Trouble-Free Masks?

ComfortFull 2 is really my first and only mask. I did get another when I got the machine, but that was because they had to order the ComfortFull. It was the best of the three they tried during my sleep study.

I can even sleep on my stomach occasionally.

UM2 nose mask is my default mask- I can always count on a great nights sleep if I tape my mouth shut and wear this mask.

More often than not I'm using the UMFF, though- it's most comfey mask for me. It can have tiny leaks in the night as I toss and turn around, but they're usually not of any great consequence.

I have been using C-Pap for a little over 2 yrs. I had problems with nasal pillow and other face masks. My nose or something was always sore and I usually took them off in the middle of the night. Then about 6 months ago, I found the best mask ever. It's the SleepWeaver. It's cloth and is very comfortable. I don't take it of during the night and I actually enjoy using it. You can find it on line if your provider does have it. Enjoy!

snufflepgs wrote:trouble-free mask

That's an oxymoron.

Some level of acceptable détente is about as good as it gets for most xPAP users.

Cheers,

Bill

"trouble-free mask" may be like "free lunch" - doesn't really exist.

Well, with smart effort you can get much better.

Understand adjustments, try things, re-do periodically (note that most elastic takes permanent stretch with age and eventually isn't very elastic).

Get good advice based on your anatomy, in particular top of nose which is a common problem area - some people's nose stops betweent the eyes, other's goes right up to the forehead.

As for masks, I recommend Fisher & Paykel's replacement for their 432 (adds better forehead pad).

For nasal interface, I recommend the Puritan-Bennet ADAMS pillows, also used in Breeze. Poor headgear on both - see if http://www.thecpapstore.com, aka CPAPMan, still sell their CONJO headgear (preferably the fully adjustable version, as custom version is difficult to measure accurately for). Also beware the Breeze manifold may not be durable, and the ADAMS manifold is a klunky mess, but can be made to work (see CPAPMan for advice).
(People herein have modified masks including by combining different parts. Do ensure you have an anti-aspyxiation vent, which sometimes is in the hose not the mask.)

I don't think much of any other pillows.

Note that how much difficulty you have with interfaces will depend on how much you move during sleep, and if you sleep on your side or face - stay still on your back all night and you'll have less trouble (but need higher pressure).

As a newbie to the site, and relative newbie to Apnea, diagnosed less than 2 months ago, I have been reading the newbie sections and have found this thread very entertaining, especially when I Google these recommendations for great fitting mask from way back 10 and more years ago. I can only say I am VERY glad those weren't MY choices and can't help but to be thankful mask have come a long way.
With that being said, I have had difficulty in finding a great mask fit. I think my biggest problem is that my pressure was set at 16 and that makes it a challenge to keep leaks from occurring, especially when you move around. When I went back at the 6 weeks check up, after finding apnea boards and learning what I wish I had known before my sleep study, I asked the Dr to prescribe a range for my ResMed AirSense 10 (I was lucky enough to get that originally) and he prescribed 6-16 settings and now my masks that I was have trouble with now work much better since only a few minutes a night are in the 13.5 - 15 range and the rest mostly between 6 and 10.
I would love to see this list added to with current favorites to try. I currently use an Amera View and Airfit 10.

I have gone through around 20 different masks, and am currently using the Dream Wear Full Face Mask. I like it better than the Amara View.

I really like the Quattro FX full face mask. This was what was used at the sleep study, and I slept over 5 hours straight without any leaks.

I asked for that mask when I got my machine. I don't know if the sleep tech had used a small headgear or just fit the standard perfectly, but I struggled for almost 6 weeks with the standard headgear. If I tightened it to what felt right, t he velcro was in my hair and could sometimes come loose. I got a small headgear, and everything improved immediately.

Sometimes, I have to readjust during the night. Usually, this is due to drooling which I do sometimes. Then the mask starts to slide a bit. If I sleep on my back more, the pressure goes higher, and I may have some issues. Usually, I can roll back onto my side and not have to deal with it.

