Need help with mask choice

ready2sleep · Post by **ready2sleep** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:08 am

I am currently using the F&) 431. I cannot use it anymore, as it leave marks on my face and my dermatologist told me I had to stop using it. I called the drs. office for a new mask. They told me I had a good and that I didnt need another one, and they werent going to prescribe me another one. I am going to try to buy one myself. Anyone have any suggestions? I have ezcema and I am using the medicine given me by the dermatologist but still have marks on my face. Dermatologist seemed to think the one mark was a scar from using it every night. I probably need one that isnt on my face alot. Any ones not touch the face at all? Thanks in advance for all of your help.

ready2sleep · Post by **ready2sleep** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:10 am

actually it looks like a broken blood vessel will that go away? Does anyone know?

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:15 am

If you breathe through your mouth ... you may be stuck having to use a full face mask. If you think you can avoid breathing through your mouth during sleep, you can try the nasal pillow type interface as those will have the least amount of contact with your face/skin.

If you use high pressures for your PAP treatment, nasal pillow style interface may be problamatic for you.

ready2sleep wrote:actually it looks like a broken blood vessel will that go away? Does anyone know?

Your Dem Doc should have been able to tell you that.

Good luck!

- r

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:41 am

Some of us tape our mouth shut, using a small strip of tape down center of lips. Please do a search on those terms for much more info.

IN WHAT POSITION DO YOU SLEEP???
This can be a very important factor in choosing the right mask.
I am a side-sleeper, and the ComfortLite2 and Activa masks are ideal for me.

I too had severe indentations from some masks, and couldn't wear a FF due to small features - it all depends on what fits you.

In my opinion, your supplier was grossly negligent to your best interest in not letting you have another mask. How long have you had the one you're using now? Most let you try several masks at the 'store', and they are supposed to be educated enough to know whether or not it will suit you, in addition to your feedback at the time, without trying it at home. Even after trying it at home, you needn't be 'stuck' with something that absolutely does not work!

Talk to your sleep dr. and explain things to him/her. Get a modified Rx if necessary, stating that you can have your CHOICE of masks. Sounds like he may have specified something specific? Stand up to the person who is forcing that good-for-nothing FOR YOU mask. Other people have had great success with it, but not you - we are all different, depending on facial features and sleeping position.

Get tough, and let us know how you make out.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): activa

maskjkie · Post by **maskjkie** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:51 am

give the HYBRID a try!

jum001 · Post by **jum001** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:59 am

I also have eczema plus soriasis so I know what fun you are having with the masks. Since I also mouth breathe, I need a full face mask. I alternate the F&P 431 with the Ultra Mirage Full Face mask as they hit the facial features in different spots. I also use bandaids to pad the more sensitive areas on my nose. Those also have to be alternated between types and brands to reduce the sensitivity to the adhesive. Good luck finding what works best for you.

jum001 · Post by **jum001** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:01 am

I really hate it when I hit enter instead of spell check. It's psoriasis as I should well know after 50 years of dealing with it!

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:09 am

if the 431 causes you to break out, the new 432 may also but I haven't tried it yet to see if it was any better for sealing than what I've tried to date.

If you mouth breathe, you need a full face, as much as I hate to recommend it, I'd say the Resmed UltraMirage Full Face is probably your best bet at this point. It is the most comfortable. It is prone to leaks but you can cinch it up pretty good and it rarely leaves a mark on my nose.

It has a silicone cushion like most masks, I don't think anyone uses latex any more for cushions.

The new Comfort2 is still junk in my opinion, it is VERY noisy, has to be tighted too much to stop leaks then it becomes uncomfortable. It it wasn't so noisy it could probably be bearable. Then the quick release clips are lousy. Respironics needs to junk that mask and start over instead of trying to improve it.

At this point the UMFF is about the only FF I can recommend.

As for your current sleep doc's office response? If you told them the recommendation from the Dematologist and that was your response,

I'd call the b*tch back and tell her to send my medical records on to my new Sleep doc.

Your regular GP can write scripts for all cpap equipment if you have a copy of your PSG they can refer to, if you don't have a copy of that, request it from the Sleep lab where you had the study (before you have your records sent elsewhere). Then tell her to take a hike.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:16 am

Offerocker wrote:
DreamStalker wrote:If you breathe through your mouth ... you may be stuck having to use a full face mask.
Not 'exactly' true, as some of us tape our mouth shut, using a small strip of tape down center of lips.

Well, I did use the word may for a reason, as opposed to must. I have a beard and I am not about to tape (although I'm one of the lucky ones able to keep from blowing air through my mouth when I sleep ... under normal conditions anyway). Then there may be those who have chronic nasal congestion and just might find taping a bit hazardous.

But to find common ground ... yes ... there are some (perhaps even many) who tape their mouths up in order to avoid the full face masks.

- r

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 10:42 am

DreamStalker wrote:
Offerocker wrote:
DreamStalker wrote:If you breathe through your mouth ... you may be stuck having to use a full face mask.
Not 'exactly' true, as some of us tape our mouth shut, using a small strip of tape down center of lips.
Well, I did use the word may for a reason, as opposed to must. I have a beard and I am not about to tape (although I'm one of the lucky ones able to keep from blowing air through my mouth when I sleep ... under normal conditions anyway). Then there may be those who have chronic nasal congestion and just might find taping a bit hazardous.

But to find common ground ... yes ... there are some (perhaps even many) who tape their mouths up in order to avoid the full face masks.

- r

Dreamstalker: So SORRY! - my eyes skipped over that very important word (MAY). I have edited my post, deleting reference to yours. I am truly sorry about that hasty reply, and certainly not meant personally! thanks for that correction, but I must say that a polite 'PM' would have been more pleasing to me . , and less revelatory to others.

However, your post spoke wonders!
Regardless, I mis-spoke, and have removed excessive apologies to you.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 11:20 am

jum001 wrote:I really hate it when I hit enter instead of spell check. It's psoriasis as I should well know after 50 years of dealing with it!

don't worry about it, it's like my handwriting, it is so bad now after my stroke I print so it is legible. My daughter says dad why is your handwriting so bad?

hides mistakes!

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 11:28 am

jum001 wrote:I really hate it when I hit enter instead of spell check. It's psoriasis as I should well know after 50 years of dealing with it!

...like I noticed? .

Hooray for the 'back' button, 'delete' button, 'edit', 'copy/paste' etc. Beats the eraser!

Snoredog: My husband has Parkinson's, and I'd bet that you could read each other's handwriting. It's gotten REALLY easy for me to forge his signatue - just scribble a little, ha ha. Not that bad, just 'compressed'. Besides, it's more important to be able to think clearly!

ready2sleep · Post by **ready2sleep** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:33 pm

I sleep on my side, and back. My pressure is at 10. It was the sleep drs. office who said I didn't need one. My dermatologist thought the mark on my face was just that an indenture from the mask, my appt was 9:00 a.m, in the morning and thats what it was when I was there. Now it looks like a broken blood vessel, albeit small, its still there. It didn't rear its ugly head until after the dermatologist docs appt. Unfortunately I do mouth breath, thus the reason for the full face mask. My DME didn't try any other masks on my just asked me about it and ordered that, it was like I had no other choice. So I am not using my treatment now, just waiting to see if I get another mask.

CRMW · Post by **CRMW** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:06 pm

ready2sleep

I sent you a PM.

CRMW

Mask

Mask