Mask Fit/Adjustments

[Marmalade]

I am using a Nuance Pro gel nasal mask with heated tubing and DreamStation APAP with humidifier. I am a newbie with 14 nights of use under my belt. Everything has really been going much better than I expected. I've been able to wear the therapy all night without any apparent leaks.

However, I am still having some issues with mask fit. If it gets bad enough I will contact my CPAP supplier, but I was hoping maybe there's just a learning curve. There seems to be a delicate balance between getting the mask too tight or too loose. If too loose, then during the night it feels like the nasal pillows are not staying in my nose enough, like the nose piece wants to shift around a bit. If too tight, then my nose feels clogged by the nasal pillows and the strap that's supposed to sit on the lower back part of your head slides up.

There is a velcro adjustment strap on each side of the head and one on the strap that goes over the top of your head.

My other issue with it is that "aiming" the nasal pillows seems to be a problem for me. There is a point where they're aimed just perfectly and my nose feels delightfully open, almost more open than without the mask. But it feels like most of the time it is blocking my nose, particularly on the right side. Sometimes I can see that the nasal pillow is not 100% covering my right nostril, so I keep having to wiggle the nose piece.

Any tips? Will it just take time for me to get the hang of it? Thank you for reading.

[Pugsy]

Did you get more than one size of the nasal pillows? If so, try the other sizes.

[Marmalade]

I think they gave me only the small. I do have a smaller nose and my nostrils are not symmetrical, but maybe going up in size would be helpful. I hadn't even thought of that.

[zonker]

Any tips? Will it just take time for me to get the hang of it? Thank you for reading.

welcome to the zoo! aren't masks a pain in the backside? if only they would make them custom fit. but then, they'd prolly cost way too much!

have you tried searching for mask fitting videos on youtube?

good luck!

[Miss Emerita]

My respiratory technician swore I needed small pillows for the pillow mask I started with. Nope, and I finally tried the medium, which was much better. Eventually I tried the large, which was even more comfortable and felt like it gave me more air — but alas it was a tad too big and produced annoying leaks.

So do try the other sizes, as Pugsy suggests. Also keep in mind that the sizing for some other pillow mask might work better for you. I like my current mask, and the medium is just right.