everything.
I give credit for meaning well, but hubris does not endear.