Getting my first Mask

countryboy wrote: Since I can still exchange my Wisp what are the chances my DME will have some of the nasal pillow masks you listed do they normally have on hand several of each type?

Most DMEs will stock maybe one or 2 brands of masks...most often the brand of machine they supply. They get better prices.
So it's really up to the DME...some may only have 1 and some may have several to choose from

countryboy wrote:I would have no problem using cpap.com to order masks to try out but when I had them request my prescription for me my sleep Dr didn't respond. I have a feeling he's not going to easily comply I know in the past if I asked about something they always brought up Medicare restrictions.

There's a place/section on cpap.com where you can actually have cpap.com fax the RX requirement to your doctor. Often doctor's offices will respond to these faxed requests before responding to a patient's request.

countryboy wrote:Any problems using nasal pillows with chin straps?

Not at all. Done all the time

countryboy wrote:It sure looks like the mouth piece with the Tap Pap mask would be uncomfortable how do you keep your mouth closed/teeth clinched with it?

I thought it would be uncomfortable to because I had never ever used any sort of oral appliance. I did initially have a bit of tooth discomfort but that went away pretty quickly...we have a big Tap Pap review thread where lots of people documented whatever problem they had...or success.
There is no "clinching" to hold the mouth guard in place. It stays put because it is molded to the upper teeth. I can open my mouth and the mouth guard stays stuck to the upper teeth.
I don't open my mouth much during sleep. I don't use a chin strap because when I do maybe open my mouth and do a little mouth breathing it isn't prolonged and rarely makes it into large leak territory and since I sleep right through any of it...I don't care so I am not going to add a chin strap or tape to my routine. If I sleep through 15 minutes of big leak....that's better than fiddling with the chin strap all night and have that loss of sleep.

I once thought I just had to have a perfectly flat leak line but found out that obtaining that perfect leak line often caused me more sleep disruptions than a little leak did.

When I first started cpap therapy I did do quite a bit of mouth breathing and I did tape my mouth (and experiment with chin straps) but I think the mouth breathing was just habit as I don't have nose breathing issues at all...and after a couple of months of tape I figured out I didn't really need the tape anymore.

I will tell you this....I have woke up using the Tap Pap and never notice it or the pressure...it's like I wasn't using the machine at all. It took some time and experience to get to that point but it can be done.

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countryboy wrote:I would have no problem using cpap.com to order masks to try out but when I had them request my prescription for me my sleep Dr didn't respond. I have a feeling he's not going to easily comply I know in the past if I asked about something they always brought up Medicare restrictions.

pugsy wrote:There's a place/section on cpap.com where you can actually have cpap.com fax the RX requirement to your doctor. Often doctor's offices will respond to these faxed requests before responding to a patient's request.

Sorry I didn't make myself clear I did have cpap.com request my prescription but my doctor never responded.

countryboy wrote:
Sorry I didn't make myself clear I did have cpap.com request my prescription but my doctor never responded.

Oh....they (doctor's office) are being buttheads.
I would be lighting a fire under their butts and it wouldn't be pretty.

I am confused as to whether or not your doctor has any relationship with whomever is supplying your equipment...that's conflict of interest and if you have Medicare...totally against the rules.
Private insurance may or may not care.

Call up the doctor's office and explain that they need to sign the faxed form that cpap.com sent so that you can maybe make use of some special offers that they offer that require RX to be on file.

Or march yourself down to the doctor's office and request a copy of your prescription to carry with you in case you need it while traveling (or make up some other excuse)...they really can't deny your request.

Yes, you are entitled to have a copy of your own prescription for "mask of your choice," and then cpap.com can send you any style you want to try.

Do you know that Medicare won't cover the cost of a mask from cpap.com? They're not a contracted supplier for Medicare. I do believe, though, that they're an excellent source to get masks if you don't mind paying out-of pocket, and their return insurance options are the very best incentive to try new styles that DME's don't seem to have or won't get for you.

Pugsy wrote: I am confused as to whether or not your doctor has any relationship with whomever is supplying your equipment...that's conflict of interest and if you have Medicare...totally against the rules.
Private insurance may or may not care.

Call up the doctor's office and explain that they need to sign the faxed form that cpap.com sent so that you can maybe make use of some special offers that they offer that require RX to be on file.

