masks/nose,full,mouth, hybrid??

dreamR · Post by **dreamR** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:44 pm

I am new and so disgruntled ..l. This whole process sucketh when dealing with docs that dont listen, ins that keeps passin the buck and yada yada and oh yeah .. apria's cust care LOL! I am new to apnea ... and new to cpap and intend on getting a fully data capable machine asap since good ole apria got me a bare bones and the doc wouldnt write that i needed otherwise. (not surprised if he gets a kick back from apria)

My question is this ... I tried a darth vader full face mask and I cant do it anymore ... tried for one week and claustrophobia was too intense and it woke me up leaking alot.

I enjoy sleeping mostly on my tummy or side and need to find something that isnt full face for that obviously.

I had told the doc to specify mask as "patients choice" after reading and researching but it seems since he did not and put "full face," that I now have to get another script in order to get something other than full face in order for ins to pay for it.

Meanwhile, apria said I have 30 days to swap masks until I find what works for me. I guess this is an Apria policy as my health group my ins told me to contact knew nothing of the sort and said call Apria (long run around story .)

Now I need to figure out on my own which type mask I should try next since I have only had my full face for 1 week.

1) I sometimes breath both out of mouth and nose.
2) I have had some good folks here give me info on some masks and set ups (thank you Rested Gal!)
3) do I try and go with a mouth breather like oracle and if so .... what if I breath through my nose during the night?

Forgive me if this post makes no sense... at times when I get so frustrated I cant communicate clearly and add the adhd and the fog from no sleep in the last 5 yrs ... you get me at the stage of communication I am at now ... FRUSTRATION and not being able to even talk clearly!

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:08 pm

What is your pressure? Some mask do better at certain pressures it seems.

You might want to check cpapauction out as you can often pick up masks on there for little of nothing.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:12 pm

When you say you tummy sleep I take it you do NOT mean that you bury your face in your pillow as well?

Assuming that, then mostly what you need is a mask that will work for you w/your face and mask turned to the side, similar to what you need for side sleeping.

There are more dedicated side sleeper is this forum than I am so I'm sure they will be along to better answer your question.

I sleep mostly on my back, but do do some side sleeping and I've had good luck w/one of Respironics' oldest masks, the Simplicity (Petite for size for me). There's not much to this mask. It doesn't fit the entire length of the nose, more like 3/4 of the nose length (which I need to keep my sinuses from filling). Its a simple cushion, meaning there is no inner cushion w/a thin outer cover. Which makes it very lightweight. You have the option of wearing the hose over your head or letting it swing freely.

The center headstrap is WAY TOO LONG and I had to fit it, then cut a strip about 2" long out of the center of the strap and then velcro the two ends back together. There is no snap for the strap ends to fit to the mask, you have to do and undo the velcro ends when putting on and taking it off. (I only have to undo one bottom strap). The velcro ends are the same width as the straps so if you aren't VERY CAREFUL to place them just so they can rub your neck raw (simple solution, take a pair of scissors and taper the velcro ends of the two bottom straps yourself).

The ComfortLite 2 is almost as good as getting two masks in one if you opt for the kit of nasal pillows and simple nasal cushion. You can use just the nasal pillows or just the simple nasal cushion. The swivel on mine was rather "sticky", not particularly free swinging but a little bit of vegetable oil on the swivel made it acceptable.

I haven't tried a whole lot of masks but these two worked the best for me w/my definite personal preference being the Simplicity.

dreamR · Post by **dreamR** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:23 am

Slinky of course I bury my face in the pillow ... why ya think i got apnea ... just a lil joke to keep things lite. Thanks for input on masks.

yes sleepycarol ... good idea... i will mosey on over to the auction (I have been already ) There are some good prices over there. Thanz for the info.l

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:37 am

Hey, DreamR. I was a tummy sleeper all my life until a whiplash at 52 years of age. But I NEVER could bury my face in my pillow. Heck, I couldn't even breathe well w/a sheet or blanket over my face or even just too close to my nose. I always slept on my tummy, one leg stretched out, the other leg curled up almost to the fetal position and head turned to the side w/the curled up leg. My snozz HAD to be out there in the fresh air NOT buried in the pillow!!

I haven't been able to tummy sleep since that whiplash. Neck just will NOT allow it. *sigh* THAT is when my sleep problems began. 13 years of not sleeping for beans until starting CPAP last October. And even then those first 30 nights on CPAP were the WORST sleep of my life! Man, talk about a confused, MEAN witch!!! "I" didn't even like me I was so witchy!

dreamR · Post by **dreamR** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:17 am

Hey Slinky good to know there is light at the end of the tunnel and it isnt a train going full force head on! Sorry to hear about the whiplash but happy to hear that after not getting sleep for years, you now have some relief and contraol with the fully data cap Cpap... I shall get there... I think I can .. I think I can!!! I will!

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:44 am

I have been fortunate with my masks. I have picked them up for little $$$ and so have collected several. I only have one full face mask at this time which was my original mask from the DME.

What is one person's favorite must have mask is another person's nightmare mask.

I think it would be great if we could get a thread going on "test driving" masks. We could swap around and try out different masks with each other and after a week or so send back to original owner.

I have used the Roulette thread and have traded there but that thread isn't necessarily to try mask out if you don't have any to trade.

dreamR · Post by **dreamR** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:21 am

I agree, that would be an awesome idea for a thread and a helpful project!! I checked out the Roulette thread also and thought the same thing ... that it would be even better for the same idea but a trial run swapping!

GREAT IDEA!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:22 pm

If a person doesn't have to use a FF mask (or can breathe out of at least one nostril, so could use tape over the mouth), then the #1 mask imho for tummy sleeping, as well as sleeping in any position, is Aeiomed's "Headrest" nasal pillows mask.

Of course, as everyone rightly points out, one person's dream mask can be another's nightmare.

Quite a few tummy sleepers have reported the "Headrest" works extra well for that sleep position.

I'm a toss and turn side sleeper mostly. Works for me.

There are many tweaks, ranging from a simple rubberband or an extra strap or two, all the way to cutting a hole in the bill of a ballcap, or full "decapitation" of the headgear. Things that can make it work if it doesn't work straight out of the box for a person.

LINKS to HeadRest nasal pillows mask topics (same mask has had other names: Aeiomed Aura, then Headrest, then Invacare Twilight NP, then back to Headrest again.)
viewtopic.php?t=3098

Fixes are shown at:

LINKS to Lab Rat Trophy awards
viewtopic.php?t=15104

Good luck, dreamR!

masks/nose,full,mouth, hybrid??

masks/nose,full,mouth, hybrid??

Very good idea!!