New to Bi-PAP and problems with mask fit

I've been on the hose for nearly ten years, so I speak from experience. Finding the right mask is the hardest part of adapting to the therapy. If you're like most of us, you're paying a huge, perhaps 400%, premium for your equipment thru a DME in lieu of on-line sources. That huge premium should pay for you to try every mask available on the market, so insist on alternatives.

I regret giving my first mask two nights of trial. I should of insisted on another option after one night, before the blisters appeared on my nose I was very lucky that my second mask was ideal, and I still use the same type, although I continue to look for the perfect one.

If you have uncorrectable leaks or pain, trash the mask! Just because a mask has high user ratings, it doesn't mean that it will work for you. Likewise, every poorly rated mask has loyal adherents.

Lastly, you might want to look at chin straps, tape and other methods of eliminating the mouth breathing. You'll be much happier on CPAP if you keep your mouth shut. I know that's easy for me to say, as I've never had the problem and I've struggled, unsuccessfully, to stop my wife of 40+ years from mouth breathing.

I bet the mask seemed to fit fine and not leak when you were at your DME didn't it? Well if it did that's because they are familiar with it and adjusted it well right off the bat. You on the other hand are not familiar with any of the equipment, or with sleeping with it.
I agree with sronson try different masks, that's how I got to the quattro which works great for me. I had many problems with it at first but it was the only mask that would not leak all the time. I finally figured out that I wasn't putting the mask on the same way the DME had it on my head and was over tightening the head straps. Once I got used to wearing the mask and sleeping with it, I started to have less problems with it.
I am on an Auto BiPap and my pressure was originally 16/20 and bumped up to 17/21 which caused the mask to leak even more. The mask was also not rated for those pressures and I found that I could not find one that was rated for that pressure. All the mask data that I could find for leak rates is under 20. The mask leak rate is the amount of air that will come out of the vent in the mask when being used. At higher pressures your leak rate goes up. That leak rate will show up in the data your machine reports.

Good luck

Gerry

Like you I have a bi-pap with a setting of 21/17 so finding a mask that doesnt go flying off of your face is a challenge. I started with a FFM and fought it for a period of time until I couldnt take it any longer. I could never get it to seal properly with my high pressures. So I called my RT and she sent me a nasal mask. Now the nasal mask actually took me longer to get used to because of the way it rubbed my nose but I wouldnt trade it for anything now. My leak rate is looking very good with this mask.

As far as cleaning goes, I use an alcohol free wipe every night to clean the mask and thoroughly clean it once per week with warm soapy water followed by vinegar.

Finding the right mask is the hardest part of the battle so hang in there and dont give up. David