Or march yourself down to the doctor's office and request a copy of your prescription to carry with you in case you need it while traveling (or make up some other excuse)...they really can't deny your request.

Pugsy I don't think they have any relationship with my DME I will either call him or wait until my appointment in February.

Violetpro I was just wanting to use cpap.com to try out different masks so I knew it would be out of my pocket.

Yea my doctor finally responded to cpap.com's request (on my behalf) for my prescription and did fax it to them!

Can someone explain to me the rules/conditions that allow you to switch DME's or if there is any? For instance I'm on Medicare and I'm leasing to buy my CPAP machine so if I understand correctly after 13 months I will own it. Can I switch DME's before the lease is up maybe worth noting I'm also getting Oxygen from them?

Or, is it even necessary to switch since you can apparently buy from more than one DME at a time like cpap.com?

My DME is 50 miles away so I have to go up there or they make an appointment to come down if I need help with a mask. Now even if I go up there and try on a mask they can't give it to me then but must send it in the mail. They keep mentioning they did not get the bid which is all pretty confusing to me.

Anyway I have a local DME which is only 10 miles away and I would like to start going to them. If you're wondering why I didn't start with them in the first place well it's because when I left the hospital in the same city as the DME I had to leave on oxygen so it was more out of necessity.

You should leave the machine lease with your current DME until the 13 months are up.

However, that does NOT keep you from dealing with another DME for buying your supplies (masks, etc.)

Just make sure they are a Medicare provider AND that they accept the Medicare reimbursement as payment IN FULL for the 80% that Medicare pays.

You or your secondary insurance will still have to pay the Medicare deductible AND the 20% that Medicare does not pay.

Ok thanks wasn't sure I could use two DME's at the same time.

My DME located close to me does accept Medicare so I guess that means when my remaining two months are up on my mask I can get my mask from them instead of driving 50 miles.

Go to this Medicare website, type in your Zip Code & the approved DMEs in your area will pop up.

You will probably have many more choices if you live in an area that is not yet in a competitive bid area.

http://www.medicare.gov/Supplier

Thanks I've already did that and my only choices are to drive 10 miles or 50 miles so that's an easy choice.

I use the Swift FX mask and I am a side-sleeper. I don't use a special pillow, just put my head on the very edge of the pillow. And I don't use a chin-strap. I had to tape my mouth shut for the first week or two to teach me not to breathe thru my mouth at night. Many people do it, just be sure you double the edge of the tape over so you can rip it off really quick in case of emergency (like vomiting). People who tape mostly like the painter's tape made by 3M, but I used Dermacell or Micropore tape when I did it, 1 inch wide. I didn't need to tape anymore after the first week. If your nose starts to get sore inside, use Lansinoh, available in the baby care aisle of the grocery or pharmacy, it is pure lanolin in a tube, you put very small amt inside nose, also helps to make the nasal pillows stay in place because it is tacky.

You only have 30 days to get a different mask, DME's have different rules on this, but most will give you 30 days to try a couple different masks. Most masks will last beyond 6 months, I just wash mine very well and put them in my back-up storage closet. You never know when you will need a quick repair or another mask in the middle of the night when the DME is not open and something breaks on the one you are currently using. Many people have used the same mask for a few years, once they find the right mask.

I have an Innomed Hybrid mask as my back-up for when I have nasal congestion with a cold or sinus infection, and can't breathe thru my nose. Another thing that might help you is to use Essential oil aroma-therapy, you can buy a sample kit from cpap.com. It scents the air you are breathing, "clear" is nice if your nose or sinuses tend to be congested. It is made by Pur-Sleep.com, and you can also purchase it directly from them on their web-site.

Good luck finding a comfortable mask soon- it will make all the difference in how you feel in a few months of using your CPAP every night.

codinqueen wrote:I use the Swift FX mask and I am a side-sleeper. I don't use a special pillow, just put my head on the very edge of the pillow. And I don't use a chin-strap. I had to tape my mouth shut for the first week or two to teach me not to breathe thru my mouth at night. Many people do it, just be sure you double the edge of the tape over so you can rip it off really quick in case of emergency (like vomiting). People who tape mostly like the painter's tape made by 3M, but I used Dermacell or Micropore tape when I did it, 1 inch wide. I didn't need to tape anymore after the first week. If your nose starts to get sore inside, use Lansinoh, available in the baby care aisle of the grocery or pharmacy, it is pure lanolin in a tube, you put very small amt inside nose, also helps to make the nasal pillows stay in place because it is tacky.

