Please update. Favorite mask and why

[lliann]

So I ran into a road bump. Quattro FX started leaking liking a sieve. Got a new seal on order and it's almost 3 months since I got first mask.

I have a rx on file with CPAP.Com. So I will be able to choose a new mask soon plus buy some (or one) to try variations.

I like the FX because I am a mouth breather and its light weight and not too obtrusive for a ffm. I tend to look at the masks with the forehead footprint with less than thrilled reaction. But I am not impossibly firm and am willing to try new things if it will help me find a mask I can bond with.

I don't know if I am a nose pillow candidate. I do have that deviated septum and while its not so bad that I would blow out a anything, one side is slower to bring in air. But I am able to breathe through my nose. I do wonder about the soft cloth nasal mask or other nasal masks.

Just looking for success stories, that include creative approaches or not. Cpap. com has a sale going on so this might be a good time to try some things or have some back ups. But I get confused with the reviews. With every good one, there is a negative one.

I did use a chin strap with my fx last night. Thinking if my mouth opens/jaw relaxes, that may account for some leaks. So I am ok with a chin strap and even tape if necessary. But I suspect the leaks are because the silicon is soft. I will try the boiling trick once I get my replacement. I believe it will work (the boiling) I just don't believe I won't find a way to screw it up and burn it something. <g>

Thanks

[Sheriff Buford]

Looks like you are working yourself to the mask I use, a Total Face Mask. It is intrusive, but there are no nose sores (inside or on the nose bridge), you can mouth breath, and you are less likely to have leaks because the sealing areas are smooth, providing you have a smooth face. Most Total face mask users use this mask as a last resort, and the critisims of the mask, especially from folks that haven't used it, are not true. Folks (especially my DME) will try and talk me out of using the mask. When I first saw the mask at cpap.com, I eye-balled it for a long time. Once I decided I could wear it, it was a "match made in Heaven". That being said, I would make sure I gave the nasal and full face masks a run for their money, first.

Sheriff

[Madalot]

I have been using the F&P 431 since November 2009. I've tried pretty much all the FFM's out there, as well as total face masks, and the 431 is the ONLY mask I can use.

[49er]

I have been using the F&P 431 since November 2009. I've tried pretty much all the FFM's out there, as well as total face masks, and the 431 is the ONLY mask I can use.

Hi Madalot,

I am still trying to make a few FF mask that I have work but am greatly considering the FP 431 if I can't.

Why did it work for you when no others did?

I know your mileage will vary so obviously, I understand you can't guarantee that I will like it. But I am just curious.

49er

[Pugsy]

You won't ever know if some mask will work for you until you try it. There's always going to be some negative reviews because there is always going to be some people who hate a particular mask.

If you are curious about trying a nasal mask of some sort do a little experiment at home while awake.
Tape your mouth shut while awake and while doing something like watching TV or playing on the computer.
See if you can breathe through your nose well enough to stay comfortable. Do it for at least an hour if you can.
If you can't move enough air through only your nose so that you are comfortable for an hour....then a nasal mask may not be for you because you can't breathe well enough through your nose.

If you think you want to try a nasal mask and the cloth mask looks interesting...give one of the SleepWeavers a try.
It has free 30 day insurance. If you hate it then send it back.

I have used nothing but a nasal pillow mask ever since I started cpap therapy. The Quattro FX that you get along well with would be a torture device for me. I have problems with any mask that uses a lower strap around the base of the skull. It just kills my neck. I have tried several nasal pillow masks and some I did well on and some I did so so on and some I didn't do so great on. A few people have found that they thought that they just had to be a mouth breather because of a deviated septum have found that they could quite comfortably use a nasal pillow mask.
They found out that the air movement is sufficient for comfortable breathing and the simplicity of the nasal pillows is a big plus. Leaks are so much more easily managed and the less on the face thing is something that is really appealing.

[Roxy]

I am new to cpap and only day 5 using my quattro fx. The first four days, I had some leaks but last night I used a mask liner and I had no leaks at all. I don't know if you want to try a liner. RemZZZs will send you six liners free if you want to try them out. My insurance pays for the liners also.

[Madalot]

I have been using the F&P 431 since November 2009. I've tried pretty much all the FFM's out there, as well as total face masks, and the 431 is the ONLY mask I can use.

Hi Madalot,

I am still trying to make a few FF mask that I have work but am greatly considering the FP 431 if I can't.

Why did it work for you when no others did?

I know your mileage will vary so obviously, I understand you can't guarantee that I will like it. But I am just curious.

49er

I'm guessing that the shape of my face just "fits" the 431. Every other mask leaked badly. I used a Respironics FFM one night and it was GREAT! The next night, I couldn't get the leaks to stop for anything. Switched back to the 431 and was good to go.

