CPAP PRO (nomask.com)

Can anyone shed any light on this new "no mask"?? Just wondering if anyone has tried it (it's expensive) and how & if it really works...I am skeptical, but would like to hear about anyone's experiences with it.
Thanks,
Lori

Lori,

The majority of people on this board who have tried it really dislike it, for various reasons. If you go to the "search" icon at the top of this page and type in "nomask" (without the quotes) in the Keyword box and press enter, you'll find a series of posts on this topic. About once per month someone comes in and asks the same question.

Take care,

--CG

y'know.... if the Swift pillows section could be mated to a similar mouthpiece as what's on the cpap-pro device.... they might be on to something. I gotta say that with the mouthpice properly fitted, that thing absolutely never came loose.

As with every mask -- works for some, not for others.
Some of the things I've read about that mask seem to indicate poor workmanship. I also think a person might be asking for longterm bite/teeth trouble if using the teeth to anchor a cpap interface.

I think people are more likely to have success with these nasal pillows interfaces:

Swift by ResMed
Breeze by Puritan Bennett
Headrest by Aeiomed
(The "Headrest", my favorite, was formerly called the "Aura".)

In a topic at http://www.apneasupport.org/viewtopic.php?p=8397
EFJKnight posted about his unhappy experience with the cpappro mask.


EFJKnight's post:

I purchased this product, and regretted it.

The first issue I had with it was with the fitting process. I followed the instructions exactly--you have to boil the mouthpiece, let it partially cool and then bite down on it to form it to your teeth and gums. I ended up with alot of pain in my front teeth that lingered for several days, and the heat/cold sensitivity lasted nearly a month.

Even after this difficulty, I found that the mouthpiece still did not "click into" and stay in place. The customer service rep. that I talked to offered to and did send me a "kit" to have a mouthpiece made--it turned out to be a plastic tab to be attached to the nasal interface and some material that was to be taken to a dentist, along with some extremely general instructions for the dentist. I was expected to arrange to have a dentist create the new mouthpiece at my own additional expense (I didn't bother looking into that--I am sure it would have cost at least $100., and probably more based upon how labor intensive the instructions indicated that this process would be). I was able to make the mouthpiece stay in place by using denture adhesive--a new experience to me--which makes me appreciate how unpleasant dentures must be.

I did not give up on this mask easily. After the frustrations of dealing with the tooth pain and having to solve the issue of a poorly fitting mouthpiece, I was determined to make the mask work for me.

I do have to say that I was surprised that the nasal pillows do create a comfortable and well sealing fit to the nose, and that since there is no headgear, I was able to comfortably sleep in my favorite position--on my side.

The story doesn't end there though. I never was able to sleep an entire night with this mask, and there are several reasons. My biggest problems were that the mouthpiece caused my mouth to generate excess amounts of saliva (creating unavoidable drool), and also the bite-wing of the mouthpiece held my teeth apart so that my jaw was not in a natural position while wearing the device. Believe me, I tried very hard to overcome these two issues by trying to acclimate to the device but I was never successful.

I don't mean to "pile it on" but in addition to the difficulties that I have just described, I also feel that some of the parts (especially the tubing) are simply too fragile for continuous use. The original product came with 1 set of replacement tubing. When I initially put my unit together, one of the tubes got streached and I had to use the extra set imediately. When I discussed this with the customer service rep., I was told that the replacements are $35. per pair. I complained that I had not even been able to use the first set due to the assembly problem and was put on hold. I was told that a supervisor had approved 1 free replacement, but it never arrived.

Sadly, my experience with this product and the company amounted to a waste of time, effort, money. The product comes sealed in a clear plastic pouch, upon which is printed a warning that once the pouch is opened, that there will be no refunds allowed. I seriously contemplated returning the product at that point, and opened the pouch only after revisiting the company website and seeing nothing but positive testimonials (I couldn't find any other customer feedback on this product despite searching on the internet).

My experience with this has been good. I use it in rotation with a Swift and an Activa. The drool thing was a one night issue for me. If the bite plate is correctly formed there should be no issues with TMJ or other mandibular problems. I don't wear any mask for more than a few days then I rotate to another so if you plan on wearing this as your only mask, my experience may not be relevant.

biggziff-

you're the only one besides ME that I know of that has one of those and uses it. I have to admit I haven't used mine since I got the Swift, but I do have one. If anyone out there wants info on it, I'd be happy to answer questions, take pictures of mine, whatever. It DOES work for some people. So far I haven't seen a "magic mask" that everyone likes nor, for that matter, have I seen one that EVERYONE hates. I don't think there's much argument if you say that the mask is the hardest part of this equation to get right. Once you have a mask or style that works for you... you've got it made.

So... forget about all the hype surrounding the no-mask mask. I will answer any and all questions honestly based on my own, first-hand experience with it. Then you can decide if it's something that might fit into your own PERSONAL quest for an interface that works.