Ever had a mask just stop working?

[mdintx]

Hey Folks,

Have you all ever had a mask just stop giving good results? I've been using the SoftGel for a while now (just got a replacement cushion). It's the only mask that doesn't hurt my face. For the last 4 weeks, I've been feeling progressively worse. I wake up tired and with a lot of back pain. Initially, I attributed the fatigue to the back pain since there has been no change in my AHI/AI/leak numbers. On a lark, I tried one of my other masks, the Micro. This mask has always work well for me but good grief, it is painful. I tried it anyways and woke up an hour earlier than usual and despite slightly worse numbers (AI of 0.0 or .1 w/ SoftGel and AI of .5 or .3 with Micro), I felt much better! I wore it last night and again, felt great this morning with MUCH less back pain but a welt on my nose

I'm at a loss as to what's going on.

[williamco]

did you make sure when you changed the cushion that you installed it correctly with no extra leak going on?
is the leak appropiate for SoftGel? or the same like it used to be when it was working for you?

[mdintx]

The leak rate is good. Most nights, I get a 0.00. Once a month, I might get a .02 but that's it. I think I figured it out. I went back to the SoftGel last night and woke a few times because I could not breathe through my nose. At some point, I turned down the humidity and my congestion cleared up and I got some pretty good sleep. If that repeats over the next few nights, then it's probably the solution to my problem.

[torontoCPAPguy]

Just a thought for consideration: You may actually be sleeping BETTER.
I know that when I get a really solid night of sleep I often wake up feeling poorly as I have slept in the same position all night long and the pain of doing so causes me to partially awaken during the night a number of times I believe. I can even recall the pain being felt during the night so I am sure that it is affecting my REM sleep. So, your mask may be working VERY well... you may be experiencing aches and pains from not moving about during the night. Possible?

[Komodo]

My very first mask was a Comfortgel nasal and I got decent results with it. Tried a BUNCH of different masks, but kept coming back to my Comfortgel. The mask got older, and I bought a new one. Exact same mask, BUT........it wasn't AS comfortable, didn't seal AS well, and gives me overall higher result numbers.

I have to compare masks to sneakers. Ya' buy a pair of new sneakers and they're a little uncomfortable until you break them in. By the time they "fit like a glove" they're so worn out you need a new pair. You go to the store and buy the exact same sneakers and they don't feel as good as the old pair! LOL!

[torontoCPAPguy]

My very first mask was a Comfortgel nasal and I got decent results with it. Tried a BUNCH of different masks, but kept coming back to my Comfortgel. The mask got older, and I bought a new one. Exact same mask, BUT........it wasn't AS comfortable, didn't seal AS well, and gives me overall higher result numbers.

I have to compare masks to sneakers. Ya' buy a pair of new sneakers and they're a little uncomfortable until you break them in. By the time they "fit like a glove" they're so worn out you need a new pair. You go to the store and buy the exact same sneakers and they don't feel as good as the old pair! LOL!

Too bad I can't throw old masks into the washing machine like my stinky sneakers!
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