Waiting for a mask that works is such a pain

So I initially received my CPAP machine on Dec 20, 2011, and I have yet to find a mask that works for me. Since my DME is quite far from me, I've been scheduling for them to drive out to me, which adds at least a few days + the holidays, which means that the DME has been closed for two mondays... So far I've tried the Swift LT and FX, the Quattro FX in medium and small, the Mirage Quattro in medium and small, and lastly, the Fisher & Paykel Forma (What a damn uncomfortable mask!).


At least, during this time, I've had 5 nights where I was able to sleep with my mask on for more than 4 hours. Hope fully one day, I will find something that works.

What mask were you using when you got those 5 nights of sleep? That is probably your best bet for now. There is also a CPAP Library that will let you trial masks for $14 ($7 shipping each way). I believe they let you trial the mask for a week.
I signed up to try the Mirage Liberty and the Quattro FX. http://www.cpaplibrary.com/mask-trials.html

Also a pillow designed for CPAP users may help.

Good Luck!

Hang in there - you will find something that is less troublesome than all the rest.

I've been at this just over a year, and although I wouldn't, and haven't, slept without my CPAP, wearing a mask strapped to your face every night isn't the most natural thing to do. IMHO that's what you have to get over first so that you can at least accept that wearing that contraption IS what you have to get used to doing every night.

That said, experimenting is really the only way around finding what works best for you.

I use both the Swift FX and Swift LT, and have recently started breaking in a SleepWeaver all-fabric mask. Whilst incredibly comfortable, the SleepWeave has its own issues with problem leaks. I am willing to keep at this one until I break it's back and it conforms to my way of thinking, but know it will take time, patience, experimentation and probably a few broken sleeps and much cursing.

Yeah, it's a pain - but better that we are still alive to work on this than the alternative

Cheers,
xena

NotSleepingBeauty wrote:What mask were you using when you got those 5 nights of sleep?

Each FFM, when they were brand new...before a night of break in.

Xena,

I actually love falling to sleep with the mask on, it reminds me of my childhood surgeries. Also, I fall to sleep much faster and can even sleep on my back!

I could, in theory, sleep with my nasal pillow masks, but the severe jaw and tooth pain from the chinstrap is not worth it. My mouth guards dont even help with this. And yes, I have to use a chinstrap, otherwise I rip the pillows off after about 2 hours.

I took me about 2 weeks to to learn to "love" the Mirage Quattro FFM. Now that I have if figured out, I will not change.

retrodave15 wrote:I took me about 2 weeks to to learn to "love" the Mirage Quattro FFM. Now that I have if figured out, I will not change.

I really wish these masks would work for me, however, all of the resmed masks leak air directly into my eyes unless I tighten them down enough that they leave an indentation in the bridge of my nose. Either way, they are not for me.

Patience. You need to try each mask a few days at minimum to see if it works or not. It's not uncommon to try multiple masks before finding the one best for you. Btw, I tried 4 or 5 before finding the one that worked for me, and spent about 4-6 wks of time.

Otherwise, why would they be so many masks to play with?

I feel your pain. I have to wait two weeks, until I am due for resupply, to start the mask hunt again. Well, it is only a matter of time. Eventually we both will find something that works.

I used the CPAP library, btw, very handy.

You will. I must have tried 15 masks on and three of four for a week each before I found a mask that worked. Later I began to have problems with skin breakdown on the bridge of my nose and had to find still another mask. I have been using that mask since then and have been very happy with it- it was worth the search.
Hang in there.