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Medicare has finally approved a new Bi-PAP machine and mask for me. I need help and advice about selecting a mask.

Background: I've used the same nasal mask for almost 20 years. I don't mean the same type of mask; I mean the same actual mask for 20 years. You can see it here:
http://www.astronomyboy.com/mask/

This mask was custom-made for me in 1988 when the available off-the-shelf masks were relatively few and none of them worked for me. The mask was custom-molded to my face. It fits my face perfectly with no gaps or leaks. There is no air blowing on any part of my face. The air goes into my nostrils and nowhere else.

The reasons I am considering a new mask is that the custom-made mask may not last forever, and now that Medicare has approved a new mask, this is a good time to find an alternative.

My main requirements include no air blowing on my face and a good seal that won't leak when I change position while sleeping. I'm thinking that one of the nasal pillow or nasal prong masks will work for me, but I have no experience with any of them, so I am open to any and all suggestions.

If it makes a difference, my pressures are 14/8, with a backup rate of 18.

What can you recommend?

Thanks,

Jeff

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): nasal pillow, medicare, seal

[quote="jdetray"]Medicare has finally approved a new Bi-PAP machine and mask for me. I need help and advice about selecting a mask.

Background: I've used the same nasal mask for almost 20 years. I don't mean the same type of mask; I mean the same actual mask for 20 years. You can see it here:
http://www.astronomyboy.com/mask/

This mask was custom-made for me in 1988 when the available off-the-shelf masks were relatively few and none of them worked for me. The mask was custom-molded to my face. It fits my face perfectly with no gaps or leaks. There is no air blowing on any part of my face. The air goes into my nostrils and nowhere else.

The reasons I am considering a new mask is that the custom-made mask may not last forever, and now that Medicare has approved a new mask, this is a good time to find an alternative.

My main requirements include no air blowing on my face and a good seal that won't leak when I change position while sleeping. I'm thinking that one of the nasal pillow or nasal prong masks will work for me, but I have no experience with any of them, so I am open to any and all suggestions.

If it makes a difference, my pressures are 14/8, with a backup rate of 18.

What can you recommend?

Thanks,

Jeff

WOW is all I have to say!!!

I thought our masks today were pretty ugly --

Where does the exhaled breath exit? I don't see any port holes to keep you from rebreathing the same air over and over.

I would be sure and keep it -- it is unusual and very unique!!

stevoreno wrote: You have actually used the same mask for the last 20 years? Well the mask I've been using for the last 5 years; although I get a new one each year has been the Respironics Profile Lite nasal mask.

Yes, I have used the mask shown in the photos since 1988.

In those days, there were very few choices for masks. The masks I tried all left open sores on my cheeks after only one night. My pulmonary doc was prepared for this and had an arrangement with a reconstructive dental surgeon to create custom masks like the one in the pictures.

The dental surgeon built a "dam" around my face, placed a straw in each nostril, then poured liquid latex rubber over my face. When this solidified, he used it as a mold to make a plaster cast of my face. Then he used the plaster cast to create a silicone mold of my face. He poured liquid fiberglas around the silicone to make a hard shell and create attachment points for the headgear. The soft silicone is what touches my face, and since it is an exact mold of my face, it fits perfectly without gaps or leaks.

The Profile Lite is an example of the type of mask I do NOT want. After so many years of using a mask that does not blow air on my face, I really hate those that do. I need a mask that blows air directly into my nostrils, like my current custom mask.

sleepycarol wrote: Where does the exhaled breath exit?

Just below the curved metal piece, there is a clear plastic "whisper valve." That's where exhaled air escapes.

- Jeff

I only have one mask to recommend - The Nasal Aire II. Lightweight, comfortable, and is the only thing I can tolerate all night long.

I've got a Tip Sheet up there in the Red CPAP FAQ section with all kinds of links, pix, and my reasons why I think it's the end-all, be-all mask.

cpaptalk.com/viewtopic/t23207/Babettes-Nasal-Aire-II-Tip-Sheet.html

Of course, YMMV.

