Anyone tried every mask?

[Sluggish]

Tried cpap again last night just for kicks. Woke up after 4 hrs. now unable to go back to sleep my entire day will be ruined. Oh yah... that’s why I stopped using this.

Has anyone tried every mask make/model/size and still had no luck fixing leaks or finding the right fit?

I used to think there were hundreds maybe thousands of options but as I research I realize there are actually only about a dozen that people seem to use and (mostly) they are all very similar. For example Philips Wisp sure does look like their version of the P&K nasal cushion etc...

I wonder what the odds are that I will NEVER find a proper mask and only be less $1000+ after trying the top 10 or 12. Having trouble motivating myself. My case is very mild to begin with and I’ve never been more miserable than when using this machine.

[Pugsy]

Feeling like having a pity party?
That's okay for a short term and we will even participate with some pats on the back kind of stuff and let you rant for a bit.
What else do you want us to do?

Make use of cpap.com's return insurance...some of it is free and some is low cost purchase. Most of the newer/better/more popular models have it for free.
That way you won't be spending thousands of dollars on masks and the money go down the toilet for something you hate.

[Sluggish]

lol okay that's fair I suppose.

Not looking for pity pats but was more curious if anyone has, for example, found success on their 15th mask/size attempt?? Seems like most folks would give up before that but maybe that's just me.

Costs aside I'm just curious if there was ever a scenario where someone tried them all with no luck or is it a "just keep trying and eventually you will find one" type of thing. Even if it ends up being some off brand nobody has ever heard of.

Regarding Cpap.com, I'm still learning. I thought insurance costs extra but I am seeing now that it doesn't. Thanks.

[Pugsy]

I know one person who said they went through 20 masks before finding one that they were happy with.
I personally have tried probably all the nasal pillow masks out there but not because I was necessarily unhappy with current mask. I just wanted to try something. I financed it by either getting slightly used from a forum member at either dirt cheap prices or for free.
Limited nasal cushion and full face mask experiments because I learned a long time ago that anything touching the nasal bridge area of my nose I wouldn't like so I never bothered with any mask that touched that part of my nose.

And yes...some masks have free insurance and some you have to pay for at cpap.com.

No mask is ever going to be perfect. You have to sometimes pick the one that is the least annoying and work on making it better for you like with strap covers or liners or whatever.

Finally you have to decide if it's all worth it for you or not.
I don't remember all your particulars but maybe cpap simply is making your sleep worse than it is helping.
Maybe you should look into positional therapy (if there is much difference in your OSA when on your side vs on your back) or maybe even a dental device of some sort.
I didn't need to look into those options and with my oxygen levels going to the low 70s I was afraid to try them but someone not having much in desats and the OSA is relatively mild...maybe worth talking to your doctor about.
After all some therapy is better than no therapy.

[Sluggish]

Thanks for all that info. It was indeed refreshing.

“Positional therapy”. Never heard of this...

That’s actually a thing?

[chunkyfrog]

20 masks--yep, that was me, plus a few later on.
(In case the bozos discontinue my best choice)
Some were other sizes of the same model mask, one was a gift-(thank you, sweetie)
I used the return insurance several times.
I started with a Resmed Mirage nasal cushion--it tried to move my front teeth.
No full face mask worked for me--due to a dainty chin.
Nasal cushions have not been the best for me, but the Wisp was close--but only with the silicone frame.
I also used the Sleepweaver Elan, for a while. Free return insurance from Circadiance!
I have exclusively used nasal pillows for the last 5 years.
It us important to identify WHY a particular mask does not work--for a clearer view of what might work for you.
Mask liners, like Pad a Cheek, can help with texture, moistness, and noise.
Good luck.

[Sluggish]

It us important to identify WHY a particular mask does not work

I have been spending substantial amounts of time on the “science behind the leak” as I like to call it.

It seems (in my case anyway) that a lot of it has to do with movement and sleep position as much as mask. Every mask I’ve tried feels fine and leak free as long as I’m on my back and don’t move. This is why I was intrigued by ‘positional therapy’.

What blows my mind is when I meet someone who tells me they sleep on their stomach.

