Fine Tuning Full Face Masks

The may be an example of premature jubilation, but I may have finally found salvation in a full face mask. My previous attempts at using one all abysmally failed, mainly due to leakage and the bridge of my nose turning to hamburger.

I may have found the reason and this may be of use to others with a similar physiognomy.

I was looking at some pictures of people wearing masks at the Resmed website. They showed the sort of face that took a small, and another that took a large sized mask. The wearer of the large was a woman and the reason that was given was the height of her nose. Her nose looked very much like mine. Roman or Aquiline, whichever you prefer. The height of the bridge measured from the cheeks. CPAP.com employs a measuring system for masks which also uses this as one of the criteria for mask size.

The technicians at my sleep lab all universally told me I needed a medium and always gave me mediums to try. My head, in fact, is not overly large. Only my Jimmy Durante issue schnozz. Today, I was there for a followup visit and requested an Ultra Mirage in a large.

No sooner did I put it on I knew that this was at least a step in the right direction. With far less tension on the headbad I got a FULL seal with my machine running and far less pressure on the nose.

I am so tired right now, having battled with masks for a month now. I am really looking forward to sleeping tonight and hope that I can hang a posting onto this thread tomorrow indicating success.

I figure it's bad luck to count your chickens before they hatch, but what the hell.

Good luck!!! I had the opposite problem. I was given a medium which did not work well for me. I called the DME and they gave me a small to try. It was a big help.. Good news is that I finally got a full night sleep with my mask on last night after 6 nights of failure.

Dave, huzzah!! And good luck tonight.

This therapy WORKS!!!

The larger size worked quite well. There were very few leaks and the pressure on the bridge of the nose was substantially reduced. I am quite pleased with that although I didn't sleep that well. Now all I have to do is get used to having the "*ç%& thing sitting on my face all night.

Dave,

Am so pleased you are discovering that there are ways out of the mask mess.

I really don't enjoy my current f/f mask that much but I swear my face is remoulding itself over time, to fit the durned thing.

The first f/f mask I tried was great but it was a loaner from my sleep studies gal & when I bought the 'same' model - it felt quite different & not nearly as good. 2 weeks ago I went in to catch up with s/s gal & told her how the new one didn't seem as good. Yup she said, they changed models & the loaner was an older one. But, she then said - get in contact with ResMed as they have in the past & she is sure will now, make mods to the mask to suit you as this helps them better understand what they need to be doing.

I haven't contacted them yet as my face does seem to be getting used to it.

Anyway, am so pleased you have made a breakthrough.

Cheers

DSM