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I have thought of trying a nasal pillow My problem would be haveing to wear a chin strap and having to tape my mouth. I don't have to do that with a face mask

Have you looked at the Hybrid or Liberty? I know you don't like the chipmonk look -- these are nasal pillows with a *small* mouth cover, not so chipmonky. So you can get most your air through your nose but, if you do mouth breathe, you are still okay. Nothing on your forehead or even your nose bridge, so you could still wear glasses and read in bed. I don't blame you on the chinstrap or taping thing -- I don't think I could handle that either.

I'm not sure about the Liberty, but there are several "fixes" mentioned for the Hybrid, including cutting various bits and pieces off to make it more comfortable for different face shapes, so that may be a good mask for you to experiment with since it comes with three different sizes of both nasal pillows and mouth pieces.

Peggy

Yo bro,

Definitely try another mask. No one mask will work for everyone so you need to try some. See if sleep lab will let you borrow (they put them in disinfectant between patients - straps, mask and all).

I find that any one mask seems to quit working well for me after about a week or two so I keep switching around between 2 masks currently. I really liked the Quattro once I got used to it but about a month later discovered that in spite of scrupulous cleaning it did horrible things to my rosacea so that one is now out of the rotation.

I also use Rested Gal's pantyhose tights for stabilization - they're awesome!

The challenge is to get to the point where you feel better on CPAP and then the struggle turns out to be very much worth it. If you don't feel better, it's very hard to keep doing it.

Mindy

Taping is a bother, but I got used to it pretty quick. I woke up the first night and didn't even realize I had it on. And its cheaper than buying a new machine

I asked for, and received an Activa mask for my first mask based on so many positive comments about it, but it didn't work out for me. Besides the smallest size, Shallow, being too big for me, my pressure is too low for it to properly inflate (8 or 9). Therefore was having to put it on very tight and wondering why everyone thought it was so great. Then my RT told me that Activa doesn't work so well at pressures below 12.

So I gave the mask to my BF who has a pressure over 12, and he LOVES it. I can't believe it doesn't leak, it looks as if it is barely touching his face! But it really did work out well for him. It rains more inside than the ComfortGel did, but he still prefers it.

Then my RT told me that Activa doesn't work so well at pressures below 12.

K8e, tell your RT that is a bald face lie!

I have the same mask and using for over a year my pressures using APAP run from a low of 7 to a high of 10, sometimes up to 11 (rarely). The mask inflates and works well. By the way mine too is a shallow.

I suggest that you can contact RESMED yourself and confirm. Shame shame on your RT!

Okay I am breathing again...deep breaths...yes very good!

k8e wrote:I can't believe it doesn't leak, it looks as if it is barely touching his face!

Funny thing is - it doesn't have to be on tight to seal. I wonder if THAT was the problem.

I would try it again, loose as you can. The air expands it to seal. Let us know how you make out.

Fredman wrote:

Then my RT told me that Activa doesn't work so well at pressures below 12.

K8e, tell your RT that is a bald face lie!

I have the same mask and using for over a year my pressures using APAP run from a low of 7 to a high of 10, sometimes up to 11 (rarely). The mask inflates and works well. By the way mine too is a shallow.

I suggest that you can contact RESMED yourself and confirm. Shame shame on your RT!

Okay I am breathing again...deep breaths...yes very good!

GumbyCT wrote:

k8e wrote:I can't believe it doesn't leak, it looks as if it is barely touching his face!

Funny thing is - it doesn't have to be on tight to seal. I wonder if THAT was the problem.

I would try it again, loose as you can. The air expands it to seal. Let us know how you make out.

Brothertony,
Hybrid , hybrid , Hybrid.
You get the best of all cpap masks. It has the softest pillows, you can breathe with your mouth if you want, has a nice chinflap it keep it in place and bring your jaw forward slightly. Your insurance will give you a new mask every 90 days. otherwise, you'll have to pay 150.00 for it.
It's the best 150.00 I ever spent. I would have given up were it not for this helpfull mask.
The quatro isn't too bed, but it breaks easily. go easy with the swivel and never yank the hose off the mask.

I can agree on the Activa nasal mask. It will usually seal for me when nothing else is working!