ok lets talk masks

pharmwoman · Post by **pharmwoman** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 7:59 am

I use the breeze, after fighting with several masks I fell in love with it--yet I need to find a nasal mask I can use intermittenly because my nostrils are so darn sore and I need a fallback---PLEASE can anyone give me advice in a comfortable mask that wont leave huge red marks on my face or make me feel clustrophobic---something without nasal prongs but a lite coverage all the same. thank you sooooooooooo much!!!!!

yardbird · Post by **yardbird** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 8:11 am

If you like the nasal interface you might want to check out a Swift. Nothing on your face or between your eyes, very light. I love mine. I haven't used the breeze, but the Swift doesn't have prongs IN your nose. The point is to get the correct pillow size so they rest AGAINST your nose on the outside. In fact if you're getting sore nares inside when using the Swift, you're probably using a pillow size that's too small. They come with small, medium and large and while I THOUGHT I was a medium, I ended up being MUCH more comfortable using the large. And with a little fiddling and finding the right tightness for the (minimal) headgear, it worked out very well.

pharmwoman · Post by **pharmwoman** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:02 am

oooooh, the swift was one of the masks I rejected--- the head gear made me absolutley crazy and I kept flinging it off--thanks for your advice but im looking for a msk that will go over my nose with nothing in my nostrils, and be comfortable-is there such a thing??
Thanks guys

apneaicinisrael · Post by **apneaicinisrael** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:25 am

Hi,
I, too, love my Breeze! The Swift was comfy on my nose but the headgear made me nuts. And I, too, have been searching for a nasal mask as a back up. Just what you said, those nights when a little sore means need to take a break from the Breeze. I tried a few masks, and found them leaky. The one I actually like is the Breeze Dreamseal attachment! I was skeptical because I hadn't read such successful things about it here. BUT, my DME said to try it, since I am on low pressures he thought it might just work, and it does (well, he was actually right about something ). I like it for a few reasons. First of all, it is easy to use for someone used to the Breeze, just change the mask apparatus, the front part. Also, it didn't leak! At first it did, but I rearranged to straps to be more like the nasal pillow straps, i.e. the one in the back through the slots, but then pulled the front of the strap down to over the nose-hose. That really stabilized it and made it work. It is not a fancy mask, and maybe wouldn't work for someone who wants it as a primary interface, or with higher pressures, but for me it seems to be a success.
That's my 2 cents,
Let us know where your search takes you..
AII

RobertinTX · Post by **RobertinTX** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:35 am

Just my $0.02 and that isn't much.
I've used and have always used a nasal mask.
The Flexfit 407 and Comfort Select are my two choices.
But mask are like cars, get one that you enjoy and are comfortable with.
I could stand anything in my nose and full face is way too much.
So live, enjoy, and above all, be happy.

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:45 am

I have a comfort select and did pretty well with it except for zits. So they ordered a swift and so far I like it very much. Only got it yesterday though.

Good Luck,

terryB

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:16 pm

For a nasal Mask, many have recommended the Activa. I've never tried a mask, so I have no idea. Do a search on the Activa for more info.

Brent Hutto · Post by **Brent Hutto** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:28 pm

I just back from the DME office where I spent an hour trying on masks. I really like the Ultra Mirage II that I initially was fitted with but I think the "Large" was just a tiny bit too big and so I'd have leakage problems when the APAP gets over 10cm or so. The "Standard" was too small for my wide nose so we decided to try the Activa.

The Activa is one tenacious face-hugger at 11-12cm of pressure. Quite a remarkable piece of engineering. The RT had warned me that low pressures were its Achilles heel and it turns out he was right. It wouldn't seal a lick for me at 8cm--maybe without the mustache and beard it would have done better. My APAP range is 7-12cm so I spend most of the night down around 7cm and the Activa seems to be right out.

I ended up with a "Large, Shallow" size Ultra Mirage Full-Face of all darned things. It seals very well at 8cm and with the lower straps snugged down it will seal at 11cm too. I was surprised at how comfortable it was, my idea was that full-face masks were some sort of last-ditch salvage therapy that only hard-core mouth breathers could tolerate. Now maybe rolling around on my pillow at home it'll be a different story but this thing seems at least as comfortable as the Ultra Mirage II.

pharmwoman · Post by **pharmwoman** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 12:42 pm

hey thanks for all the tips---I tried the "dream seal"and did not like it--I am going to read up on all your suggestions. Im actualy going to try the swift again tonite(see im a mask collector too) as I think part of the failure was at that point I hated cpap and wanted to fail. Thanks again folks:)

Lee Lee · Post by **Lee Lee** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:52 pm

I use a great mask, Fisher Paykel Flexifit HC 407. I seem to be the only one that likes it, but it allows freedom of movement, is quiet and very comfortable most of the time. The only time I have a problem is when it isn't clean, it won't seal. Or when my APAP pressure gets really high, and then it may spring a leak. You should try it, if you have a chance.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:50 am

Everyone's mask mileage varies, but the two nasal masks (covers the nose) that I like best are:

ResMed Activa (Shallow size)

Puritan Bennett DreamFit (Shallow size)

Be sure not to confuse PB's DreamFit with PB's DreamSeal attachment for the Breeze headgear. The DreamFit has its own headgear and is more leakfree (for me) than the DreamSeal for the Breeze was.

Incidentally, I think that in any mask a "Shallow" cushion is one of the most misunderstood sizes there is. I'd bet on Shallow fitting many more people better than a Standard, even though the word Standard makes it sound like "this is what fits most people."

People tend to think of Shallow as being something that might press down on the bridge of the nose of an average face, but I think the Shallow shape really fits "average" faces/noses better. Any time a person tries a Standard and finds it almost ok but a tad leaky, I'd try the Shallow. Standard might be needed only for very prominent beaked or Roman noses. Just my two cents.

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 6:32 am

I had sore nares (bleeding) when I 1st used my breeze. My father in law came over (he has one as well) and unscrewed the nose piece and adjusted the pillows so that the went up my nose and not towards the back like the DME had them. That little adjustment made all the difference in the world! You actually can move that entire (you might have tried this) plastic piece where the nasal pillows are inserted. The hose on mine (in front of the plastic nose piece) actually flares out. No more sore nose!

I was originally given a mirage activa and I sing praises for it if you need a nasal mask. It is wonderful and I had a few leaks the 1st week, but no sore nose and I was able to adjust. The activa also has an extension piece and a quick connect which makes it very easy to just remove the tube with having to take off the mask at night. That connector hose also comes in very handy when trying other masks and needing a little more hose!

Hope this helps and good luck!

pharmwoman · Post by **pharmwoman** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 7:13 am

wow thanks!!!

daelic · Post by **daelic** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:22 pm

e5esz6lbnqmyrj@see.it wrote:...

How interesting that a spam bot chose this ancient post to revive, considering I posted earlier about having soreness issues with my nasal pillow.

I think based on yardbird's advice in this thread, I'm going to try the large pillow tonight, rather than the medium and see how that goes.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): nasal pillow

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:27 pm

And you are lucky you saw it before I did, or it woulda been a goner. I've deleted over 10 spams this afternoon.

For once a Bot was smart.

Mask

Additional Comments: Aussie Heated hose for rain out/PapCap Headgear and chin strap

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