[SirGaspAlot]

I battled my Dr. a bit over his "suggestions" and ended up right back at the beginning with a full face Airfit F20, so far, that's the one for me. I will be taking issue with the DME since when they delivered the equipment, they (without sizing me)- gave me 3 large masks out of the gate and I "assumed" (we all know what that word means) from that time on while experimenting that they were correct. Silly me. It certainly hasn't helped my struggle with getting a decent nights sleep having air leaks and the machine boosting pressure all night. I have since bought a nasal pillow mask (which I am trying to go back to after my chinstrap show sup), and a Dreamwear which didn't go well ever. I ended up right back to the F20 every time.

My job and raising my Grand Daughter are my motivators. I cant safely do my job half asleep (I work on F/A-18 Superhornet Fighter Aircraft as a contractor and that includes explosives and rockets), and a certain little 5 year old is needing me all there.

Plus, I don't know if anyone has experienced the same feeling as me going through this, call me silly or whatever you wish, Ive had this feeling of doom for the last 6 months brought on by this terrible exhaustion.

I fight through every single night. I don't do a single night without, even my bad days are better than they've ever been.

Bottom line, I had to ask, is giving up better than trying and experimenting? And even then, I'm willing to have surgery if it comes to that, but then I have centrals, so maybe that wont matter anyway.

[Goofproof]

Even Bill Gates doesn't have that kind of money! Jim

[greatunclebill]

What exactly is your problem? What woke you up after 4 hours? what pressure is your machine set at? remember, size is important for mask, cushion and headgear. you may need one size mask and another size headgear. also, mask sizes, like women's clothes vary from mfg to mfg. you can't measure your head and say you're a certain size. it depends on the mask.

here's my deal with resmed quattro fx. the mask and cushion are large. the headgear is medium. the large headgear does not work.

[spmccord]

I was only ever given one choice for a mask and I've used the same one the past 5 years.

I guess i got lucky.

[ChicagoGranny]

What blows my mind is when I meet someone who tells me they sleep on their stomach.

It's actually a good way for a CPAPer to sleep if you do it properly -





I've done it myself. You can read all about this position here - http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleeppositions.html

[ChicagoGranny]

I wonder what the odds are that I will NEVER find a proper mask

This is like the person who is looking for the perfect spouse. The right way to do it is make a commitment to another person, and YOU try to be a good spouse.

With a mask, it's best to try to learn how to use one instead of trying dozens looking for the perfect one. Take a mask that appeals to you. Work with it. Have you even searched for the many videos on how to fit, adjust and use a mask - youtube.com.

And don't forget about hose management. The hose should not pull on the mask. Make sure of this when you are in your starting sleeping position. Imagine what happens when you change positions. There should still be enough slack that the hose is not pulling on the mask.

Here are some general tips:

To reduce unintentional mask leak -

- Make sure the mask is fitted properly. (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- Make sure the headgear is adjusted properly (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- If you use a low ramp pressure or a low minimum pressure, you should fit and adjust your mask at the higher pressures it is operating at for most of the night. You would temporarily change the machine pressure settings while you do the fitting and adjusting. It's best to do this well before bedtime before you are tired and ready for sleep. Don't forget to change your settings back to the ones you prefer.

- Make sure to use good hose management - the hose should not pull on the mask. Notice how your hose is positioned between machine and mask. It should be positioned to minimize any pull on the mask. Hose management is an individual practice. How it is done depends on the mask, the position of the machine, your sleeping position and other factors specific to the individual.

- If you still have problems, learn from the forum what mask liners are available.

- Start a thread in cpaptalk asking for help. Subject: Need Help with Mask xxxxxx

- If your mask still has excessive leak, try other masks. Many people report trying several masks before they find one that works well for them.

Note: Links to just some of the mask manufacturers' instructional videos can be found on the forum host's website - https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks.php and https://www.youtube.com/

- CG

[chunkyfrog]

@CG:
I had no patience--because so many masks simply were not my size/shape.
Pain should never be integral to making cpap work.
Neither should poverty.
The system is STILL broken.

[CreativeChris]

I am very new but I can tell you I hate full face masks. They all suck in some way, shape, or form BUT I keep going back to my Dreamwear Gel Pillows or Bravida mask (pulled tight). The hose over your head with the Dreamwear is a nice feature. My mother went through 6 masks and fell in love with the Dreamwear so I just used that as a starting point as she is particular as well. Honestly how can any of the modern ones be that bad after so many iterations?