Need help finding a mask that fits

Hi all,

I'm new to cpaptalk and I'd love to hear everyone's advice on what the best way is to find the proper fit for a mask. I wish I could try them on before purchasing them since I'm having trouble finding one that fit's comfortably on my face. Can anyone recommend the best way to find the right mask online besides trial and error? Thanks for all your help!

Hi Guest,
I'd love to help you, but I haven't found the secret yet.
I do think that gender plays a role though, since males and females have differently shaped skulls (and feet...), so when I was looking for a full face mask I asked women which they preferred.

But otherwise, its really like finding a shoe that fits; The shoe industry, having far more clients than the cpap mask industry does make separate running shoes for women (they didn't used to in the beginning) but basically chances of finding those magic tips for masks are as good as they are for shoes.

Think of the search for finding a fitting mask as you would for finding a fitting shoe. I know - trialing shoes is easier, and costs nothing, but otherewise, it really is the same issue.

Guest wrote:Hi all,

I'm new to cpaptalk and I'd love to hear everyone's advice on what the best way is to find the proper fit for a mask. I wish I could try them on before purchasing them since I'm having trouble finding one that fit's comfortably on my face. Can anyone recommend the best way to find the right mask online besides trial and error? Thanks for all your help!

I'm only a month or so into this and I've been through five masks, two of which I paid for myself Finding - not the perfect mask, just a mask that works well - seems to be the hardest part of CPAP therapy. My first mask was a Swift FX. I had a problem with that because I was breathing through my mouth and I hated the thought of putting tape over my mouth. After many bad nights wrestling with leaking masks or masks that cut into the bridge of my nose or sounded like a wind tunnel I re-visited the Swift. I was amazed how 'not-difficult' mouth taping is. The Gentle Paper Tape from Nexcare I got from Walgreens doesn't even leave red marks on my face. I follow the advice I got here and apply an organic chapstic to my lips and kind of roll my lips in when I apply the tape. I still had some problem with my jaw dropping and cheeks puffing so I put a Ruby Chinstrap (that didn't work well alone) over the Swift. I now have a completely air-tight system that is actually pretty comfortable and stays in place no matter what position I sleep in. It doesn't even scruntch my poor nose. I tried all the other masks looking for one that seemed less invasive but the tape feels ok now. Much better than farting masks and sleepless nights. It was a process. The nasal mask gets around the problems of differing facial proportions. You just have to fit the nose openings. Make sure, if you go with nasal cushions, that you get the right size - otherwise you may have to pull it so tight that you will end up with a sore nose. Some masks come with all three size cushions. Don't let the DME take the extras. Good mask hunting to you

If you list the masks you have we may be able to help you get it to work for you. There are tweaks for every mask. You can even search the forum for tweaks to your mask(although that means lots of weeding thru posts).

Brenda

I started out with the total face mask and it rubbed obscene blisters on my nose bridge. Then I tried the Mirage Liberty, but I was getting blisters and leakage around my nose. I heard nothing but bad things about the Fitlife Total Face Mask by Philips Respironics. I was at cpap.com store (in Houston) buying a pillow and saw the total face mask on display. I was able to try it on with a machine at my setting. There were no leaks, and no pressure on the nose bridge or nose blister issues. I looked at it and decided I could sleep with a "total" mask. It's really no different than the total mask except the mask seal is above the eyes instead of below the eyes. The Fitlife mask is the best thing that happened to me. Most places don't let you try on masks. I use the shoe example and tell the sales person I won't buy shoes without trying them on, so why would I buy a mask without trying them on? They agree, but still won't let me try on the masks. Also, most of the sales persons are just that... sales persons and they aren't knowlegable enough to answer basic cpap questions. Keep trying.. as long as you don't give up you find the mask that works for you. My "perfect" mask is one that no one appears to like.

PS: I told one salesman that I better no stop him for a traffic violation because he WILL go to jail!

Sheriff