Mask suggestions? Soft Cloth Nasal Max Not for me

[SouthJerseyGirl]

Hello Everyone,
I completed the overnight sleep test almost 2 years ago. Don't recall specific data. Dr. told me I had severe apnea, stopped breathing many, many times. I snored like a buzz saw since I was a sickly, underweight 3 year old. Had chronic earaches, strep throat, etc. Tonsils & adenoids removed age 4. Sinus surgery 20 years ago, surgeon removed polyps & scar tissue. Breathed well for a little while.

1st mask was hard plastic, covered face. Very uncomfortable, left marks on my face.
I switched to Sleepweaver Advance Soft Cloth Nasal PAP Mask.
At 1st this mask was effective.

Now I wake up several times each night to adjust the mask - air blows in my eyes. I have a red rash under my nose. The skin around the outside of each nostril is constantly peeling, big pieces of skin. My lips are extremely, chronically chapped.

Replacing mask every 3 months doesn't help. I am fastidious keeping mask & unit clean. My current mask has a vague unpleasant odor.

Can anyone recommend a specific mask that is comfortable, doesn't blow air in eyes, & will allow the rash under my nose & the chronic dry/chapped skin.

I realize selecting a mask is personal preference. I greatly appreciate any suggestions. I am exhausted, with flaky skin like giant dandruff on my face.

Thank you!

[MaxINTJ]

I have not used CPAP for very long, but I chose the Dreamwear nasal pillow mask and I don't have any problems with leaks and the contact area actually seems minimal.

[Pugsy]

Are you preferring nasal cushion (over the nose) vs nasal pillow?

If nasal cushion...look at the Swift FX Nano
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html
Plus with it if you ever want to try the nasal pillow the Swift FX nasal pillow will fit on the headgear and all you have to buy is the nasal pillow.

Or this little cushion the Respironics DreamWear original version
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-dre ... -pack.html
Plus again if you ever want to try the nasal pillow version all you need is the nasal pillow as it fits on the same headgear

Or if you are thinking nasal pillow...check out the ResMed AirFit P10 nasal pillow...link in my equipment profile.

There's also the Tap Pap...
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/tap-pa ... roved.html

All of these masks I have personal experience with and used successfully. There are others that are similar that I didn't have such good luck with but you might do well with them.
Respironics Wisp...very similar to the Nano in terms of the cushion but for some reason it caused problems for me that the Nano didn't. It lasted all of 90 minutes and was removed to never touch my face again.

My nasal cushion mask experience has been really limited because I don't really like anything touching the nasal bridge area of my nose.
But I have tried almost every nasal pillow mask out there...

We all have different preferences and needs. One of my preferences is as little on my face and head as possible...so I lean towards masks with minimal headgear and minimal footprint on my face. That's just me...others might have a different preference.

For your skin issues right now...get some Lansinoh lanolin cream/ointment (found in the baby aisle of most stores) and use it frequently. It helps breast feeding moms deal with nipple issues...it will help the skin issues you are having.

[Polishsjerseygirl]

Hello!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share suggestions etc. re: selecting a new mask style.
As mentioned, the soft cloth nasal mask does not work for me & causes several problems. In addition to feeling tired after using nasal cloth mask for sleep, air blows in my eyes, outside of both nostrils and lips are severely chapped, large pieces of skin hanging off. Also have red rash starts under my nose ends at top of lips.

My sleep study was performed at a well regarded teaching hospital.
No one discussed different mask styles. Soon after my sleep study, my health insurance sent a rep from the Cpap company they use. The Rep reviewed how to use the machine. He brought 1 mask in 2 sizes. Covered my nose, straps left face marks.

I apologize in advance if my questions are rudimentary. I do not know what I do not know.
1). How can I determine the mask style that will be most effective for me?
2). Was told to clean water reservoir every 3 days w/vinegar.
How often/what method do you use to clean your Cpap machine / mask / hose /water reservoir?
3). If you use a Cpap cleaning machine, is it effective? Any models you recommend? Any models you would NOT recommend?
4). How often do you replace your mask, hose, etc.
5). Do you own a portable Cpap for travel? Does it work well for you? Any portable Cpap you would recommend? Any portables you would NOT recommend?

Any suggestions you care to share are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Pugsy]

1). How can I determine the mask style that will be most effective for me?

You can't without trying them. You can study them and think about what they are and how they might affect your personal preferences or needs but the end result is you have to try them.

2). Was told to clean water reservoir every 3 days w/vinegar.
How often/what method do you use to clean your Cpap machine / mask / hose /water reservoir?

This is up to personal preference and what makes you comfortable and happy.
Some people clean everything daily, some weekly, some monthly, some rarely and a few never.

I don't put much work into cleaning...I am lazy and I don't see the need and I have been using cpap for 8 years. Started out cleaning mask daily and hose and water chamber weekly...that got old after about 6 months.
Now I do use distilled water 98% of the time in my water chamber so it doesn't really get any mineral deposits that need to be removed (but vinegar will remove them if you get the deposits).