Good luck to you!
Babette

Anonymous wrote:I only have one mask to recommend - The Nasal Aire II. Lightweight, comfortable, and is the only thing I can tolerate all night long.

Babette -

Thanks for your recommendation and the very detailed description of your experience. This is exactly the sort of advice I was hoping for.

Does anyone else have a recommendation?

- Jeff

WOW! I am IMPRESSED! Yer right, it "ain't" a pretty mask but to last THAT long and to have it CUSTOM MADE to your face ..... gads, if wishes were horses .... I would LOVE having one just like it custom made for me!!! In fact, outta curiosity I just might check w/the local dental labs to get an idea of cost IF any would be interested and willing ....

Actually, I fail to see where something like the Respironics Simplicilty simple nasal cushion wouldn't work in place of your current mask. You will most likely find the nasal pillows/nasal prongs/nasal seal style of mask blow the air much more directly and forcefully into your nasal passages than your faithful 20 year old custom made mask.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/simpli ... onics.html

The Simplicity does not cover as much of your face as your old faithful. It also doesn't have a "hard" plastic running between your eyes. It doesn't fit up to the bridge of your nose either. It sits a little below the bridge of your nose.

You have the option of running the hose above your head, down towards your chest or any other direction. The swivel swings very freely and is not as bulky as your custom made. The center strap allows for complete flexibility between forehead and nose instead of the rigid bulk of your custom made.

It is EXTREMELY lightweight, probably the lightest weight mask on the market except for the original Swift (I've never seen a Swift II). It runs about $75 at cpap.com so it is not one of the more expensive masks. Its one of the oldest styles made by Respironics.

Its greatest drawback, easily remedied, is that the velcro at the end of the straps has not been tapered and is as wide as the strap itself which can scratch your cheek or neck skin if not placed CAREFULLY. That is easily remedied w/a pair of scissors, just taper the velcro ends.

For me, since I needed a Petite size Simplicity, the center strap was WAY too long. Again, easily remedied. I just put a fold in the center length of the center strap and held the fold in place w/a strip of velcro until I found just "the" right length for me, then I cut out the length of the fold and velcroed the two cut ends back together. In fact, at first, since I don't run my hose above my head, I used the provided clip for running the hose above your head to hold the fold in place until I got around to remembering to buy some velcro whilst in town.

That extra air space of the simple nasal cushion provided for much more comfortable air flow than the nasal pillows/prong/seal type's forceful air into the nasal passages, at least for me, and my set pressure is only 8 cms. Your maximum 18 cms of pressure is getting pretty high for most nasal pillows/prongs/seals to handle well w/o leak problems, altho there are a few here w/high pressures who have managed to overcome that.

Thanks for the informatioin, Slinky.

About 5 or 6 years ago, I asked my pulmonary doc if he was still referring patients for these custom masks. He said no, it was no longer necessary. He said the wide variety of good masks now available meant that custom masks were no longer needed.

I consider myself lucky to have my "old faithful" mask. In almost 20 years, I've never had any trouble with the mask itself, but the connection between the mask and the main tubing has always been a bit of a kludge. It consists of some small tubing, various oddball adapters, and a whisper valve. I have lovingly cared for the bits and pieces of my current setup, but I worry that one day, an adapter will fail, and I may not be able to find a replacement. This is the main reason why I want to find an off-the-shelf mask that works for me.

Last summer, I had a sleep study where I was required to wear a Resmed Ultra Mirage full face mask. Wow! Did I hate that! The air blowing on my face all night drove me nuts. This only reinforced my desire to avoid masks that blow a lot of air on my face.