I know that there are people on the forum that DESPISE the 431. I'm a firm believer that face shape has a lot to do with how well a mask will seal.

Another thing about the F&P masks is the clip to hook/unhook. Having Muscular Dystrophy makes certain masks impossible for me to hook/unhook because I don't have the strength in my arms/hands to do it. The F&P masks are easy for me since it's just a button to push to release the clip.

[the_nap_ster]

Well, I love nasal pillows, and the Pilairo is the favorite in our house.

But I have to use a chin strap with it to keep my mouth closed, so on nights I don't want to strap up, I use a Mirage Liberty Hybrid. I love (!!!) my Liberty Hybrid, and it was a total game-changer of a mask for me. I hope they never discontinue this mask.

But I don't recommend you buy the Pilairo or the Libety Hybrid. Let me explain.

I have now tried 18 masks, and here's what I learned: there is no such thing as a unanimous opinion on masks. Which makes sense! I mean, we can't all wear the same pair of jeans, right? So here's my advice on shopping for new masks, for whatever it's worth.

1.) Think about features that matter to YOU. Make a list. Are you very sensitive to noise? Then look for masks that have reviews that mention how quiet they are. Neck problems? Avoid headgear that passes over the base of the neck. Sensitive skin? Less contact with mask/headgear will matter. And so on. This list is the best shopping assistant you will have. It will help you read reviews carefully. You shouldn't care about how well a mask fits a person -- that's all individual, and you can't infer from that data how that mask will fit you. But you CAN infer things from the specific details of the features of that mask. That's the stuff that can help you shop smarter.

2.) Try a nasal pillow and a nasal mask at least once, to see if these are even options for you. Don't think having a deviated septum automatically means you can't use them. The ONLY way to know is to try. This is one of the reasons I'm so sad the CPAP Library had to shut down. But even borrowing a mask or buying something cheap and used will help here. For some people (like me) having anything over the bridge of my nose is a deal-breaker. I just can't sleep well with it, and I get congested/bloody skin on my nose. For others, they just can't get enough air through the pillows. This is all individual, and there's no way to know except to try. But it will help you rule in (or out) large classes of masks, and narrowing down is helpful.

3.) Once you've decided on a category of masks (and this needn't be set in stone, but for the purposes of experiment, it helps to focus on one category at a time), play the odds. There is NO guarantee that a popular mask will suit you, but popular masks have features that make them suit a wider variety of people. The only way to know if a mask will work for you is to wear it, but when you're picking the order in which to try masks out, why not be smart about it? For example:

-- Nasal pillows: I love the Pilairo, but I would NEVER suggest someone start their exploration of nasal pillows there. It is a mask that works perfectly for some, and a giant failure for others. Contrast that with the Swift FX/Bella Loops or the Aloha, which work for the majority of people who use nasal pillows. Individuals will vary (I HATE the Swift FX, for example), but no sense picking masks randomly. Start with the popular ones knowing full well that they might not work for you. If the popular ones don't work, then move your way to the less popular ones.

-- Hybrids: Here's another example. I love my Mirage Liberty Hybrid, but most people do much better on the Innomed Hybrid. Not me! I hated that thing, and it just doesn't fit my face. But if someone is going to try a Hybrid, I always suggest they start with the Innomed (even though I hate it). Why? Because playing the odds is a good strategy, and the fact that the mask doesn't fit me doesn't make it a non-great mask.

4.) After you've done your homework and narrowed it down, see if there is a high quality DME around. It doesn't have to be the one you buy your equipment from or be covered by your insurance. Many independent, well-stocked DMEs will do a mask-fitting with you for a small fee, even if you don't buy there. If the place has the masks you want, this will be an amazing opportunity to try things on, at your pressure and laying down.

5.) If you don't have a high quality DME, then you can try this yourself by buying online. Some suggestions:

-- Always buy insurance. Chances are, the mask you are buying won't work for you. This is not to be negative, it's just a statistical fact. I look at buying the insurance as a mask-fitting fee. This is the price I pay to try the mask in my home for 30 days. Given the fact that this is the ONLY way to tell if a mask works for us, the insurance is a pretty small price to pay for that privilege.

-- Form a "experimenters" club. My husband and I both use XPAP, and so we started out doing this informally. If a mask didn't work for me, he'd try it, and vice versa. And then two more of my friends got brave and went for a sleep study (YAY!!!!!) and got diagnosed, and so their hunt for masks began. They are grad students without a lot of cash, so we formed a "Mask Adventurers Club". If there's a mask we wanted to try, we all chipped in 1/4 of the mask cost and bought it. Everyone tried it out for a week. If it worked for no one, we'd send it back with insurance. If it worked for one person, he or she usually threw a few dollars at the others to reimburse them. If it worked for two people, they worked out among themselves who would keep it. This is a simple way to try a lot of masks without spending as much money up-front. It's basically like a small, private version of the CPAP Library.

