Any hybrid mask (or glasses wearing) users w/ high pressure?

[Punchyandtired]

Oh dear. While the full face mask felt comfortable it has left red marks on my face. I hope they fade before I have to go to work. I wonder if it was because I was wearing it incorrectly.

What is your pressure? FFM are supposed to "float" on your face. Lie down, turn on cpap, put mask on face. Pull out 1/2 inch off face and lay it back down. Toggle up and down and side to side to seal. Straps should be loose. Sometimes i use an index finger to sort of "slice" between the mask and face of there is a small leak.


But I find this doesn't really work once you get above say a pressure of 12... Then you have to batten down the hatches and then you get marks.

[webbie73]

Why do you need your glasses on with the mask? At night I read in bed or watch tv. Once I am ready to sleep I take my glasses off, grab my mask flip on the machine, shut the light off and nod off. Takes less than a minute. I can not imagine reading with my machine on....I breath fine while awake!

[winnie]

I tend to fall asleep while reading.

[Punchyandtired]

It's very relaxing.

[BlackSpinner]

Oh dear. While the full face mask felt comfortable it has left red marks on my face. I hope they fade before I have to go to work. I wonder if it was because I was wearing it incorrectly.

There are liners available which make it less likely. In a pinch make your own by cutting up a cotton knit t-shirt.

[M'ohms]

With my high pressures, I have to tighten my mask quite a bit. I used micro-fleece to make my mask liners. The micro-fleece offers a little more padding between the cushion and face. Works great for me!

[LSAT]

Why do you need your glasses on with the mask? At night I read in bed or watch tv. Once I am ready to sleep I take my glasses off, grab my mask flip on the machine, shut the light off and nod off. Takes less than a minute. I can not imagine reading with my machine on....I breath fine while awake!

I agree!

[Pugsy]

The right mask and mask fit can make or break this cpap thing.
I always tell people to at least try a mask that interests them because if they don't at least try then they will always be wondering or "what iffing" about it. What if I like it and it works...or what if I hate it. If a person tries the mask then they will have an answer. I have tried lots of mask (mainly in the nasal pillow line because that is where my priorities are) and I have tried them because they looked interesting to me and not because I was necessarily unhappy with what I was using at the time.
I have always learned something from these experiments...sometimes all I learned was that I hated so and so mask but sometimes I have been surprised and learned that a newer type of mask works quite well for me.....but I always learned something.

I am sorry to hear that the UPPP procedure didn't help....that's not the first time I have heard that story. Unfortunately not only does if often not resolve the issue it can make cpap therapy itself harder to adjust to or drastically change pressure requirements.

Anyway....let him try any mask that looks interesting to him and might suit his needs. Don't get sucked into the old wives tales though because it could cause him to maybe miss out on trying a mask that might just work very well for him.
Any mask can be use at any pressure...now sometimes there will be a bigger challenge in terms of getting a keeping a seal at the higher pressures but that can happen with any mask and if you think about it...the greater the surface area needing to be sealed then the greater the potential sealing issue and that's why I suggest nasal pillow mask if a person could possibly use one if they are interested in trying.

[chunkyfrog]

Another problem with many nasal cushion and full face masks, (which receives far too little attention),
is the fact that some of us are sensitive to pressure on the upper sides of the nose, which can directly cause congestion.
You can test this with thumb and index finger lightly pinching the nose below the bridge, and noting if any position
results in a "tight" feeling. Often any mask touching that area (even very lightly) will cause congestion.
This might be a good self test to try when being fitted for a new mask.

[RubySnooze]

I agree with Pugsy. I use the Hybrid occasionally (I prefer the Quattro FX as my go-to mask) and I also use the F10. I have found the softcap blue mesh headgear to be superior to the headgear that comes with these masks. It supports the mask better and doesn't stretch out around the back of my head. Strangely enough, it doesn't mess up my hair.

I have to modify the headgear somewhat because the straps are made to accommodate a forehead piece. Easy to do.

M'ohms, could you provide more information on what was needed to use the softcap headgear with the Hybrid mask? I think I'm gonna follow you into this one...

Thanks so much!

Ruby

[IDontSnoreISwear]

I wear glasses and like your husband enjoy reading as I'm drifting off to sleep.

My machine is an APAP with pressures set to 13-18, and Swift FX nasal pillows.

They work the best of anything I've tried, so I've decided to ignore the old wives' tale about high pressures being incompatible with nasal pillows.

[otrpu]

dkeller,
I use the RespCare HYBRID FFM. I don't think I'm particularly HIGH pressure, range: 5-11. But it's mask that seals very well having a quite small seal area. And the chin support tends to help keep my mouth closed. Have him take a look and see what he thinks.

Cheers,
otrpu