The hose pushes the mask and makes my face hurt

[SephixT]

I'm not sure what kind of solution is to be had. Wearing the mask without the hose attached is fine, but then with the hose attached puts more pressure on the side the hose falls to. Feels like I have a bruise on my face all day long. Last night I tried to get the hose to go directly over my head, so it wasn't more on one side than the other, and was rewarded with my face hurting on both sides now.

Is this just from being new to treatment and something that will go away? Is it a sign the mask isn't a good fit for me? Is there something I can do with the hose to keep it from pushing on my mask?

[OpalRose]

You can try a hose hanger system that will route the hose behind and over your head so that when you turn it shouldn't be in the way. Google it, fairly inexpensive.

[Terry]

I'm not sure what kind of solution is to be had. Wearing the mask without the hose attached is fine, but then with the hose attached puts more pressure on the side the hose falls to. Feels like I have a bruise on my face all day long. Last night I tried to get the hose to go directly over my head, so it wasn't more on one side than the other, and was rewarded with my face hurting on both sides now.

Is this just from being new to treatment and something that will go away? Is it a sign the mask isn't a good fit for me? Is there something I can do with the hose to keep it from pushing on my mask?

Which mask do you have?

In any case, you can switch to a mask that has a much thiner more flexible hose, along with a swivel, so it can't exert any force on your mask.

Google Resmed P10 for an example. There are others similar masks.

Also you can check out the SleepWeaver masks, which are all cloth and very soft.

[Possum]

I'm not sure what kind of solution is to be had. Wearing the mask without the hose attached is fine, but then with the hose attached puts more pressure on the side the hose falls to. Feels like I have a bruise on my face all day long. Last night I tried to get the hose to go directly over my head, so it wasn't more on one side than the other, and was rewarded with my face hurting on both sides now.

Is this just from being new to treatment and something that will go away? Is it a sign the mask isn't a good fit for me? Is there something I can do with the hose to keep it from pushing on my mask?

It sounds like it's time to consider some hose management options - you should not have a hose pulling on your mask all night long. That will make therapy less effective and more uncomfortable, as you've already experienced.

The main idea is getting the hose to be supported above your head somewhere. There are many options for doing this, including metal hangar racks in which the bottom installs under your mattress, a metal rod sticks up with a hook at the top that holds the hose. However, my solution is much simpler (and cheaper) - velcro adhesive strips. You can buy a big roll of them with velcro on one side and adhesive on the other. I stuck one strip (about 8 inches in length) on my headboard between my machine and me, slightly above my head, and secure the hose in the middle of the strip by placing the complementary piece of velcro on top of the hose, such that it attaches to the velcro on either side of the hose. Then I simply route the hose behind / under my pillow and around to my face. The velcro keeps it from pulling on my face and allows any rainout to drain back to the humidifier.

Each his own but I always prefer simple, cheap solutions.

[SephixT]

Which mask do you have?

Airfit F10 for her, it's in my side bar. The hose does swivel, which I think actually contributes to how much it pushes one side of the mask into my face.

You can try a hose hanger system that will route the hose behind and over your head so that when you turn it shouldn't be in the way. Google it, fairly inexpensive.

It sounds like it's time to consider some hose management options - you should not have a hose pulling on your mask all night long. That will make therapy less effective and more uncomfortable, as you've already experienced.

The main idea is getting the hose to be supported above your head somewhere. There are many options for doing this, including metal hangar racks in which the bottom installs under your mattress, a metal rod sticks up with a hook at the top that holds the hose. However, my solution is much simpler (and cheaper) - velcro adhesive strips. You can buy a big roll of them with velcro on one side and adhesive on the other. I stuck one strip (about 8 inches in length) on my headboard between my machine and me, slightly above my head, and secure the hose in the middle of the strip by placing the complementary piece of velcro on top of the hose, such that it attaches to the velcro on either side of the hose. Then I simply route the hose behind / under my pillow and around to my face. The velcro keeps it from pulling on my face and allows any rainout to drain back to the humidifier.

Each his own but I always prefer simple, cheap solutions.

Ah! I didn't know there were things like that. Saw some stuff on amazon and supplier websites. A DIY solution is probably perfect for me. A command hook and some retractable badge holder type things should do the trick for me I think.

[cate1898]

That's what I do. I use a command hook on the wall behind me about 2 feet above my head and a hairband holding the hose onto the command hook. Works awesome! I can even rig one up in a hotel when I'm travelling and take it with me when I go and is small and really portable.

[Possum]

That's what I do. I use a command hook on the wall behind me about 2 feet above my head and a hairband holding the hose onto the command hook. Works awesome! I can even rig one up in a hotel when I'm travelling and take it with me when I go and is small and really portable.

That is perhaps an even more elegant solution. I like it! Maybe I'll try that when my Velcro wears out.

[SephixT]

That's what I do. I use a command hook on the wall behind me about 2 feet above my head and a hairband holding the hose onto the command hook. Works awesome! I can even rig one up in a hotel when I'm travelling and take it with me when I go and is small and really portable.

I did something similar. Basically copied the "hoze boss" thing I saw on the supplier sites and amazon. It was very reasonably priced, but I needed something now and not next week, lol.

[Dagmar]

One other idea, wear a pajama shirt with buttons and run the hose through a rubber band that you've buttoned onto the shirt. It helps keep the hose centered.

[cate1898]

Not a bad idea Dagmar, and it would help keep the hose heated being close to body heat!