Hose doesn't get cleaned....I see no need...only filtered air gets blown through it.
Water chamber...maybe once a month...sometimes a little longer...and all I do is a hot soapy water wash and let it air dry.
Mask...I use a nasal pillow mask..so minimal surface is touching my skin so not much facial oil accumulation to worry about. I will usually wash the nasal pillow when I wash the water chamber. The exception might be if I have had a cold or something and the nose was a bit sneezy or drippy. Then I would wash it because of the yuck factor more than anything else.
Machine itself...doesn't need any cleaning. Change your filters regularly as needed (mine last about a month but others will find that they last longer).
Just wipe the dust off the machine every now and then with a damp cloth.
Mask headgear/frame/short hose...only when it starts stretching out a bit and I want to shrink it. Then I use a really hot soapy water wash and rinse.

3). If you use a Cpap cleaning machine, is it effective? Any models you recommend? Any models you would NOT recommend?

CPAP cleaning machine...like the So Clean who seems to be blasting the TV and radio right now...waste of money. It doesn't remove anything...all it does is reportedly disinfect...so you end up with disinfected dirt, grime, facial oils, snot or whatever. You still have to use soap and water to remove any dirt or grime or oil.

Were you asking for models of cpap machines or cpap cleaning machines...My response below pertains to cpap machines. I wouldn't have a cpap cleaning machine if someone gave it to me.
Stick with Respironics or ResMed brands....they are the 2 main players in the cpap machine department.
Make sure you know which models offer full efficacy data and which don't...you want full efficacy data so that you can monitor the effectiveness of your therapy.

AVOID...the ResMed AirStart models...all of them...the START part of the model name is clearly shown on the face of the machine. They don't have efficacy data and they aren't even heated hose capable and while you may or may not want or need a heated hose...better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.

Respironics models....assuming you are going to be using a regular pressure machine and not a special bilevel pressure model.

DreamStation CPAP model DSX200xxx....AVOID...not a full efficacy data machine. Minimal data available and not enough to best evaluate your therapy.
DreamStation Pro CPAP model DSX400xxx...this is a full efficacy data machine...fixed cpap pressure mode only
DreamStation Auto CPAP model DSX500xxx....this is a full efficacy data machine...has both fixed pressure (cpap) and auto adjusting pressure (apap) modes available...it's like 2 machines in one...this would be the one I would try to get if I was getting Respironics.

ResMed models.

AirSense 10 CPAP...AVOID...it's like the DreamStation CPAP...limited efficacy data
AirSense 10 Elite...full efficacy data...fixed pressure cpap mode only
AirSense 10 AutoSet...full efficacy data....has the 2 modes...cpap and apap...2 machines in 1
AirSense 10 AutoSet for Her...full efficacy data...has 3 modes...cpap/apap and a special apap mode.....this is the machine I would try to get if I was getting a ResMed machine. Having that 3 rd mode available makes it like 3 machines in 1 and you never know but that 3 rd mode might end up being important to someone. Right now I am using this machine...just got it a couple of weeks ago.

If given a choice between brands...ResMed.
I have owned both brands and while Respironics makes a nice machine...there are some features on the ResMed that are IMHO a little better.

4). How often do you replace your mask, hose, etc.

Personal preference. I have one heated hose for one of my ResMed machines that went through 3 machines...it has probably well over 10,000 hours of use on it and never washed and working fine.
Not using it at the moment because it won't fit on the AirSense machine.

I have tried many machines...not because I was unhappy with them but because I just like to try new stuff.
So been through several Respironics machines and ResMed as well....I do prefer the ResMed

Now F & P and DeVilbiss make good machines but they aren't as big of a player in the market and the data gathered comes up a little bit short compared to the data the Respironics or ResMeds gather.

5). Do you own a portable Cpap for travel? Does it work well for you? Any portable Cpap you would recommend? Any portables you would NOT recommend?

I assume you are talking about one of those tiny travel machines because any cpap machine is portable. No, I have no need for a tiny machine and they come with some disadvantages that would be a deal breaker for me....So I don't have one and don't want one.
They are usually noisier and the humidifier portion of it is either limited or non existent and I absolutely have to have my moisture and lots of it.
There are some people who do like those tiny machines and do use them...so wait and see what they say.
Insurance doesn't normally pay for one though...and they aren't cheap despite the size and sometimes they end up being about the size of a regular machine if the humidifier is removed from the regular machine.

[ChicagoGranny]

How can I determine the mask style that will be most effective for me?

It's often the case that you have to make the mask effective. Ask for tips here.

If you use a Cpap cleaning machine, is it effective? Any models you recommend? Any models you would NOT recommend?

Don't buy one. They are a ripoff. If you keep your home reasonably clean, CPAP machines don't need cleaning. I used a machine for five years without cleaning except to occasionally dust it off with a dust brush. I use the same hose for years without cleaning. The mask picks up skin oils, so I clean it in soapy (Ivory) water every five days.

Do you own a portable Cpap for travel?

I don't like any travel machine. The machine you use at home travels well. Are you thinking you will need battery power because you will be without household current while traveling or camping?