- Jeff

hi jeff
you'll probably also get lots of recommendations for the 'headrest' interface (formally the 'aura')

https://www.cpap.com/productpage.php?PNum=1717&PAID=215 ... and there are links in the collective wisdom section for making it work for you

like you, i can't stand the feeling of the air blowing on my face; even with a tiny nasal mask i can feel it tickling the end of my nose, so only nasal pillows for me; with this one, before i fall asleep i don't even feel it on my face anymore...

i've used this one since last april and i love it...nothing else compares for me...like many other 'headrest' devotees, i've removed the plastic box from the top and also the yucky rubber headgear, adding my own straps

i'm a side sleeper and move from one side to the other throughout the night, and it stays put quite nicely with the extra stabilizer strap

i just had another sleep study wearing it, and today my sleep doc told me to keep on using it, that he was pleased with the results...

good luck with your search, and congrats on being such a successful cpap user!!

Sharon

p.s. i'm amazed that your mask still fits you after all those years...i can't be sure a pair of jeans will still fit me a month from now

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, Nasal Pillows

Sharon -

Thanks for your reply about the headrest. There certainly are a lot of masks from which to choose. It may be time-consuming and/or expensive to find the right one.

My DME deals mainly with Respironics and Resmed and is not very familiar with other manufacturers. So I may be on my own if I want a mask that's not from one of those two companies.

As for my custom mask still fitting after almost 20 years, I imagine the mask has forced my face to retain the same shape, even as the rest of me has changed during the past two decades.

- Jeff

jdetray wrote:Sharon -

Thanks for your reply about the headrest. There certainly are a lot of masks from which to choose. It may be time-consuming and/or expensive to find the right one.
My DME deals mainly with Respironics and Resmed and is not very familiar with other manufacturers. So I may be on my own if I want a mask that's not from one of those two companies.
- Jeff_____________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, resmed, DME

hey jeff
yeah, my dme only deals in resmed, respironics and puritan bennett; they don't even carry the headrest in canada, at least not that i've been able to find; i order it and pay for it myself from cpap.com, and i've recently found out through another canadian poster's research that my private insurance won't reimburse me, but it's still worth it to me, as i've tried the swift, the Comfortlite, Comfortlite 2, the breeze and the nasal aire II...i always go back to the headrest...other members (ie in the u.s. ) would be better able to discuss purchasing this particular interface than i can

Hi Sharon -

If I order a Respironics or Resmed mask through my DME, it can be returned within 30 days if I don't like it. If I want to try a mask from another manufacturer, I'll be on my own. The Return Insurance option from CPAP.com may be worthwhile in that case.

How did you learn enough about the headrest to know you wanted to try it? Did someone in this forum recommend it to you?

- Jeff

there were so many people on here that used it and loved it, i just had to try it, as i didn't find anything else i was using comfortable...luckily for me, though, a member named GoofyUT was kind enough to offer me a new one that he hadn't gotten around to trying, for half price...the one i use now i bought new, because i broke the old one through my own negligence; i'll be ordering another one for back up soon though, since it took 2 weeks to get the replacement and none of my other interfaces worked for me while i was waiting

there is an auction on this site, though and lots of members engage in exchanging masks they don't end up using

my dme is also great about exchanging interfaces; that's why i really wish they would carry this one; when my six months was up last time i tried many of the ones they had, hoping to find one i would be covered for, but no dice ...so back to the headrest for me, paying out-of-pocket

good luck!

I finally got a look at your rig, Jeff.... O M G!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Um, can we put a pic of Jeff's Mask up top with the words "Newbies, quit whining! It could be worse!"

Jeez, and you LIKED that mask for 20 years??? Oh honey....

Sorry, but that's just, just... Um... Sade-istic?

Hey, if you LIKED that, try the OptiLife. Very similar configuration. Me, I hated having the hose routed down my body and the mask blocking my mouth. But you're used to it. The NAII might be TOO comfortable for you.

LOL,
Babs

OH MY GOD

i just checked out the link, too and i have to say that is the ugliest cpap mask i've ever seen

it must have really worked for you, jeff, to keep slapping that thing on your face night after night!