Getting my first Mask

[countryboy]

I'm new to all of this so I'm hoping you can give me some incite of what to expect I have had two sleep labs and in the morning I get fitted for a mask. I'm 62 and on disability (my back) so Medicare is my insurance. When I had my second sleep lab the tech gave me a choice of three masks so knowing nothing I picked the smallest which I think was what you call a Nasal Pillow. During the night the tech came in a few times and said I was doing fine but toward the end said I was sometimes breathing through my mouth. She put a chin strap on me and it was a little uncomfortable but since the mask was a different experience too I didn't know what to think. So these are my questions and I realize everyone won't have the same experience:

1. Since I breathe through my mouth some I guess that means something like the Nasal Pillow and a chin strap, or a full mask. For those of you that have tried both which was the most comfortable and easiest to use/get used to?

2. Medicare basically allows you to try out two masks within the first 30 days but then you're stuck with the second one for 6 months. I would like to get the right mask for me with my initial choice is this usually possible? Maybe this is a good time to ask should the sleep lab tech have had me try on more than one mask?

3. Not that I know anything about the different CPAP machines but does Medicare allow a choice of what brand or style or do you get what they give you? I remember the tech saying their machine had a humidifier or something like that?

4. Anything else I need to know before my appt?

[Bill44133]

I'm new to all of this so I'm hoping you can give me some incite of what to expect I have had two sleep labs and in the morning I get fitted for a mask. I'm 62 and on disability (my back) so Medicare is my insurance. When I had my second sleep lab the tech gave me a choice of three masks so knowing nothing I picked the smallest which I think was what you call a Nasal Pillow. During the night the tech came in a few times and said I was doing fine but toward the end said I was sometimes breathing through my mouth. She put a chin strap on me and it was a little uncomfortable but since the mask was a different experience too I didn't know what to think. So these are my questions and I realize everyone won't have the same experience:

1. Since I breathe through my mouth some I guess that means something like the Nasal Pillow and a chin strap, or a full mask. For those of you that have tried both which was the most comfortable and easiest to use/get used to?

2. Medicare basically allows you to try out two masks within the first 30 days but then you're stuck with the second one for 6 months. I would like to get the right mask for me with my initial choice is this usually possible? Maybe this is a good time to ask should the sleep lab tech have had me try on more than one mask?

3. Not that I know anything about the different CPAP machines but does Medicare allow a choice of what brand or style or do you get what they give you? I remember the tech saying their machine had a humidifier or something like that?

4. Anything else I need to know before my appt?

When going for your CPAP machine make sure you get one that gives you your sleep data so that you can monitor you therapy progress. It is very helpful to have a machine that provides data.

Here is a list of machine that supply data: http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/

Masks are tough I am new since April and have 5 different full face masks. Every one is different. I am mouth breather part of the time and dont want to compromise my therapy so I stick with full.

I wish you good luck and keep us posted.

[countryboy]

Ok I got setup on my CPAP machine on December 31st so I've been on it less than a week. The DME brought it down to my house (60 miles away) and set it up for me... I chose a Respironics Wisp Nasal mask as my first experience with a mask. She adjusted it to my head for me but not knowing I breath through my mouth some she didn't bring a chin strap. A couple of days later she sent a Puritan Bennett SnugFit chin strap.

I have a few issues maybe someone can help with. First of all I think I could get used to the nasal mask by itself but used with a chin strap it's pretty uncomfortable for me but maybe I will adjust. I feel like my whole face is covered which it pretty much is.(lol) I do seem to be having more trouble with air leaks since I've added the chin strap but I'm pretty sure I don't have it fitted right. The chin strap also keeps slipping off my head at night so I end up breathing though my mouth.

I do like the Wisp nasal mask it's pretty quiet, fairly comfortable, and doesn't seem to be too bad with air leaks. For those of you that have tried both the combo nasal mask/chin strap vs the full face mask which seems to have less of a feeling your whole face is covered?