-- Buy used masks here and on ebay for cheap. Don't worry if they're VERY used. Clean them up and just give them a try. If you like them, you can buy a new version (or replacement parts) later. But it's a good way to TRY things out.

There are a lot of people who get lucky with masks and strike gold early. I was not one of them. So if you are struggling with masks, don't give up! This is what worked for me, and perhaps some of it can work for someone else.

[chunkyfrog]

After 31 months, I thought I'd never have a 'favorite mask'.
After 20 different styles, I finally have found the sacred chalice.
I love my Sleepweaver élan, even though I have to wash the cloth cushion every day (pain in glutes)
My point is: do NOT give up. Your mask is out there.

[KEQ5]

If the QFX is leaking up around the eyes because it's getting pushed up, try something like the Mirage Quattro which has the forehead stabilizer bar. That's what did the trick for me (I swapped masks last week from a Quattro FX to the MQ).

[Janknitz]

I loved nasal pillows EXCEPT that they tend to collect moisture because my nose is warmer than the pillows. NOTHING eliminated this problem entirely--although Padacheeks barrel cover reduced it somewhat. The skin around my nostrils really gets irritated from that moisture, and I don't tolerate lanisoh or any other cream.

After a bad sinus infection when I had to use a FF mask, I just never went back. I use a FF mask (Quattro) all the time now, with a padacheek liner, and I find that quite comfortable, once I can get my head positioned correctly on the pillow so that the mask isn't digging into my face.

I used my first Quattro FF mask cushion for over a year before leaks became an issue. But now I'm finding that new cushion lasts only a month or two before the leaks start. I think they are not making them as well as they used to--planned obsolescence is profitable to ResMed and the DME, though it's a PITA to me!

A new cushion really does make a huge difference. Last night I put a fresh cushion on my mask and had no leaks. I'd been leaking like crazy for the past month or do--I should have replaced it weeks ago. My out of pocket cost for the replacement is small, I'm going to start ordering replacements more often--my insurance covers a monthly replacement.

[ems]

I've tried several masks and always go back to the Swift FX for her with Bella Loops. It's "almost" like having nothing on your face, which is important to me. I can read, watch TV, etc. with no problems. I tried using a full face mask when I first started and couldn't pull it off fast enough.

It does leak occasionally but I gently pinch the sides and they go back in place. I wear them very loose and I like that also. I won't change unless something comes out that is obviously better than the FX, and I doubt that is going to happen any time soon.

[49er]

Thanks Madalot.

I read in a review that this mask was only for people with a small narrow face. Since I plead guilty:), I am thinking I should try this mask if the others don't work.

Also, I have lousy dexterity so your comment about it being easy to deal with as someone who has MD is valuable information.

To the OP - Sorry for hijacking your thread. Unfortunately, I don't yet have a favorite mask. None of the above:)

49er

I have been using the F&P 431 since November 2009. I've tried pretty much all the FFM's out there, as well as total face masks, and the 431 is the ONLY mask I can use.

Hi Madalot,

I am still trying to make a few FF mask that I have work but am greatly considering the FP 431 if I can't.

Why did it work for you when no others did?

I know your mileage will vary so obviously, I understand you can't guarantee that I will like it. But I am just curious.

49er

I'm guessing that the shape of my face just "fits" the 431. Every other mask leaked badly. I used a Respironics FFM one night and it was GREAT! The next night, I couldn't get the leaks to stop for anything. Switched back to the 431 and was good to go.

I know that there are people on the forum that DESPISE the 431. I'm a firm believer that face shape has a lot to do with how well a mask will seal.

Another thing about the F&P masks is the clip to hook/unhook. Having Muscular Dystrophy makes certain masks impossible for me to hook/unhook because I don't have the strength in my arms/hands to do it. The F&P masks are easy for me since it's just a button to push to release the clip.

[portiemom]

I've always used a nasal pillow mask, Aloha and Swift FX are my favorites. But, well I NEVER thought I'd say this I LOVE THE ELAN BEST OF ALL. I've had it almost a week now and it is fantastic, I'm a stomach sleeper, everything wakes me, and this mask is great, I can bury my head in the pillow all I want. Best of all...NO COLD air blowing on my arm, NO noise whatsoever!!!
Big thanks to Chunkyfrog, his great posts about it made me take the plunge, and I am soooooooo glad I did!!

[2kittymom]

I would give the mask liners a try. I was given a few to try, and the first night using one, I didn't have to adjust my mask all night. I just ordered a month's supply from CPAP.com. Just make sure you get the right size for your mask.
Lori