Long face, narrow nose

After two and a half years on CPAP and lots of mask switching, I'm having the best success with the Airfit F20 full face mask.
I prefer nasal and full masks to pillows because breathing is more natural; however, I haven't found a nasal mask that fits well.
My nose is a normal length but narrow, so I have to use a small or petite mask to avoid leakage.
However, then I have the problem of pressure from the mask closing off my nose, since these masks typically do not go very high on the bridge.

I like the Airfit F20 as a full mask both because it seals high on the bridge and because it is the only full mask I've found that doesn't leak into my eyes.
However, I would still like to try a nasal mask if I could find one that was long from top to bottom yet narrow from side to side.

Any suggestions? I've tried the Mirage FX for her and the Airfit N20. The small FX leaked at the bridge,
while the small N20 either did not stay in place (if loose) or pinched off my nose (if tighter).

weroberts75 wrote:I prefer nasal and full masks to pillows because breathing is more natural

Hmmm? I'm wondering why you get that feeling. Nasal pillows are preferred by tens of thousands of users. I've used nasal pillows for years, and breathing feels very pleasant.

weroberts75 wrote:Any suggestions?

Have you ever looked at the models and read the reviews here? ---> https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks.php

At this point, I recommend sticking with the more popular masks.

Wero: I agree with you. After 6 failure masks I am now using the Air Fit 20. Not in love with it--but it does seal. And since I have that seal now--AHI down to 1-2 per hr. compared to 68 per hr when I started this. NO leaks and res med score is 98. Best mask so far. Wala.
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No I am not getting great sleep. 7 weeks into this and still not used to it. Not sure I will ever get used to it.

A MESS wrote:Wero: I agree with you. After 6 failure masks I am now using the Air Fit 20. Not in love with it--but it does seal.

You said you've been at it 7 weeks; I've been at it 21 months now and CPAP therapy has its ups and downs, but I'm having longer and longer stretches where most things go right.
I know my first two months were very rough.

When I switched to a full mask I was able to breathe naturally which, for me, means lips apart even if I'm breathing primarily through the nose. My jaw developed while I was primarily a mouth breather, and although I've had sinus surgery and am primarily a nasal breather now, big changes to physiology don't happen overnight. If my mouth is shut tight, my throat can't relax and my breathing is restricted.

As for pillows, I've thought that they were harder for me to exhale through than other types of masks. I have very narrow nasal passages and have to position pillows just right in order to exhale with ease; otherwise I become anxious, which is the opposite of what CPAP therapy should do. However, I've also figured out that part of the resistance is in my throat, not my nose, and is not due to my throat relaxing (as is supposed to be the case with many sleep apnea sufferers) but due to certain muscles tightening. If I take the time to do some relaxed breathing before bed, it almost always helps me to have fewer events during the night.

ChicagoGranny wrote:

weroberts75 wrote:I prefer nasal and full masks to pillows because breathing is more natural

Hmmm? I'm wondering why you get that feeling. Nasal pillows are preferred by tens of thousands of users. I've used nasal pillows for years, and breathing feels very pleasant.

Although pillows are definitely easier to fit and wear comfortably, I've tried the P10, the Swift FX, and the Brevida, and for me it is much easier to exhale through nasal masks.
I was able to breathe naturally through the Pilairo Q, but it was hard for me to adjust it just right so that I could avoid leaks.

weroberts75 wrote:Any suggestions?

ChicagoGranny wrote:Have you ever looked at the models and read the reviews here? ---> https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks.php

At this point, I recommend sticking with the more popular masks.

After several weeks of research, and based on both my experiences and the templates that I have found, it is clear that I need a medium or standard size in most nasal masks.
It looks like I do best with a forehead support, so I am going to try the Mirage FX standard size and possibly the Activa LT.
If I’m still not happy several months down the road, the Dreamwear mask and the Nuance Pro are masks that I’ve always been curious about but have not tried, due to the mixed reviews.
However, I’ve found that any mask should be given at least a week or two, unless it’s clearly not working, in order to sort out its unique features and adjustment quirks.

As an aside, I've discovered that my nose is not as narrow as I have thought.
My bridge is not prominent in terms of how far out it goes, but it is not narrow by any means.
My DME did me a disservice by glancing at my face and not actually measuring me.

Granny, Thank you for your tips!