I'm pretty sure a full face mask has its own issues like the one I tried on when the DME was at my house and it had pretty bad air leaks. She did say though that it may not have been a good fit for my face and there were different brands/sizes I could try.

Not to give up on a chin strap yet is there something better that will stay on my head than what I have yet not feel too confining? I've been putting the chin strap on and then the mask is that correct?

[Delta4]

Yes, you should try on several masks and be sure the blower is running. Try laying on your back and sides with it, too. It's difficult because there are so many different masks and sizes. There isn't any way I can try on a mask for a couple minutes and predict how it will do for 12-15 hours (yes, I sleep that long!)

I've only had my cpap for two months. I tried 3 different masks during my first month. They each hurt my face too much. I have very sensitive skin plus I sleep much more than most. I bought a yard of soft fleece and I've been cutting small pieces to put between the headgear and my face which helped a lot, but none of those masks work well.

I was a mouth breather, but I taught myself pretty quickly to stop that so I don't need a chin strap anymore.

I wanted to try the Sleepweaver Élan which is a cloth face mask. My DME didn't carry that brand so I ordered it from cpap.com for $99. They offered a 30 day money back return policy. (Be sure to get a copy of your prescription so that you can order supplies online if you need any outside of your regular insurance covered schedule.) This mask was perfect for me. I still slip fleece pieces under the headgear part that is on my face.

If you get anything other than a full face mask, you still might want to buy one to have on hand for times when your nose is congested and you have to breathe through your mouth. I still use my full face silicone Resmed Quatro FX when my nose is clogged.

I also had to buy a new pillow to minimize the leaks when I slept on my side.

Good luck.

[Denial Dave]

it would be helpful if you posted what your pressure settings are

Some masks don't work well as others with higher pressures

[Sheriff Buford]

Though I haven't tried the masks you refer to.... remember this: Most folks go thru several masks before they find the one that gives them the best therapy. I went thru 6 masks, before I landed on mine. You want a mask that is comfortable and doesn't leak. To me, you should give nasal pillows a try because they are the least intrusive. I have a deviated septum (a plugged hooter ), and I am a severe mouth-breather, so I can't wear a pillow-mask, but don't think I don't envy folks that can. A nasal mask would be my second choice. A full size mask is probably the most popular and the mask I use... a total face mask... is where I eventually landed. Since all faces are different, some folks can tame a particular mask while others can't. If you think you have a mask that may be good for you, there will be someone here that uses the same mask that can help you tame it. Your mask journey is unique to you and it's a road we all have to go down. Let others help you down that path and it should be easier.

Sheriff

[DenG]

I also had to buy a new pillow to minimize the leaks when I slept on my side.

Delta4 - what pillow did you get?
I'm a side sleeper and have been looking at cpap pillows.

[Delta4]

I also had to buy a new pillow to minimize the leaks when I slept on my side.

Delta4 - what pillow did you get?
I'm a side sleeper and have been looking at cpap pillows.

I read a lot of reviews on all the cpap pillows, but I ended up buying the Sobakawa pillow at Bed Bath and Beyond. (That store will even let you return a pillow if you don't like it.) It works perfect for me. I'm a back and side sleeper.

I see you use the exact same equipment as I do (machine and mask.)

[countryboy]

Thanks everyone for the replies and sorry I haven't posted back I had a busy day yesterday. I drove to my DME and she was able to adjust my mask for me since I seem to be clueless on this plus showed me how to keep the chin strap from coming off in the night. She barely had the chin strap tight and seemed to think it was tight enough but I knew better because I had to adjust it tighter before bedtime. I also got an adapter for my machine in order to hookup oxygen since my doctor just put me back on one liter at night.

