Newbie with Mask Question

[szqnva]

Hi all! Just completed my cpap trial and made it through the night with a nasal mask. Much to my surprise, my sleep technician determined that I am not a mouth breather. Now comes the hard part. I meet with my sleep specialist in a week and I am assuming that I may have some input into which type of mask I receive. The nasal mask I used during the sleep study - and I'm sorry, but I don't know the brand - fit well, no leaks, seemed comfortable, but I woke up with red spots on my cheeks and bridge of nose that lasted for over 12 hours! So I'm not sure if I should try a nasal mask or request to start with the pillows. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[englandsf]

I would highly recommend pillows first out if you don't mouth breathe. Try the P10s, they're very popular here.

[grayghost4]

The P 10 is a good mask ... also look at the Swift FX it is the one I use.

[herefishy]

I'm one who couldn't stand pillows, so my vote is for the nasal mask, I use the Mirage Activa LT.

[RicaLynn]

Mask selection it's probably the most frustrating part of this process; it's highly individual. I agree that pillows works be a good choice, I use the P10 myself. Just be aware that there will be a break-in period for those as well. My nostrils broke out badly by day three, causing quote a bit of discomfort with the mask. It's tender skin that's not accustomed to continuous contact, but stick with it and you'll not regret it!

[Minky]

The P10 is great and it's my primary mask, but it will hurt your nostrils at first, so be sure to have a tube of Lansinoh lanolin. I find that it works best to put some on right before bed and again first thing in the morning.

[Julie]

Any chance you just had it on too tight?

[szqnva]

Thanks all for the suggestions! And it is entirely possible it may have been too tight. However, the sleep tech is the one who adjusted it, so I assume he knows what he was doing. Maybe. It didn't really feel too tight, and I slept pretty well. The nasal pillows sound like they might be a good fit for me, although the "breaking out" part sounds like not much fun. I realize, though, that any mask I choose will have some type of break in period.

[cwillis]

I will give you my suggestion and share my recent experience with you. I'm also very new. Been on CPAP for only 25 days. Had a sleep study last week and the tech gave me a mask to try: you will see the link in my profile. What a difference it has been compared to the other mask I had been using: Mirage Activa LT. It only fits the nasal area and doesn't irritate bridge of my nose. Granted I'm no expert yet and I'm trying to determine if my apnea is better since I switched masks via Sleepyhead software.

[Wulfman...]

Thanks all for the suggestions! And it is entirely possible it may have been too tight. However, the sleep tech is the one who adjusted it, so I assume he knows what he was doing. Maybe. It didn't really feel too tight, and I slept pretty well. The nasal pillows sound like they might be a good fit for me, although the "breaking out" part sounds like not much fun. I realize, though, that any mask I choose will have some type of break in period.

Don't give them too much credit. They only care about you keeping the mask on and sleeping with it for a few hours.
About a year after I had my sleep study, I bought a mask like the one I did my sleep study with (Respironics Comfortfull 2) and could only manage three nights with it before going back to my original......UMFF. Those three nights were a painful ordeal.

I've always been a full face mask user so I can't recommend any varieties of nasal masks. But, "the mask" part of this therapy is the most personal and can be the most challenging to new users. I managed to pick "the one for me" right from the start.......others go through many masks till they find the one that works best for them.


Den

.