You only have 30 days to get a different mask, DME's have different rules on this, but most will give you 30 days to try a couple different masks. Most masks will last beyond 6 months, I just wash mine very well and put them in my back-up storage closet. You never know when you will need a quick repair or another mask in the middle of the night when the DME is not open and something breaks on the one you are currently using. Many people have used the same mask for a few years, once they find the right mask.

I have an Innomed Hybrid mask as my back-up for when I have nasal congestion with a cold or sinus infection, and can't breathe thru my nose. Another thing that might help you is to use Essential oil aroma-therapy, you can buy a sample kit from cpap.com. It scents the air you are breathing, "clear" is nice if your nose or sinuses tend to be congested. It is made by Pur-Sleep.com, and you can also purchase it directly from them on their web-site.

Good luck finding a comfortable mask soon- it will make all the difference in how you feel in a few months of using your CPAP every night.

Thanks I bought a roll of 1" painters tape and a roll of 2" Medipore tape today since I've been having a difficult time trying to quit breathing thru my mouth. Last night I tried a recommended mouth guard but I kept waking up with bursts of air out of my mouth so guess it won't work. I've been using a chin strap for 3 weeks but sometimes it doesn't always work.

Did you tape horizontally or vertically?

I also bought some Lansinoh as you suggested so I will see if that helps any soreness.

My DME sent me a Nuance nasal pillow mask yesterday so last night so I was able to try a pillow mask to compare it to the Wisp and I was amazed how leak free it was. The Nuance is a demo mask so they said I could just have it probably not my first choice in testing a pillow mask but free is free.

After sleeping with the Nuance it seems my sinuses are pretty stuffy today so do you think that's a coincidence or do pillows tend to do that more than nasal masks like the Wisp?

Another minor issue is it seems like I was constantly messing with the hose trying to get it clear of me when I moved around in bed more so than with the Wisp. I can't decide if it was more specific to the Nuance or maybe more in common with pillow masks. Don't get me wrong I loved how I could lay in any position and not have to deal with leaks much different than my experience with the Wisp.

It's pretty simple to clean my Wisp every morning with a mask wipe but how do you clean the inside of the pillows?

This Essential oil aroma-therapy actually helps yours sinuses without making it worse?

countryboy wrote:After sleeping with the Nuance it seems my sinuses are pretty stuffy today so do you think that's a coincidence or do pillows tend to do that more than nasal masks like the Wisp?

Play with your humidifier setting just a little. Sometimes the nasal pillows direct the flow so that the nasal mucosa get a bit more dried out. Some people need more added moisture and some people need less. If going with the odds...from what I have read more people tend to need a little more to help with the congestion.

When I used the tape...I taped horizontally.

countryboy wrote:Another minor issue is it seems like I was constantly messing with the hose trying to get it clear of me when I moved around in bed more so than with the Wisp. I can't decide if it was more specific to the Nuance or maybe more in common with pillow masks.

Some hoses are just more annoying than others. Fix yourself up with some sort of hose management system.
You can buy one or fix up a DIY project. Doesn't have to be fancy.
For some ideas...check out this thread
viewtopic.php?t=10640

I just use hot/warm soapy water to wash the nasal pillows and don't do anything special for the inside of the pillows...
I only do that about once a week. I don't remove the nasal pillows daily for cleaning....I am a lazy sot.
With normal washing (in my hands for about 15 seconds) the inside of the cones get cleaned.
If you are trying to clean without washing...maybe a Q tip.

For some people aroma therapy does help open up the nasal passages to make breathing easier....think how Vicks vapor rub works.

I guess I can't figure out what's going on since last night I taped my mouth with painters tape and I still got cotton mouth. This morning my mouth was taped well enough where I was still unable to open my mouth.

Most people contribute cotton mouth to breathing thru your mouth but is it possible to tape your mouth and still get it?