CPAP Mask

It is requested that an image or images be included in this article to improve its quality. The Free Image Search Tool may be able to locate suitable images on Flickr and other web sites.

PAP (CPAP, APAP, or BiPAP) treatment works wonders in many people’s lives. Usually the most difficult part of the therapy is finding the right mask and adjusting to it. Here are some tips for being a smart mask shopper and user. You are the one who needs to sleep with the mask all night, every night. Research the decision well.

The problem with masks

Masks, also called interfaces, are problematic for most PAP users because of their design and fit. Most masks come in only three to five sizes. It’s as if all the men and women in the world were expected to fit into only three unisex shoe sizes, but worse. Manufacturers make custom eyeglasses, dentures, clothes, orthotics (shoe insoles), shoes, but generally not custom CPAP masks. Despite each person’s unique facial contours, facial hair, and unique muscle relaxation in deep sleep, despite the force of air pressure and humidified air and sweat, masks are expected to fit everyone comfortably and not leak. That doesn’t happen readily. Common mask problems are fit and discomfort at pressure points on the nose and face, uncomfortable and noisy leakage of air from the mask, noise from the air vents, discomfort with the headgear to hold the mask in place, and air blowing from the mask vents onto your hand, arm, or your bed partner. All these mask problems affect the quality of sleep, number of apneaic events, likelihood of adherence or compliance with the treatment, and resulting health and longevity.

Mask evolution lags far behind machine evolution. With so many people yet undiagnosed with sleep apnea, there is a huge potential market which may funnel dollars into better mask design and production in the future.

It’s not “just” comfort

It’s important that your mask (and everything else) be comfortable. With sleep therapy, comfort is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity for successful treatment. In the daytime, when you are awake and not exhausted, you could tough it out and handle a difficult physical therapy for a few hours. But at night, when you are exhausted, vulnerable, extra sensitive, and need to sleep, your mask needs to be compatible with sleep all night long. In other words, comfortable. Although people have great capacity to adjust and “sleep though anything,” there is a limit.

To make a mask more comfortable, consider Pad-A-Cheek strap covers http://www.padacheek.com/ , a mask-compatible pillow such as PAPillow http://www.papillow.com/ to reduce leaks, proper hose management so there is no drag on the mask causing leaks; a PAP heated humidifier, fleece hose cover, Australian SleepZone heated hose http://www.sleepzone.com.au/index.html, and hose connectors. See the articles on Solving CPAP Mask Problems and Solving Common Equipment Problems.

To minimize mask leaks, go to bed with a clean face, avoid facial moisturizers at night, and wash facial oils off your mask each morning. See the article on Equipment Cleaning.

Modification Tips

Nasal Pillows

Nasal Aire II Wearing Options

by Babette, 07/06/07

Here are some links to how to wear the Nasal Aire II, as requested by other forum members:

http://www.mergenetsolutions.com/innomedinc/documents/na2headgear.pdf

http://www.mergenetsolutions.com/innomedinc/na2.htm

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/innomed-nasal-aire-ii.html (Scroll down to the bottom for several helpful videos)

I decided I didn't need the headgear that came with it, and attached my NAII directly to my chinstrap:

http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p36/BabetteLaMauvaise/CPAP/

I sleep on my side, both sides actually, and can mash my face into my pillow with no difficulties. I do not have any leaks, and the tubing is perfectly comfortable to sleep on.

Others have said the noise is worse than any other interface. I have found all interfaces noisy, and have gotten used to the noise. I like the "white noise" factor because it keeps the neighbor-noise at bay.

Your mileage may vary. I say, if you're a side sleeper, this is the best interface available. I've tried nearly all the pillows interfaces, and everytime I rolled, the pillows slid off my nose. I have NO leaks with this mask, it doesn't give me any pain or cause facial red marks, it's perfectly comfortable and doesn't pull my nose or rub my upper lip raw.

Other pillows type masks I've tried:

Optilife

Optilife couldn't keep it sealed, fought with it all night, hate the way it covers my mouth and the tube cannot be brought overhead.

CL2

CL2 sealed better, overhead tube management nice, but still slid off my nose when I rolled over, so I'd have to put it back in place every time.

Breeze

Best seal of all the pillows I tried. BUT, it hurt my nose because it pulled it up, and rubbed my nares and upper lip raw. The hard plastic shell was not designed for MY face. :-)

Bravo

Doesn't seal as well as the NAII prongs. Don't like the side assemblage, not as comfortable to sleep on as the NAII. Took it off mid-way through the night and switched back to the NAII. If you like the headgear, you can interchange the NAII prongs cannula with this, and vice versa, put the Bravo pillows cannula on your NAII.