The CPAP MoneyPit = Masks

[DcKalop]

Man, I just about ready to give up. These masks are killing me.

1) Ultra Mirage Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear - Medium Standard $140
- worked for about a month, but leaking around the nose, unable to stop, even after cleaning.

2) OptiLife Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear $120 ( + $25 premium chin strap)
- unable to sleep w/mouth closed, turns out I have screwed up bite

3) Innomed Hybrid Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows $120
- most promising thus far; but the pressure BURNS and HURTS my nose (14 setting), unable to get use to it.


I'm just about over this. A couple months of good sleep and good health is coming to an end. At least until I can save up some more money to try yet another mask? But which one this time? I'm a MOUTH breather, and there's only 1 oral mask, the Oracle one, but I'm afraid it will not work because I'm unable to close my mouth completely (due to jaw/bite alignment).

The Innomed hybrid mask would work PERFECTLY IF I could somehow STOP the air into the nose? Thoughts? Any "plugs" for the nose chambers?

[Pad A Cheek]

Hello,
Yes the mask is the key to good therapy in my opinion. When you find that one that works best for you you have solved the major problem. If the Hybrid is almost the perfect mask, I would work with what you have. There are plugs for the nares, but I am not sure that is what you want to do.

You said the air burned your nose. Do you use a heated humidifier? If the air is too dry it can hurt your mucous membranes and burn. If you can breathe through your nose more it is actually better for your sleep according to Dr. Steven Park. He has a site of his own and a book about sleep that he has written. Sleep Interrupted You can read quite a bit of information about his thoughts on sleep. Just Google Dr. Steven Park.

There is a load of information available here too. Read as much as you can, there are many answers in past posts.
Good luck and keep posting. There are others here that may have better suggestions than I have given you.

Karen

[jnk]

Can't you sell the masks at one of the auction sites to get money for a new one, if that's what you need to do?

For using a nasal mask, I believe that the important thing is to keep your lips closed, regardless of jaw position. I think most OSA sufferers were probably mouth-breathers, until they did something about it. I would try to do everything I could to find a way to keep my lips closed and breathe through my nose before I gave up on using a nasal mask, in harmony with what Karen just said. If I couldn't find a way to make it work, then I would start shopping for a full-face-mask that fit me, either using the 30-day return policy at a DME or using cpap.com's return insurance until I landed on the right one.

Like Karen said, getting your humidity just right may help with the burning in the nose, but it takes a few weeks of sleeping consistently with the pressure and with low leak before the nose adjusts--so you may have to give it time while you experiment with the humidity and leak prevention.

[DoriC]

With the UltraMirage, have you tried adjusting the forehead support?

[DcKalop]

Thanks everyone.

@DoriC - yes, I did, I've adjusted every which way I can.

@jnk, have humidifer, but bad rain out. Haven't got the heated hose, too much money. I've tried the covers and everything, nothing stops the rainout, heavy ac unit / humidity down south.

@Karen, you mentioned, "There are plugs for the nares..." WHERE can I find these? Plugging the nares on the hybrid mask my is a perfect solution ... worth a try? THANKS

[BeanMeScot]

You can make your own heated hose using a 15w Retile Cable Cord. They cost around $20. Just put it underneath the hose huggie. Below is the cable I got. You would have to check on it plus the shipping costs to find the cheapest deal.

http://farm-and-pet.hardwarestore.com/1 ... googlebase

Don't get a higher wattage than that. You don't want to burn the hose. Also, don't wrap it around the hose, just run it the length of the hose under the huggie.

[Pugsy]

Wondering if a person could put a very small piece of cloth over the existing pillows and tape it down enough to block any air from escaping. You wouldn't want to damage the pillows on the off chance you might want to try them again later when humidity is less of a factor or you find you wish to try to toughen up the nostrils..

[sleepinginseattle]

Man, I just about ready to give up. These masks are killing me.

1) Ultra Mirage Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear - Medium Standard $140
- worked for about a month, but leaking around the nose, unable to stop, even after cleaning.

2) OptiLife Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear $120 ( + $25 premium chin strap)
- unable to sleep w/mouth closed, turns out I have screwed up bite

3) Innomed Hybrid Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows $120
- most promising thus far; but the pressure BURNS and HURTS my nose (14 setting), unable to get use to it.

I'm not sure I'd give up on a mask that "worked for about a month". I don't use your UMFF mask but do use an Ultra Mirage nasal mask and have found that a little (very little!) lanolin smeared on my face where the mask contacts the face helps create a good seal. The lanolin I use is sold under the name Lansinoh in the aisle for baby supplies at most drug stores. It would be inexpensive to try it out.

Good luck.

[DoriC]

I just remembered, my husband's first UM lasted less than 6wks before it started leaking. I guess that was because of some abuse with all the adjusting, on & off,moving up and down,etc, trying to find that sweet spot. Since it was too soon to get a replacement from our insurance ,but we liked the mask, we just ordered a new cushion from cpap dot com, I think it cost $40-$50. The new cushion did the trick with leaks and we used it for 3months with less fiddling until we needed a new mask again. This new one is still going strong since May and we won't replace it for awhile if it's not necessary.

[DcKalop]

Only thing I can figure out why the 1st mask started leaking is because I've lost weight? Dunno. I've lost like 18 lbs. The mask feels too big now in a way. I don't know, frustrating.

Pugsby, wonder if foam ear plugs would work? Maybe I can collapse some ear plugs into the nares ports and let them expand and see if they'll stay in there under the air pressure... that's worth a try.

[Pugsy]

wonder if foam ear plugs would work? Maybe I can collapse some ear plugs into the nares ports and let them expand and see if they'll stay in there under the air pressure... that's worth a try.

Sure won't hurt to try but I am thinking some sort of sealant like tape to secure things will be needed to prevent leaks and/or the plugs flying across the room. I would think any decent tape could be used. I just looked at the Hybrid I have and I can see that it would be easy to tape across that area and not hinder any vents or anything like that. Bottom line, doesn't hurt to try and you won't know unless you do.

[jdm2857]

You can try plugging the pillow with silicone putty ear plugs. A few bucks at the drug store.

Break one plug in two and roll each piece into a cylinder. Stick a cylinder through each hole and squash it lengthwise so that it expands both inside and outside the pillow.

Be sure it is in there tight because you don't want a silicone putty projectile going up your nose.

[SleepyT]

dckalop,
dittos on what everyone has said so far...particularly jnk who suggested cpap.com's return insurance. that guy is always thinking! listen, please go to your user profile and click on equipment...and use the drop menus to list your machine, mask, etc. it's best to list them as text rather than the pictures. that way, everyone can better assist you in your therapy. don't be frustrated. the party's just getting started!

t.

[DcKalop]

I'll give it a shot... lol I'll report back and let you know how it goes after tonight.... THANKS

[BadBreath]

"There are plugs for the nares..." WHERE can I find these?

You can buy the Oracle nose plugs separately.

Oracle Nose Plugs