How many masks have you tried.

Was wondering how many masks you had to go through before finding the one you consider to be the perfect mask.

For me it was an adventure. Thank goodness for craigslist, forum members, cpapauction, and eBay (at that time they were still allowing sells of masks). At the time I started therapy I tried the majority of the masks out there including the Snapp, Breeze, Nasal Aire, Nasal Aire II, Optilife, Simplicity, Comfortgel, Comfortful, Comfort Curve, Ultra Mirage, HC 431, Swift original, Swift II, and some others before settling on the Aura/Headrest.

PERFECT is a tall order - I voted on the first one that I could use and be reasonably content with - which was #4

Crikey! I'm the only one (to date) that went thru more than 4 masks?? Crap, I've got more than that on my shelf NOW!

Sounds like the OP went through 14 masks

sleepycarol wrote: I tried the majority of the masks out there including the Snapp, Breeze, Nasal Aire, Nasal Aire II, Optilife, Simplicity, Comfortgel, Comfortful, Comfort Curve, Ultra Mirage, HC 431, Swift original, Swift II, and some others before settling on the Aura/Headrest.

Did you vote?

I've only tried 6 (Quattro, Comfort Gel FF, Liberty, Swift LT, Activa LT, Fit Life FF) and have yet to find my perfect mask, so I can't vote as my choice isn't listed. Activa will work fine if I don't mouth breathe. But I do. Back to trying to get Liberty Hybrid to work with LinkC suggestion w/ Lanisoh.

Hey, I checked the 8 or 9 box.

I can't believe you left the NAII fold for the headrest. Sniffle....

I keep saying I'm gonna buy another headrest and try again, but then I forget, and I had just made my 6 months purchase before you posted this topic and reminded me. DOH!

LOL,
B.

I started counting on my fingers the masks that I had tried, and then I hit 10....so I stopped counting.

There are masks I know I've tried, but I can't seem to find anymore (because i was looking for it the other day). There's a mask that I'm using, but can't remember what its called. There are also masks that I own, but haven't tried yet....well, actually, I guess I'm down to just the one that I haven't tried, and that's because it only just arrived today....might try it tonight. The other I did try briefly...in trying to find a mask to use while sick and not tolerating nasal pillows.

The Dreamer.

The masks were so bad when I first started out. Most of the designs cut into the bridge of the nose. Nowadays, the nasal pillows, while not perfect, are a huge improvement over the ones 8-10 years ago.

Carol,

Don't change your poll on my account (and it would screw up the votes that are already in there)......BUT......

There isn't a category that fits my option.

I got it "right" with my FIRST mask......but no DME picked it out......I did. (and purchased it from CPAP.COM)

I did a lot of homework beforehand and it paid off.


Den

Two of the prior masks were acceptable but there were a couple design features I felt I could improve on and make my mask time less annoying. In retrospect, I think my hypersensitivity to ANY mask on my face caused discontent that probably wouldn't seem so monumental at this point.

I have tried 2 masks... ComfortGel and the Quattro.

The Quattro seems to work for me so I'm sticking with it for now. I have 2 of them... thinking about adding 1 more Quattro to my supply treasure chest and then calling it a day for masks.

I have only tried one make The Comfort Gel

I think I have 7 masks I have bought or acquired through ins now. 2 are my favorite, kinda depends on how I feel that night. Most I have been able to buy on cpap auction. I'm lucky that I have some extra money to be able to try some different masks and find some I can wear comfortably. If I was on a fixed income or have other obligations I don't know if I would have stuck with my therapy. The first 2 masks my DME gave me, more like strongly suggested I use, were very uncomfortable to wear and by the next morning left me ready to say the heck with it. Thankfully I was able to find some masks I like and neither of them were carried by my local DME.

It is very easy to sink a great deal of money into xpap therapy very quickly. I still have several masks I would like to try thinking that might be the one thats perfect for me.

I am on my 2nd mask, but it is not PERFECT! The DME gave me the Respironics Comfortgel mask. I am a mouth breather and have difficulty during allergy season and when I have a head cold. I purchased a Resmed Ultra Mirrage II FFM from CPAPAUCTION and that is my 2nd mask, but I am not done. I had to glue it together because the swivel piece would pop off with tossing and turning. I follow all the great comments on this forum and will continue searching.
Oh damn! I forgot to mention one very important trial. Babette included me in the Nasal Aire II Test Drive. A great way to find out if this product is right for you. It turns out that a FFM is the best for me, just not sure which one. My leak rate has become a straight line with this mask, but until I try a few others, not sure if I am using the best of the best.
Bill