The right mask for side sleepers

I've been doing good sleeping with the mask for the past 3 weeks but I still have one problem. I sleep on my side and my mask will get pushed up a little by my pillow or my arm. This creates leaks in my mask. I don't want to put it any tighter because it's uncomfortable. My question is - What is the best mask for side sleepers?

Thanks a bunch,
Robert

I personally feel like it's one that doesn't have any side straps, such as the Breeze, the ComfortLite2 or the Headrest.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/purita ... rface.html

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Comfor ... -Mask.html

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/aeiome ... rface.html

Although I think any nasal pillow or prong system seems to work better for side sleepers than a nasal or full face mask. A lot of people have good results side sleeping with the Nasal Aire II.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/innome ... e-kit.html

I still manage to sleep on my side with the Hybrid FFM, but I have to hang my head off the side of the pillow.

I don't know what is the best mask for side sleeping; however, I can related to you my own personal experience...

I have the Quattro FFM and have found I can lay on my side with no issues. I do sleep on my back the majority of the time (yes, I know... a no no for apnea) but often end up laying on my side for a couple of hours in the morning.

You need to be careful about where the exhaust air is directed though... as your partner could end up getting blasted with it.

Paul56 wrote:You need to be careful about where the exhaust air is directed though... as your partner could end up getting blasted with it.

My cat won't come anywhere near the head of the bed when I have my mask on. Unexpected CPAP bonus!

rmendez8 wrote: I sleep on my side and my mask will get pushed up a little by my pillow or my arm. This creates leaks in my mask. I don't want to put it any tighter because it's uncomfortable. My question is - What is the best mask for side sleepers? Robert

I am a total side sleeper. I use an UM ffm.
I created the slice and dice cpap memory foam pillow, for side sleeping.
It helps, but I have found a way that I actually turn my head and gently press
my mask into the pillow. I do it in such a way that it snugs it to my face,
and helps prevent leaks.

Don't ask how I do these things, I'm just a noooob.....what do I know?

.....it just works.

Fortomorrow, I've never used a nasal pillow, just the full face mask. Is the nasal pillow similar to the nasal mask? I had trouble with the nasal mask at the sleep clinic.

Thanks,
Robert

What's the reason that they had you use a full face mask? Are you mouth breathing or do you have a problem with congestion?

Where do you find most of your leaks occuring - near the bridge of the nose or elsewhere? If that's the case, maybe try the Hybrid or Liberty?

I am a newbie but I had my titration done with this mask and it was so comfortable and light! Stayed in place all night and I fell asleep within 30 minutes. But I am only at a pressure of 6. Maybe it does not seal as well for higher pressures?? I don't know? But for me it was the best!

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/2435

[quote="fortomorrow"]What's the reason that they had you use a full face mask? Are you mouth breathing or do you have a problem with congestion?

The reason I went with the full face mask is because I sometimes breathe through my mouth and when I did with the nasal mask, I felt like I was suffocating.

What's your pressure? And where are your leaks at?

My pressure is at 9 and the leaks are around the mouth or sometimes around the the nose where the leak shoots up into my eye. I just went with the mask I was given by the clinic but I want to try something different.

Well, do some research on CPAP.com and see what masks people like. Search the forum with "mask side sleeper" and see what comes up. If you see something you like, check out cpapauction.com to see if you can get it for a good price. Or see if there's a trial for one going.

HYBRID – by pjwalman
viewtopic/t33434/Hybrid-TestDrive-Continues.html

SMALL LIBERTY – by fortomorrow
viewtopic/t35474/ResMed-Mirage-Liberty-Test-Drive.html

LARGE LIBERTY – by echo
viewtopic/t35486/Large-Liberty-test-drive.html

NASAL AIRE II – by Babette
viewtopic/t30639/The-Return-of-the-Grea ... Drive.html

Mask Roulette – thread for swapping masks
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19546

In addition, how long have you had this mask? Your DME should allow you to trade it in if you're within the 30 day limit.

Thanks for the adivce fortomorrow. I was diagnosed about a month ago so I'll go see if I can still get a different one. Take Care

It is surprising that people start giving you advice without knowing what type and brand of mask you currently use.

Which brand of FFM are you currently using?

FFM's are great for some, not so great for others. Fortomorrow and I both have skin issues that make wearing a FFM a nightmare for us both. We'd rather wear a chinstrap and tape our mouths shut, and wear a nasal pillows or prongs mask.

The difference between an FFM, a nasal mask, nasal pillows and nasal prongs is this:

FFM - Full Face Mask - Covers both your nose and your mouth, and can vary as to how much else of your face it covers

Nasal Mask - sort of a triangle that covers your entire nose, and alot of your face, but not your mouth.

Nasal Pillows - these snug up to the outside of your nares (the holes in your nose) and don't cover the entire nose iteself. They very often have less skin contact and facial coverage than a Nasal Mask, which makes them ideal for people with skin sensitivity issues.

Hybrid/Liberty - They are an amalgamation of a nasal pillows system and a mouth covering system, but don't cover as much of your face as an FFM.

Nasal Prongs - These actually go UP your nose. While it seems countintuitive, these are actually MORE comfortable for many people than Nasal Pillows or Nasal Masks. They are very stable and ideal for side sleepers. Some like them, some can't tolerate them. I'm a big fan of the Nasal Aire II nasal prong mask and run a free test drive for it.

Just keep trying masks. I had to try 8 masks in 6 weeks before I could find one I liked and could sleep with all night every night.

Cheers,
Babs