Mask/DME Frustration!

I really have not been comfortable with my full face mask. Lots of pressure on my face, feeling very claustrophobic, and leaks around my nose. I went to my DME on Black Friday and they told me they'd order me a new hybrid mask to try. They said it only comes in 2 sizes- small and large, and that I look like I'd be a small. Now, I've nearly 6 feet tall and not skinny by any means, so I'm not exactly used to being called small, but whatever. They told m it would take 2-3 business days to get to my house. With the holiday season, I allowed extra time. But Dec 23rd came and it still wasn't at my house. So I called again. They never returned my phone call, but yesterday the mask showed up in my mail. Okay, progress.

The mask they sent was this one: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html

I tried it on, and it seemed 10x more comfortable than my other mask. But the mouth piece seemed very small. I figured I would try sleeping with it tonight anyway. Every time I opened my mouth my bottom lip fell right out the bottom of the mask. Even with my mouth closed, the bottom of the mask hit right on my lip, causing all kinds of irritation. Well this isn't going to work.

I look up the mask on cpap.com and see they have a sizing guide. Print it out and look- I'm clearly a large by like a 2 inch margin. If my DME had used a similar tool, I'd be having a mask I liked by now! So now, once again, I am waiting for a call back from them. Maybe I should go and give them the sizing guide I printed out in person?

Have the dme order you a large under the manufacturer mask guarantee program.

Demerit wrote:Have the dme order you a large under the manufacturer mask guarantee program.

Yep, that's my plan, if they ever call me back!

I had about the same frustration with my DME, Lincare, and I ended up leaving brick and mortar DME's altogether and going mail order. Same thing happened to me. I told them I wanted an Eson like I used at the sleep study but the tech had a small which worked but was a little small. I went on the F&P page and downloaded their size template and sure enough I was a medium. Called the DME and they were rude and insisted that the tech knew more then me and that they were going to order a small. Fed up I just hung up the phone and went online to a DME and ordered not only the mask I wanted but a new APAP as well.

My out of pocket percentage was greater because the online shop was "our of network" but my actual out of pocket expense was much less because the mask and the machine were significantly less expensive and there was no DME overhead.

That DME called me back fully a month later and said that for the coinsurance charge of $250 I could pick up my mask. I paid $77 online for it and insurance reimbursed 65% of that. Needless to say I told them what they could do with their mask.

Thatgirl wrote: I tried it on, and it seemed 10x more comfortable than my other mask. But the mouth piece seemed very small. I figured I would try sleeping with it tonight anyway. Every time I opened my mouth my bottom lip fell right out the bottom of the mask. Even with my mouth closed, the bottom of the mask hit right on my lip, causing all kinds of irritation. Well this isn't going to work.

Yes that is the problem with the liberty hybrid. The innomed/respcare one comes in three sizes of nasal pillows and three sizes of mouth pieces and you get all six of them. It also has a chin piece that keeps you mouth from opening.

BlackSpinner wrote:

Thatgirl wrote: I tried it on, and it seemed 10x more comfortable than my other mask. But the mouth piece seemed very small. I figured I would try sleeping with it tonight anyway. Every time I opened my mouth my bottom lip fell right out the bottom of the mask. Even with my mouth closed, the bottom of the mask hit right on my lip, causing all kinds of irritation. Well this isn't going to work.

Yes that is the problem with the liberty hybrid. The innomed/respcare one comes in three sizes of nasal pillows and three sizes of mouth pieces and you get all six of them. It also has a chin piece that keeps you mouth from opening.

When they called me back they said they had a similar one in stocks they could give me today that came with all three sizes of mouth pieces. I wonder if that's the one.

I use the Innomed Hybrid. I'm a 5' 7" female, and the small with medium pillows worked for me until I switched to ASV, after which I switched to the medium mask and medium pillows, which cured the leaks and was more comfortable (it probably would have been more comfortable from the get-go, but I assumed I would be a small since that's what they gave me for the Liberty mask). The Liberty mask was really uncomfortable on my upper lip, but the Innomed feels great and comes with all three sizes so you can try them all. I definitely think if the Liberty mask works for you, then try the large by all means. I also like the pad-a-cheek liner. My skin doesn't like the contact with the plastic and starts to break out, but the liner solves all those problems. I actually wound up ordering my Innomed mask because I wasn't within the timeframe for insurance to pay for a new one. I think I got it for around $109 from one of the major online retailers. It was worth every penny. Good luck!

try some of the tips in this link

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/

it will help you with wearing a FFM and understanding how to properly adjust them

good luck

Denial Dave wrote:try some of the tips in this link

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/

it will help you with wearing a FFM and understanding how to properly adjust them

good luck

Great tips. Thanks!