RebekahTN wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 11, 2018 2:09 pm

As a newbie to the site, and relative newbie to Apnea, diagnosed less than 2 months ago, I have been reading the newbie sections and have found this thread very entertaining, especially when I Google these recommendations for great fitting mask from way back 10 and more years ago. I can only say I am VERY glad those weren't MY choices and can't help but to be thankful mask have come a long way.
With that being said, I have had difficulty in finding a great mask fit. I think my biggest problem is that my pressure was set at 16 and that makes it a challenge to keep leaks from occurring, especially when you move around. When I went back at the 6 weeks check up, after finding apnea boards and learning what I wish I had known before my sleep study, I asked the Dr to prescribe a range for my ResMed AirSense 10 (I was lucky enough to get that originally) and he prescribed 6-16 settings and now my masks that I was have trouble with now work much better since only a few minutes a night are in the 13.5 - 15 range and the rest mostly between 6 and 10.
I would love to see this list added to with current favorites to try. I currently use an Amera View and Airfit 10.

Most members have their equipment listed at the bottom of their posts. If that's what they are using, it must be their favorite.

After years of mask fighting, I recently started using the Dreamwear FFM. (I am a dedicated mouth-breather.) I think I am in love! I have exceeded the insurance's 4-hour compliance requirement every single night, and have not removed the mask once during my sleep. In the past, no matter the mask, it almost always found its way to the floor while I was sleeping. On my first mask, I not only removed it but completely disassembled it while sleeping--all the way down to removing buckles from the headstrap and the tiny silicone flapper from the valve.

But the Dreamwear is having minimal leaks, and if I wake up, I don't dread putting it back on, which is a first. It is a complete winner for me.

Hopefully you will find the one that fits you.

[/quote]

If that's what they are using, it must be their favorite.
[/quote]

I have found this to be untrue, actually, maybe the one they are having the least issues with... while they wait on insurance to cover a different one or a windfall of money. I would have loved to have found the forums before I did my sleep study, so I would have known what my rights are. At the sleep study they had "cheap generic mask to use for the sleep study". The one conducting it used those words in describing the mask. You had to choices a full face mask or nasal, they had actual elastic holding them on your head.

Now I know that at the sleep study there should have been different "quality" mask that I could try for a better fit. I'm not sure how they were supposed to find proper pressures with ill fitting masks.

I also now know that the equipment provider should have let me try several mask and let me try it under my pressure setting of 16. She did not. She put one mask on me and said how does this feel. I said, ummmm ok I guess. She went and got the box it came in and gave it to me, telling me there was a 30 day exchange. After a week and a half I went back to exchange telling her I needed the mask in a smaller size. She ended up saying, well, lets try a different one instead. Never measured my face, put a mask on under pressure or anything. I tried the new mask, after a week I had a sore under my nose caused by the mask and had by that time found the forums... I was told that they couldn't switch the mask to the smaller size because you can only swap once in 30 days.

After the 30 days I went back to switch to a smaller size in the mask and the sore was bigger and use had gone done although I was still making sure I was using it for at least 4 hours a night due to the sores. The lady at the counter saw my face and said she was calling the ladies supervisor (the regular fitting person wasn't in that day) after hearing what had caused the sores. I left with the orginal full mask and headgear in a size small (so I could use it while under the nose healed) and the size small cushion for the one had. Can't wait for 6 months to try something new as the cost of mask that might or might not work is to high on my budget....

I have been looking at three that I am hoping to try next time I go, now that I know I can ask to try on more than 1. Airfit P10, Dreamware Nasal and Sleepware Anew. My biggest problem seems to be that my pressure is 16 for one and the next is that apparently I have a small head and have to adjust as small as they will go which brings the masks straps I have tried so far up into my eyes. Very frustrating. But I will work it out eventually.