I came home from the titration study with the Optilife nasal pillow mask which we finally realized they gave me the medium sized pillows which were too large and I wasn't really crazy about all the crap all over my face and head, so I got the Swift LT for her nasal pillow. Loved it from the first.
During the next 6 months or so I tried other nasal pillow masks systems like the Opus and the prong. The were okay because there just wasn't much too them to get all over my face and head. I could use them comfortably except I couldn't keep them secured on my head very well. Tried the Hybrid but hated it.
Last summer my DME gave me a Swift FX nasal pillow to try and report back on. That's the one for me. I quit looking. My husband reports that it is much more quiet that the Swift LT was. It is as close to having nothing on my face as I can ask for. I can sleep on my tummy if I want to. Occasionally it slips around a bit but leaks are easily adjusted and really very minimal.
When I first started this journey nearly 2 years ago I had a bit of mouth breathing issues at first but I seemed to have learned to sleep with my mouth closed pretty much all the time now. It is rare that I wake up with evidence of mouth opening (dry mouth or drool).
Everyone has different wants, needs and facial features that can make a difference in comfort and effectiveness with any of our mask choices. Some people just can't stand all that air going up their nose. For me air up my nose is nothing but I can't stand any sort of pressure over my nose bridge and cheeks, so I had to learn to like the nasal pillows real fast.
Masks...which one?
Re: Masks...which one?
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Re: Masks...which one?
flowergal3,
I'm sure you've surmised by now that there is no easy answer in the quest for the perfect mask, the holy grail of PAP therapy.
Yes, there are a lucky few out there who find it on their first try. It may be chance, a knowledgeable DME, not caring as much about contraptions strapped to your face, or any number of other reasons.
You are not alone in trying out many masks and still feeling like you need to settle. My opinion? You should never have to settle. There are a lot of mask options out that come in a wide spectrum of sizes, materials, shapes, feel, comfort, styles, colors... you get the picture. Most DME's are not able to stock every mask on the market. It is up to YOU as the consumer to do your research - I cannot stress this enough.
GOOD LUCK! and keep reading, writing, asking, trying, talking, learning. Please send me a PM if I can be of any help!
Cheers,
Jess
I'm sure you've surmised by now that there is no easy answer in the quest for the perfect mask, the holy grail of PAP therapy.
Yes, there are a lucky few out there who find it on their first try. It may be chance, a knowledgeable DME, not caring as much about contraptions strapped to your face, or any number of other reasons.
You are not alone in trying out many masks and still feeling like you need to settle. My opinion? You should never have to settle. There are a lot of mask options out that come in a wide spectrum of sizes, materials, shapes, feel, comfort, styles, colors... you get the picture. Most DME's are not able to stock every mask on the market. It is up to YOU as the consumer to do your research - I cannot stress this enough.
GOOD LUCK! and keep reading, writing, asking, trying, talking, learning. Please send me a PM if I can be of any help!
Cheers,
Jess
Disclosure: Any views or information expressed are opinions of the poster only and are not medical advice. Please consult with your doctor or healthcare professional with any questions regarding your health.
Re: Masks...which one?
As others have said, the mask is the key to successful therapy.
If you're more comfortable in a Full face mask at the moment, I recommend the Respironics ComfortGel. It has a gel cushion and I've found it to be somewhat wider in the nose bridge area than the F&P Forma or the ComfortFull 2. It's my favorite mask so far, but since I've only been on cpap for 3 months - tonight is actually my anniversary! - I'm still slowly trying other masks to see if I've found my final choice. Good luck finding yours!
If you're more comfortable in a Full face mask at the moment, I recommend the Respironics ComfortGel. It has a gel cushion and I've found it to be somewhat wider in the nose bridge area than the F&P Forma or the ComfortFull 2. It's my favorite mask so far, but since I've only been on cpap for 3 months - tonight is actually my anniversary! - I'm still slowly trying other masks to see if I've found my final choice. Good luck finding yours!
"That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger." -- Friedrich Nietzsche