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2. How do I try out new masks? Can I just make an appt w/ my sleep physician's office for this express purpose? (That is, will they be surprised when I call and say I want to try out a bunch of masks?) Are there other places to go to try out masks?

Where did you get your CPAP machine and the initial mask you have? That is the office to contact regarding trying other masks. Usually, it is a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier. I like to try out masks a the office of the DME to which my sleep specialist's office sent my prescription and sleep study and that provided the CPAP machine and initial mask, as that DME has been very helpful. From what I have read here, I have been lucky in that regard.

Usually, the office that does your sleep study either sends you to a specific DME supplier or they give you a written prescription for a mask and machine with pressure settings and a list of DMEs. If you have insurance, you can call your insurance company to find out what DMEs they cover for CPAP equipment.

DME reps will come to your house and bring your equipment and set it up, but I prefer to go to the DME's office because the DME that comes to the house is likely to only bring a few masks, whereas the DME's office has more masks. I make an appointment and tell them what masks I'd like to try and why I want to switch masks (i.e. what is uncomfortable about the current mask and what I am looking for in a new mask). My DME's office has been very helpful in suggesting masks, as well as letting me try the masks suggested by this forum and ones that I have found using the mask selection guide on cpap.com.

But isn't the wife unit asleep it/herself? And would she necessarily be aware of even a slight parting of the ways (lips)?

Like Maryland CPAPer I've been lucky to find a DME that will let me try on different masks, take them home with a 30 day return policy.

Re: data collection - I've seen a strand on here that says the user software for our machine has just recently been made available. You can purchase your own and set it up at home for quick reference. Search for

Encore Viewer for PR System One available.

mrstevegross wrote:Hi everyone!

1. Thanks for all the advice; I am taking notes on all of this and it has been very helpful!
2. How do I try out new masks? Can I just make an appt w/ my sleep physician's office for this express purpose? (That is, will they be surprised when I call and say I want to try out a bunch of masks?) Are there other places to go to try out masks?
3. Regarding getting the data: my machine has an SD card, and an automatic wireless transmitter; however, I don't just want a printout from the office. I want the data itself, so I can run my own analyses. Any suggestions?
4. Regarding mouth breathing: Well, I suppose I don't know for a fact that my mouth stays closed. But normally I sleep on my side, so gravity is working in my favor in this respect. Also, the wife unit would probably have mentioned something at this point (!).

Thanks again,
--Steve

Most DMEs have a 30day exchange policy with ins companies. We tried several in that time period although they led us to believe they were just doing us a favor. As for #3, when we purchased a used machine from a forum member it came with a telephone modem so we bought the Smart Card module complete with a new smart card from cpap.com and pulled out the telephone modem and inserted the new module.

I'm far from an expert, but the best advice I've gotten so far was to make sure you have the machine running at your high pressure when you fit the mask, not on the ramp setting. I put it on first sitting up, but once I lay down I have to fit it again. If you try to fit the mask at a lower pressure it will leak for sure, especially if you use the ramp mode (which after a little over a month using, I hardly use anymore...I sound like a druggie!) I had to get a smaller size mask because the first one I got was just too big. Some nights I still toss and turn, toss and turn, because of other aches and pains, which means alot of refitting. However, on the few nights I don't sometimes I wake up to check if the mask is still on because I actually don't feel it at all! So maybe it does get better! Like you, I get alot of good advice on this forum.

if you like the nasal version there are some new, really good ones. my husband uses a nasal pillow/mouth mask because he opens his mouth when sleeping. over the last dozen years i have taught myself to keep my mouth closed at night so i am still using the Aclaim2 mask that i started with. it has given me a slight bump on the bridge of my nose but i am so used to it and i cannot stand the nasal masks. you may need to try a different version of the nasal mask or try one of face masks; there are suppliers who will let you try a mask and then return it if it does not work (for a fee) otherwise, you try several and end up with a bunch that did not work.

and it does take some getting used to; but after a couple of weeks you should be into the swing of it if you have the right mask. it is worth persisting if you have sleep apnea, which can be life threatning.

I would recommend the Activa LT... I am a side-sleeper and have no problems with leak. The Activa doesn't need to be worn very tightly since it forms the seal by billowing the mask as opposed to gel masks that need to be worn more tightly.

Hey members, do you ever think about asking what pressure steve was prescribed before you start making recommendations?

So steve, what are your prescribed pressure settings?

Julie wrote:But isn't the wife unit asleep it/herself? And would she necessarily be aware of even a slight parting of the ways (lips)?

Nope; if I'm tossing around, she might be awake. Plus, she usually joins the bed an hour or so after I've gone to sleep, so she has ample opportunity to observe. After a few years with someone, you notice little things

--Steve

roster wrote:Hey members, do you ever think about asking what pressure steve was prescribed before you start making recommendations?

So steve, what are your prescribed pressure settings?

I'm a 10!

--Steve

I like the Activa LT, too. I had the mask you're using for over a year. It seemed pretty comfortable, but I couldn't get it to stop leaking.

I say try another mask. Some leak more than others, some fit one person better than the next, we all have different facial structure. Seems like we need to try out a bunch before we find the one that works best, and not to give up in the process. I'm on my 6th week and am noticing that one out of the three that I have, leaks least. If it's on too tight, any of them, it'll leave marks and be uncomfortable. All discomfort, large and small, are exaggerated in the middle of the night, so we need to keep looking, keep fiddling with them before sleep time, to find one that works. I like the Mirage Activa LT. Doesn't mean it'll be best for you, but it seems to be doing the trick in terms of comfort for me, though I'm still sleeping like kaka and feeling like kaka. Determined, but frustrated. I'm hoping this is a small price to pay, rather than suffering from the possible effects of unchecked sleep apnea! Keep on trying, but maybe try a different mask, too... good luck

sleep lover wrote:I say try another mask. Some leak more than others, some fit one person better than the next, we all have different facial structure. Seems like we need to try out a bunch before we find the one that works best, and not to give up in the process. I'm on my 6th week and am noticing that one out of the three that I have, leaks least. If it's on too tight, any of them, it'll leave marks and be uncomfortable. All discomfort, large and small, are exaggerated in the middle of the night, so we need to keep looking, keep fiddling with them before sleep time, to find one that works. I like the Mirage Activa LT. Doesn't mean it'll be best for you, but it seems to be doing the trick in terms of comfort for me, though I'm still sleeping like kaka and feeling like kaka. Determined, but frustrated. I'm hoping this is a small price to pay, rather than suffering from the possible effects of unchecked sleep apnea! Keep on trying, but maybe try a different mask, too... good luck

Ok, cool. I've got an appt next week to try out other masks. Woohoo! I wonder if they'll let me take home a bunch of different ones to try out. That would be cool.

--Steve

I wouldn't count on bringing home a bunch of masks to try at home. I only end up with one new one to take home each time after trying on those of interest at the DME's. I have never found more then one of the ones I tried to be comfortable at each sitting. Sometimes the DME has come up with a mask I didn't know of that turned out to be the oen I liked best.

Take your CPAP machine with you so you can try the masks with air pressure. Good luck and let us know what you end up with.

Ah, the Mystery of the Mask! The UltraMirageFullFace and the QuattroFF seem to be quite similar and yet those who wear one successfully can't wear the other.