Hose swivel, face wrinkles (expanded newbie post)

Hi I'm brand new. This is my very first post. I don't even have a sig because no equipment yet. So....I'm starting to look at the millions of mask options. Im trying to determine if the top of head hose is necessary for me and if the swivel is smooth and noise-free on most/all/none.
I do a fair amount of moving around but tbh that might change once I'm actually sleeping! I seriously can't wait to try CPAP and OSCAR.

You shouldn't hear the swivel noise. Your hose has to connect to your mask somewhere. I would look at the most popular masks at cpap.com and start there. The mask search is a journey.

Good Luck!

Sheriff

Trainer4346 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 16, 2023 7:37 am

Im trying to determine if the top of head hose is necessary for me and if the swivel is smooth and noise-free on most/all/none.

The swivel will likely be very quiet and smooth. And most people find the machine itself pretty quiet. The noises that tend to bother people who are first starting out are related to the airflow. Some masks have noisier exhaust vents. Some people have more trouble with leaks, and leaks create noise. Some people notice the sound of their own breathing because it can be conducted from the hose to your ears through your skull or it can be noticeable if the exhaust flow is bouncing off the bed covers. But all of these can be addressed if they turn out to be an issue.

And only you can tell whether a top of head hose is "necessary", "nice to have, but not critical", or "big annoyance".

Yes, some people love top of head hose attachments. With a hose hanger or draping the hose across the headboard, this arrangement does seem to provide more freedom of movement for many folks.

Others don't particularly like them. They're the folks who are bothered by the tubing along the sides of your head that allow the air from the hose to get to the mask. Some people simply find those tubes a bit more uncomfortable than ordinary headgear. Others tend to hear the sound of the air flowing through those tubes and find that distracting.

I would suggest that you make sure you fully understand the mask return policy of the place supplying your equipment. Most DMEs have a reasonable mask return policy for folks who are just starting out. Take advantage of it if you don't like the first mask you start out with.

And finally, it's worth considering buying a second mask OOP (with a return policy) so you can compare two types of masks to help you figure out what kind you prefer.

I use a ResMed N30i primarily which has the top of the head swivel. It is very quiet as is the mask itself. I sleep on my back and right side and it stays in place. I do not toss and turn. As one poster stated, finding a mask that works for you is a journey. My own journey saw 12 - 13 masks and ultimately it was one of the early ones I rejected (N30i) that I went back to after finding the cushion size and frame size were incorrect. Once sorted I was and still am in love with it. Much depends on your sleep style and facial anatomy. What works brilliantly for some are utter failures for others.

Wishing you the best on your CPAP journey. Cheers!

Wow thanks so much for the details and support! I hadn't thought about how the tubing itself would run on the side/sides of face. I'm also concerned about face indentations and wrinkles so perhaps I need to rethink it. Anyone, women in particular, have tricks for that? Frownies tape?

If your mask is NOT overly tight - and shouldn't be - you won't get many marks, but if there is some redness in the a.m. a swipe with an ice cube helps, as does a little time (certainly before you get to the office).

You might also try Padacheek.com's 'liners' made for leaks, but which also might help with marks.

I get lines on my face--but they blend in with the ones I earned.
It doesn't matter whether you look your age--just that you got there.
With cpap, I hope to get a lot older--and look it, too.

As others have said, finding a mask is a journey, the length of which varies from person to person. Hopefully yours will be short and you will find your mask quickly. It took me quite a while but I am very happy now.

Good luck with your search!

Oh, also I really think that a positive attitude helps tremendously...I think your final sentence in your original post bodes well!