Back up full face mask/DME confused

I just started APAP in December of 2011 and I am adapting rapidly to my Swift FX for Her and APAP. In January, I had a sinus infection, and my attempts to wear the machine with the sinus infection resulted in me removing the mask after only a few hours. One night, I even completely disassembled it without being aware of doing so. When I saw my sleep doctor in early February, she recommended that I obtain a full face mask to wear on such occasions, so that I can continue my therapy uninterrupted. A call to my DME resulted in massive confusion on the part of the woman who answered the phone. She said that she had never heard such a request, that the doctor would need to write a script specifically for the full face, and that I should make sure that is what the doctor really meant.

My insurance will provide me with a new mask every 3 months, so if I can work out these issues, I should be able to get a full face in late March. I intend to get out the business card of the woman who fitted me with my Swift FX because she was lovely and intelligent and very helpful. She told me how to clean my machine and filters, made sure I could set it up, take it apart, and re-assemble it, and answered all my questions very well. I think if I ask for her directly, I may get a little farther, but I had a few questions that I hope to answer before that.

(1) Does my doctor really need to write a specific script for a FFM?
(2) Is it worth possibly confusing the people who answer the phone and fill my order for parts by having a second mask on file? I don't want to have an argument when I order nasal pillows because they show a FFM on file.
(3) Is there a way to use nasal pillows with congestion and pressure and avoid this mess?
(4) What is a good FFM for a person with a relatively small face? Many of the non-pillow nasal masks that we tried when I was fitted for my Swift FX for Her poked me in the eyes at the smallest size.


I noticed that my machine was using higher pressures when I had the sinus infection and dropped back lower when that time passed. My sleep doctor said that was because it was sensing the congestion as a blockage and trying to force its way through that. Has anyone else noticed something like that?

I have a scientific background and am very analytical. I got a copy of my sleep study, a copy of my prescription, and a copy pf my husband's prescription from the sleep doctor thanks to things I read on this forum (My husband and I see the same sleep doctor). I intend to try SleepyHead but have not done so yet. My sleep doctor was practically skipping when she downloaded my machine and saw that I had used it or attempted to use it every night since I got it and that my AHI went from over 60 untreated to 1.2 treated.

I look forward to being a member of your community.

Some people do elect to purchase and use a full face mask when they have really bad nasal congestion for whatever reason. I elected not to go the full face mask route when I had a cold (have had 2 of them in the 2 1/2 years on the machine. Instead I just treat the nasal congestion like I normally would be oral meds, saline spray, some Afrin if desperate and crank up the humidifier as high as it will go. Some people like to do the neti pot rinse thing. I haven't been that desperate yet. I was able to get my nose open well enough to breathe and sleep with my nasal pillow mask and slept about as decently as one normally does with an upper respiratory infection. I still don't own a full face mask and it is doubtful I will ever see the need.

I don't know why you would need a new RX for the full face mask unless the doctor specified a specific mask on the original RX. Most of the time it is a generic RX which covers all masks. Perhaps the person you talked to didn't have all the facts straight.

I am female and small...if I was going to go a full face mask I would opt for the Innomed/Respcare Hybrid. I can't stand anything on the bridge of my nose.
You might look at this one.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/RespCa ... -Mask.html

Since you have some time before your next mask purchase you might consider trying some full face masks by way of the mask trial program. Try for one week. Cost is $14 which is to cover postage both ways. That way you will have a better idea what you might like (or don't like) because each one of us can recommend something and love it but you might hate it which won't help you one bit.
Mask Trial here http://www.cpaplibrary.com/mask-trials.html

Good luck and welcome to the forum. I had SleepyHead information in my signature line if you need it.

I can not answer all of your questions; but, perhaps, I can help with a couple of them. I am one who keeps a full face mask on hand to use when I am congested. I do not use it all the time because I am not otherwise a mouth breather. A full face mask is hard to get a good seal because it covers more area of the face.

Yes, your DME needs a prescription from you doctor if he/she prescribed just the mask you have now. The solution in the future would be to have your doctor write a prescription for "patient's choice." This will cover any mask that you might want in the future.

amos

Thanks for the information Pugsy and Amos. I am tempted to see if I can keep my nasal passages open and avoid using a FFM. I can't imagine that the pressure on the bridge of the nose would be good for congestion, but I may also try out the mask trials recommended above to see if I can find one that would be worth purchasing. I'm a tooth grinder with a mouth guard, so there was never any question of mouth breathing when not congested because how could I grind my teeth with my mouth open.

I appreciate the viewpoints and information a great deal!

I have a full face mask which I started my therapy with, before I switched to nasal mask. It came in handy when I got my first cold in 3 years last November. I also suffer from just plain old congestion. The only product that will open my nasal passages when I am really congested is Afrin nasal spray, which you cannot use for more than 3 consecutive days, and often colds can last longer than that.

I started with the quatro and I now use the hybrid. Both are FFM's. However I.Cannot.Stand.things.Touching.My.Nose when I have a cold so i use the quatro when I have a cold.

I have had issues with my DME, have a back up ff and occasionally want a cushion for it instead of my replacement pillows. They insisted on a specific RX, said it was an insurance requirement. They also consistently make mistakes in the resupply , thankfully they are a few miles from home and I can easily return the wrong items. I do like my FF for the rare occasions I have a cold.

Pugsy wrote:Mask Trial here http://www.cpaplibrary.com/mask-trials.html

I learned something new today! Thanks Pugsy!

Thanks for reminding me DreamDiver! I need to do that.
I woke up at 0245 last night with a completly stopped up right nostril. I got up and found the Vick's inhaler, took a sudafed, drank a couple of glasses of water, considered the neti-pot but just didn't want to wake up that much! I was restless for the rest of the night. This morning I dumped may data and my O2 had been down to 83% just prior to waking up. It stayed above 90% after I went back to bed but it wasn't restfull sleep. So, tonight it's sudafed and water before I go to bed.
I didn't use the humidifier until I got the ClimateLine hose. Now I'm wondering if I should shut it off and see what happens. I'm just tired of experimenting. I just want to sleep.