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Desperate Need of Some Mask Advice
I am approximately 3 weeks into my CPAP therapy. I am a mouth breather, side sleeper with a deviated septum. I have been attempting to use the Mirage Quattro full face mask with the results of either eye leaks with my nose fine or nose fine but air leaks. I have purchased several types of comfort supplies like the soft nasal cushion which broke my nose out, RemZzzs mask liners and quite recently the pad a cheek mask liner. I am also using the pad a cheek forehead pad which has helped a lot, I still have the Quattro but was refitted for the Amaro which can be a major tear your nose up. But I have worked to the point of either no eye leaks and limited mouth leaks but nose messed up or nose not messed up but all the leaks in the world,
I am now considering switching to another mask;however, my insurance will not be paying for this one. I am starting to think about a nasal mask. I have a True Blue which was given to me at my sleep study but I did not use because my mouth was opening, Any mask advice anyone can give me will be greatly appreciated as I have experimented with different things until I am simply exhausted.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on
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I truly empathise with you Wanda, as getting the 'right' mask for me was the hardest part. A quote from one of our Sleep Doctor's (Michael Oko) over here is a good one.... "you often have to kiss many frogs until you find your prince." Men do have problems getting the right mask, but I see the problem greater in women (makes me wonder if the designers of the masks are perhaps nearly always men). I do think that some of the problem is that womens' faces are softer and more sensitive.
If you need a full face mask because you mouth breathe, then if you do change to a nasal mask you will also need a chin strap or teach yourself to keep your mouth closed (which is easier when awake than asleep). This probably won't be easy though with a deviated septum. Might also be worth visiting an ENT doc to see if your nasal breathing can be improved. I had surgery on my septum + turbinates, and can certainly breathe easier with CPAP now.
As a mouth breather with nasal bridge issues, the 3 masks that come to mind for you to try would be the Respironics' FitLife (my absolute favourite), the Innomed Hybrid or the Resmed Mirage Liberty. None of these masks go near your nasal bridge or blow near your eyes. Do bear in mind though, that whatever advice you get (including mine) 'what suits one person doesn't always suit another'. Take a read of the blog post I wrote about choosing masks http://www.sleepapnoeablog.com/choosing-a-cpap-bipap-masks-for-slee...
Don't despair Wanda, as you WILL find the right mask for you eventually, and meanwhile remember that even though you're having these issues, you are still getting good therapy and preventing other health issues OSA is linked with, albeit in an uncomfortable way at the moment. It won't be forever though!
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Permalink Reply by Wanda Polk on
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Kath,
Thanks for your encouraging words. While searching for the perfect mask for me I lost sight of the fact that I do feel more alert in the morning. I went to the ENT doctor before I started CPAP to ensure that I was in the best place possible for receiving my therapy. During that appointment is when I learned that I have a deviated septum. The ENT doctor told me if I responded well to the CPAP therapy then do not worry about the deviated septum. But if I didn't then I might want to consider the surgery. I forgot to mention in my posting that I am a side sleeper which adds another challenge to the mask selection. However, I contacted my DME company today and they made a ticket for me to come in for another appointment in this appointment I am attempting to cover as many bases as I can---I will bring a nasal mask that I have for one of my sleep studies and they will give me an insurance paid chin strap and show me how to properly fit that mask (as the technican did it at my sleep study) and then I will explore some of the other masks that you have suggested and some that I have researched, Thanks again.
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Remember 'the last hurdle is always the worst' and you know CPAP is working for you and is making a difference to how you feel, so all you're now looking for is the mask that suits. As I said, I found the mask of my 'dreams' in the FitLife, but that doesn't mean it's perfect as we are not really meant to have to sleep with a mask on our faces. However, it cured all the problems I was getting and is 'near perfect' for me. Oh and by the way, I'm a side sleeper too. My husband will vouch for the amount of times a mask when flying across the bedroom in the middle of the night in my frustration in the early days, and I'm normally a patient person
Good luck......
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Kath,
Thanks..... I will just keep pushing forward. I slept pretty well last night. I made a few modifications thought which made air leak in my left eye all night. This morning, I woke up with one of my teeth hurting. I had been reading about people having teeth problems on differenct forums. As a child I wore braces and don't want any changes in my teeth which is one reason I opted out of an oral device for my therapy. I am going to try opening the mouth area of my pad a cheek liner a little more and see if that takes care of it,
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I am pleased with my second mask refit appointment. I accomplished everything that I wanted to accomplish. 1. The RT showed me how to properly fit the True Blue nasal mask I currently have. 2. I acquired a chin strap to be used with the 2 masks that I have which are not FF masks. 3. I tried all the masks that I was interested in. I tried the, the Mirage FX for her but it did not fit me as well as the Eson Nasal. The RT suggested that I stay with my current nasal and order the Eson in 3 months when the insurance will pay for it. He encouraged me to try to use the nasal mask since it is the least invasive mask and to try to learn to sleep with my mouth closed. He said that he was able to do that after a little while. I did purchase the Quattro FX for her (another FF mask). I agreed to document which mask I used on which days for a time period and then go back and allow him to pull the data so we could see which mask I did best with. To date my average hyponea index is 2.5 and average RERA index is 0.9 for an average AHI of 4.7 (My first mask since being on CPAP was the Mirage Quattro)
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Permalink Reply by Terry Vella on
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Your are a expert now Wanda, you may put Kath and me and all the others out of a job, well done.
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Good to hear you're making great strides Wanda to find out what works best for you. Sounds like you have a good clinician there too. Working towards nasal breathing during sleep is ideal and helps with the oxygen levels - easier said than done for some people though!
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Thanks Kath! This is my second clinician. After I mentioned a couple of things to my sleep doctor's nurse. She placed me on hold and then called the DME and requested a more experienced clinician for me.
Kath Hope said:Good to hear you're making great strides Wanda to find out what works best for you. Sounds like you have a good clinician there too. Working towards nasal breathing during sleep is ideal and helps with the oxygen levels - easier said than done for some people though!
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I doubt that. I just want to be in the same category as everyone. I have learned so much in such a short period of time and it is all due to everyone's concern and support. Thanks!
Terry Vella said:Your are a expert now Wanda, you may put Kath and me and all the others out of a job, well done.
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