RE: I do not get good sleep
12 years on CPAP and not ever feeling refreshed is a horrible experience. Some people are so sensitive when they sleep that any noise or light or even a small leak can cause a disruption in sleep. Since you have used masks with forehead supports, that didn't work, recommending an older style won’t be a solution. And I imagine you are aware of bed pillows with cut-outs to make it easier to sleep on your side.
I use an F20 FFM and it is the first one that I use the headgear that comes with it. With my Quattro FX, I could never get the headgear to pull the mask back toward the back of my head to seal the mask; even the F20 doesn't do a great job of that. I used elastic straps with the Quattro FX and made my own straps to pull the mask back onto my face. I also made them fairly tight, none of that floating garbage. My logic was that if the mask started to move the elastic would just tighten more. Afterall, people use bungees to keep all sorts of things in place and then drive 65 MPH on the freeway, so elastic can't be that bad.
I'm not saying that will fix your issue, but if you can't find anything a manufacture makes that works, maybe you should look outside of the sleep apnea world. I don't have the answers as to what that might be, but an initial thought is wrestling headgear and attach your mask to that. If a person can get tossed all over a mat with one, a little tossing in bed shouldn't dislodge it. Again, I have no idea if that will work.
Also, people have ways of fastening the hose in place so it doesn't pull on the mask and cause it to leak. I'm sure there have been a number of inventive ideas on that.
I applaud Geologeek for using a hammock to be able to sleep. It might sound pretty far out there, but it really demonstrates someone who is willing to take whatever steps.
Unfortunately manufacturers don't care about the 5% that can't use their products as is and no one is going to manufacture an affordable solution for them. Sometimes you just have to figure out what stuff is out there that can help.
John
I use an F20 FFM and it is the first one that I use the headgear that comes with it. With my Quattro FX, I could never get the headgear to pull the mask back toward the back of my head to seal the mask; even the F20 doesn't do a great job of that. I used elastic straps with the Quattro FX and made my own straps to pull the mask back onto my face. I also made them fairly tight, none of that floating garbage. My logic was that if the mask started to move the elastic would just tighten more. Afterall, people use bungees to keep all sorts of things in place and then drive 65 MPH on the freeway, so elastic can't be that bad.
I'm not saying that will fix your issue, but if you can't find anything a manufacture makes that works, maybe you should look outside of the sleep apnea world. I don't have the answers as to what that might be, but an initial thought is wrestling headgear and attach your mask to that. If a person can get tossed all over a mat with one, a little tossing in bed shouldn't dislodge it. Again, I have no idea if that will work.
Also, people have ways of fastening the hose in place so it doesn't pull on the mask and cause it to leak. I'm sure there have been a number of inventive ideas on that.
I applaud Geologeek for using a hammock to be able to sleep. It might sound pretty far out there, but it really demonstrates someone who is willing to take whatever steps.
Unfortunately manufacturers don't care about the 5% that can't use their products as is and no one is going to manufacture an affordable solution for them. Sometimes you just have to figure out what stuff is out there that can help.
John
I appreciate them a lot! It is aggravating to say the least. But I am also paranoid I'm going to die if I don't use the mask, so I use it every night (unless I have a cold and can't breathe. Fortunately we have a Tempurpedic type bed and I can raise up my head. Sometimes that helps a bit. With the chin strap and the headgear, I have permanent dents on my head (under my hair); sometimes I wonder if that is healthy. I've tied my hose to my headboard and that has made a good difference, keeping just enough slack so that I can move but not get tangled or make it pull on my mask.
