Having mask problems (possibly due to stomach sleeping?)

I loosened the straps a LOT last night. So, no pain in my nose. However, I had horrible leaks all night. So, it's either loosen the straps and not get the full amount of therapy (due to leaks) or tighten them and have pain, from what I'm finding.

I do have the pain in my front, top teeth again this morning, though. I thought loosening the straps was supposed to fix that, too.

How tight are these straps supposed to be?

Bumping up before it goes to the next page and gets lost

DottyG wrote:How tight are these straps supposed to be?

I can say that straps should never be so tight as to cause pain. In fact they should be loose enuff to fit two fingers under them.

I asked some questions on page one - I will wait for answers before making blind suggestions.

Sorry. Didn't see your questions.

GumbyCT wrote:Is there any chance you are using a size too small for your nares? The pillow should contact the outer surface NOT the inside. Did yours come with more than one size? If so try a larger size.

Also the Lansinoh should help to heal and seal. It softens the skin where you put it around where the pillows touch the nares. Just a dab between thumb and forefinger smeared on the pillows then another dab on the nares. Use some on the lips like chapstick if you choose. Use chapstick on the nares

I'm using the small ones. They're the only ones I was given. My DME said that my nose is really small, so I couldn't go up in size, so the ones I have are all I have.

When you say "outer surface", exactly what do you mean? Part of the pillows do go into my nose. Are they not supposed to?

I did use a tiny bit of the Lansinoh again last night - a lot less than what I used last time. But, I really think that is what is contributing to the leaking. Both times that I've used it (even last night when I used the barest amount you could possibly use) have been the times that I've had major leakage.

And, yet again, I'm sitting here fighting to stay awake in front of my computer. I, seriously, could fall asleep at the drop of a hat these days. I fell asleep watching tv again last night. I hate that. I'll be really into a show and then it's over, because I've fallen asleep and missed the last 3/4 of it.

You need to contact your DME.

If what you have listed for your equipment is correct and is -
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/2871

Then you should have also gotten "Small Size Pillows (XS, S, M) Included - #60588"

You should have ALL three sizes in the package you paid for. Contact the supervisor to ask about this. Be sure to let them know you are having troubles too.

If it is less than 30 days since you received this mask you can get another at "NO Charge". So start the process.

I had it since October. I was wearing it off and on (more off) until about 2 weeks ago. Since then, I've been wearing it every night.

DottyG wrote:I had it since October. I was wearing it off and on (more off) until about 2 weeks ago. Since then, I've been wearing it every night.

They still owe you what you paid for.

you need to contact them and ask when you can have a new mask

oh gumby dear, the insurance racket that DME's use allows them to break up the packages and sell each part separately ------ this is why I trashed and dumped my DME a few years ago - that was the FINAL blow

Gumby,

Unfortunately there is a movement in the DME industry to use a system some call "parting it out", let me explain how this works.

A DME will first order a couple of masks (let's use the Swift LT for example since we are already discussing it in this thread), to find out what's in the bag. They will than decide if they are going to sell the whole bagged mask OR put it on their "parting it out" program.

If the mask is put into this program, and most nasal pillows systems are because they can't charge for all the pillows, the DME than only orders parts for the mask and builds it themselves for sale. By doing this they avoid paying the manufacture for parts that they can't bill for. WE(the DME I work for) don't not do this, but there are DME's in our town that do, there is no law against it and the Insurance companies could care less, not saying it's right though.

So how do you recommend she handle this situ?

I would use war paint

Just cuz the Ins. Co permit it doesn't mean the patients have to accept it.
JMMO - Just My Meaningless Opinion

akcpapguy -

what about the DME that orders complete masks and then opens them up (again we can use swift) and gives the patient one of the sets of pillows and then sells (to other patients) the other 2 sets of pillows as replacement pillows

they bill the original patient for a mask, headgear and pillow then the DME bills the other patients for the pillows

the patient asks for the other sets of pillows and is refused them (knowing they can trade them online)

Dotty if I were you I would call my insurance carrier and findout their mask replacement schedule. If they only will replace every 6 months you may be stuck paying out of pocket. You may have some luck in trying to get the DME to give you the smaller pillows, however if they are pulling the extras at sale time it may be a long shot.

I'm just not understanding why getting bigger pillows would help. If my nose is small, why wouldn't I need the smaller pillows? Bigger ones aren't going to fit.

does dotty need larger? - she is putting them IN the nose not resting against it