This seems strange to me since I normally breathe through my nose but sometime after I go to sleep I want to breath though my mouth at least some of the time. I thought breathing through your mouth during the night was Sleep Apnea related and once on a machine that would go away but apparently not at least so far. Anyway when I fall asleep breathing through my nose I must have a strong desire to breath through my mouth because my jaw strap has to be pretty dang tight. If I can teach myself to quit breathing through my mouth like Delta4 did (not sure how you did this) I'll have it made in the shade because it's the chin strap that uncomfortable for me (so far) not the mask.

I was asked to post my machine setting but I know little about it except the DME did say my setting was 15 if that tells you anything.

As far as masks go I did wear a Nasal Pillow during my sleep lab and while it was easier to sleep on my side with I thought it was pretty noisy. It felt pretty comfortable but because of it being noisy I found it hard to tell if I had leaks not saying I wouldn't try one again though.

Because I'm on a limited income and can't really afford to try mask after mask I am going to see if I can used to the Wisp and keep it until my 3 months are up. In 3 months maybe I'll get a FFM and maybe in another a Nasal Pillow so I can rotate or use which is the most comfortable at the time. Of course this all goes out the window if I can't get used to the Wisp.

I generally like the Wisp but ever since I added the chin strap I seem to be having a few more air leaks don't know if this makes sense.

I can see that being a side sleeper I'm going to have to get a different pillow because of air leaks. Delta4 suggested the Sobakawa pillows are the ones with Buckwheat or beads better? Are you able to see/handle them at Bed Bath and Beyond?

It was suggested I get a copy of my prescription to be able to use for online supplies outside of my insurance schedule. Will my doctor willingly give me my prescription? Do you need a prescription to buy accessories from someone like Pad A Cheek?

Do the Pad A Cheek products like strap pads really help or does it kind of depend which mask you have in my case the Wisp?

Sorry for all the random thoughts, rambling, diction and probably missed spelled words in advance.ha!

[Delta4]

I'll address some of your points:
The chin strap was extremely annoying to me too along with the mask, but I knew I had to use a mask. I sort of talked myself into keeping my mouth closed and it worked for me in a couple days. Then I only had to deal with the uncomfortable mask and pillow issues. YMMV

Years ago I had a Sobakawa pillow with buckwheat and I liked it, but I don't have it anymore. I went to Bed Bath and Beyond to see if they had cpap pillows in the store (they have them online.) They didn't have cpap pillows in the store, but I noticed the Sobakawa filled with beads. I don't remember if they had one out the box that you could feel or not. The new Sobakawa pillow was an instant success for me the first night. It's sort of a small pillow, but it has a little room for the beads to move around when I scrunch it. It works great for me. (By the way, not all bead pillows are the same. I already had a bead pillow, but it seemed like it was packed too full with beads and didn't work with my cpap mask.)

Your doctor should give you a copy of your prescription. I've read that it is useful to carry a copy of your prescription when bringing your cpap through airport security, so that's another reason to have it. You can order many things online without your prescription such as hoses, mask parts, filters, pad a cheek, etc. But machines and an entire mask (not just the parts) require a prescription.

Getting a different style of mask on the schedule your insurance allows it is a smart approach. Your insurance may allow you to order mask cushions/pillows on a more frequent basis such as monthly.

I imagine the pad-a-cheek items would help a lot. I was going to order them, but I improvised by buying a yard of fleece. I washed it and I've been cutting small pieces to put between the headgear and my face. I haven't done any sewing or anything fancy. I just put on my headgear and slip the small pieces of fleece under the straps. It stays in place for me pretty well.

[countryboy]

Thanks Delta4 I appreciate all the info!

I've only seen pictures of the the regular CPAP pillows like they have at Bed Bath and Beyond but they don't look too comfortable to me have you ever tried one?

I'm also not familiar with the Sobakawa pillows so I guess I need to go in a store to check them out. The one you have is the Sobakawa Cloud Pillow correct? I'm thinking I would need a medium or large the Standard size looks kind of small.

So even though a Sobakawa pillow isn't actually a CPAP pillow it does let you sleep on your side with a mask correct?



Mike

[Delta4]

I haven't tried a cpap pillow, but I read a lot of reviews on them. I thought I'd buy one at Bed Bath and Beyond since they accept returns of pillows. They only had the cpap pillow online and I was feeling desperate that day because all my pillows were NOT working with the cpap mask, so I bought the Sobakawa Cloud pillow. If it hadn't worked for me, I would have returned it and ordered their cpap pillow. (Do you have any of their store coupons? They often have a 20% off coupon on any one item. You can sign up on their website to receive coupons.)

My store only had one size of the Sobakawa -- it's not very big and it cost around $20. You can order a larger size if you need it. Hopefully they are all made with a little extra room so you can scrunch it how you need it. That "scrunchability" is why it works for me. (I hope my description makes sense.)

For me, it's perfect for back and side sleeping. Sometimes if I feel a mask leak, all I have to do is roll onto my side and that takes care of the leak. I tried several masks before reading about the Sleepweaver Elan. My DME didn't carry it, so I got my prescription and ordered it from cpap.com. It is a cloth mask and works perfect for me. I wondered why I had to be tortured by 3 other masks first! Comfort is key for me because I have very sensitive skin and I usually sleep 12-15 hours a day. So I'm hooked up to my cpap machine more than I'm not!

Let us know which pillows you try and what works for you. That's the tough thing about reading reviews for all this cpap stuff -- what is perfect for one person is horrible for another. Good luck!

[countryboy]

Well I guess I'll have to stop by Bed Bath and Beyond I live in a rural area so anything like that requires a trip to the city but I'll be going next week. I took my 82 year old mother shopping at BBB last week and out of her purse came all these coupons so yes we have coupons!(lol) Didn't realize you had 30 days to try out a pillow so that's a good thing.

This Sleepweaver Elan mask you mentioned is pretty intriguing I've read some but not a lot about it. I thought I had read though that it didn't last very long and then you had to buy a new one what is your experience? It sounds like it would be very comfortable but the big question is how does it do with air leaks?

[Delta4]

Just a FYI on the BBB coupons--- my local store accepts them even after their expiration date. So tell your mom not to throw them away.

I've used the Sleepweaver Elan for 6 weeks (about 12-15 hours each day.) I haven't had to replace any parts on it yet. It is amazingly comfortable to me. I don't feel like I'm torturing myself like I did with the other masks I tried (Resmed Swift FX nasal pillows, Resmed Quattro FX full face mask, and the Philips Wisp nasal mask.)

Leaks aren't a problem at all for me with it. Whenever I have a leak, it usually just requires a quick strap adjustment or moving the hose. It came with a DVD that shows how to assemble and fit it. If you try this mask, watch the DVD first because it's not intuitive. I had to watch the DVD the first night and again the second night to get it on right. The headgear is not supposed to fit tight like with other masks. It's so comfortable, I have to put my hand near the tiny exhaust flow to make sure my cpap is running. (My pressure is 12.)

Many reviews of this mask say the headgear doesn't leave marks on your face, but I still have to tuck small pieces of fleece under the straps that touch my face. I put a dab of the Lansinoh ointment above my upper lip where the cloth mask rests.

Cpap.com sells a starter kit with the small, medium, and large cushions and you can return it within 30 days. Of course, YMMV and you might not like this mask.

[countryboy]

I'll be interested in following your continued use of the SleepWeaver Élan over a period of say 3-6 months to see if your opinion changes.

One thing does keep happening to me that I don't quite understand. Before bedtime I wash my face and I'm able to get a good seal with my Wisp mask plus I am able to hang my head over the side of the pillow (being a side sleeper) with no leaks.

When I wake up a few hours later sometimes to go to the bathroom I just unhook my hose and leave my mask alone. Now when I lay back down whether on my back or side I get an air leak and this requires taking the mask off and on several times before I can get it not to leak.

Maybe this is normal but hard to go back to sleep after all of that. Also from that point forward it's almost impossible to sleep on my side without leaks where at bedtime it wasn't an issue.