These darn masks

[super7pilot]

These masks are the most continuously frustrating thing. But on the good side. The cpap therapy has been going much better as of late. since October 24th I have only had one day where the AHI has been over 5. All the other days have had an AHI of under 1. And I am starting to get more restful sleep. Feeling much less a zombie now than when I first started treatment.

I'll post last nights great results along with that leaky P-10 nasal pillow mask.


Started off my cpap journey with the P-10, Sealed well but was always slipping because of the wonky straps. So had to cinch it down so tight to secure it that it started hurting my nose. I thought I had the issue solved by wearing my chin strap gear over the straps and using lanoline to try and keep the irritation at bay. But then I started to see that the 'med' pillow was fully going into my nostril. switched to a large and that worked ok. but was more touchy and leaked more than the medium.

Went and bought the F40. Was and still is comfy at the start and very silent. But because of the "stylishly designed" upper straps to effect watching TV or reading in bed. Neither which I believe in doing. In fact, If you are in bed and not sleeping. You are just forming a bad habit. You SHOULD be going to bed to go to sleep. Not goofing off. 
So the wonky yet stylish F40 straps cause me to have to cinch them down to prevent leaks. And because of the upwards bend behind the eyes. It then pulls the nose cradle into my nose so hard it hurts. 

Then it was on to the VA provided N30i and the pillow fitment.  which was an error on my part. I thought it was the full face mask. So it has the same wonky straps and noise that the P-10 has.

I'm now waiting for the F30i full face mask to see if that works.

For now I'm sticking with the P-10. Might try foregoing the lanoline or use it more sparingly and see if it keeps the whole medium pillow from disappearing up my nose.

And I can only hope and pray that the incoming F30i works. But it might be noisy as well given it has the hollow silicone frame.

[SarcasticDave94]

Myself, I like the Fisher and Paykel masks. They're worn looser than ResMed F20, etc. in my own usage. I've had the F&P Simplus, Vitera, and recently the Evora full which is a hybrid full face lower but upper is nasal cradle.

[super7pilot]

Myself, I like the Fisher and Paykel masks. They're worn looser than ResMed F20, etc. in my own usage. I've had the F&P Simplus, Vitera, and recently the Evora full which is a hybrid full face lower but upper is nasal cradle.

I thought from the first look that the F40 would be great as it was a FF with the nasal cradle.  HOWEVER, like a lot of other manufacturers of a great many things. The STYLE department was given sway over the functional design department.

I find it not only odd. But antithetical to the extreme for a company that specializes in helping people to sleep would even think about designing a mask with straps so that a person can go to bed and do the polar opposite of sleeping. Reading and watching TV.

My Mom had insomnia issues. And her doctor said this (I was in the room as well): "you should only be doing two things in your bed, sleeping or having sex"
NO TV WATCHING OR READING. it habituates you into relating your bed with not sleeping. Want to watch TV or read? The Dr. said to my Mom, Get your ass out of bed and go into the living room.

At some point I will have to ask the VA what other mask manufacturers they provide. I don't mind paying for a mask. But the VA will not provide replacement parts if I didn't get the mask from them. Which I find silly.

[eok361]

as a cash paying cpap patient, i can commiserate with the mask hunting. i have gone out of pocket for no less than 7 different masks. 

some work well, others just not at all. the f&p vitera seemed to be the best for a while, but even it--after a while--wasn't the perfect solution. i have given up thinking there is a perfect mask for me. 

i'm currently auditioning the n30i. it works well, but i have to tape my mouth with it, which is a pita; but necessary. 

good luck on your search. if your insurance will cover your various attempts, take advantage of that.

[super7pilot]

as a cash paying cpap patient, i can commiserate with the mask hunting. i have gone out of pocket for no less than 7 different masks. 

some work well, others just not at all. the f&p vitera seemed to be the best for a while, but even it--after a while--wasn't the perfect solution. i have given up thinking there is a perfect mask for me. 

i'm currently auditioning the n30i. it works well, but i have to tape my mouth with it, which is a pita; but necessary. 

good luck on your search. if your insurance will cover your various attempts, take advantage of that.

I’m extremely fortunate in the insurance arena. Medicare, Veterans admin 20% disability & retired military (tricare for life)

[lonigan]

I started out with 2 different nasal masks, the F20 full face and 2 different style chin strap. Didnt help with leaks or mouth breathing.

I am now using the F30i and its been night and day - haven't tried the F40 so can't compare. I wear it fairly loosely and when it starts up there is a rush of air and a thwup! (a good thing) and it seals tight and stays sealed - and I toss and turn from one side to the other every 40 minutes or so. It just fits. There is also the respironics full face hybrid that basically looks the same as the F30i and I tried that as well with not very much success maybe a subtle difference in mask shape or something but i was always fighting it to get it to seal.

leak rate now is zero every night unless i have an itch or something and need to break the seal to scratch.

VA here has been great about equipment and swapping out, I guess it just depends on the one in your area. Ask them. They even sent me a box and label to return the unused masks and hoses and such.

[Lucid]

Hi, super7pilot

I like the p30i a lot, which is like the p30 except the hose clips on top of my head.  I haven't had trouble with leaks since getting used to CPAP, but I do sleep on my back (due to arthritis), which is not a good idea but probably minimizes dislodging the mask.

Looking at your chart, I wonder why your mask leaks only at certain points.  Maybe it happens when you turn over on your back (or vice versa)?  If you can figure that out, it might lead to some ideas for reducing leaks.  It might not be the mask, but rather something about sleeping position leading to your opening your mouth.

I enjoy the humorous and informative YouTube mask reviews done by The Lanky Lefty 27.  I've found those helpful in thinking about which masks to try and how to adjust them.  Here's a review of different nasal masks.  He also tends to review every mask individually and has done a lot of more recent reviews.  He also has one or two videos on the advantages of fixed pressure (over automatic), which I've found to advantageous.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zipxlErxzy4

There are many excellent mask reviews on Apnea Board, too, of course.  I always check those, too, but I find the visual element of videos really helpful with masks.

You definitely want to find something that you don't need to fasten tightly, so that you can avoid/reduce skin irritation.  

Good luck -- trying different masks is a great idea!

[super7pilot]

Lucid, it could be from moving. Although i tend to not move much. My cat normally parks by my knees and i have learned to not sleep on my back. And the wife has verified that she hasn’t seen me on my back in many years.

But i for one think it ridiculous that one needs to be strapped to a rescue back board or lay motionless like cadaver for a mask to work.

[Rickyricardo]

The #1 problem with the P10 is the lousy suspension system which gets as loose as granny's pantyhose in a few weeks, though if you can get the plastic oval slack-removers to actually bite into the straps, they help cinch it up for a few more weeks. Otherwise it is a great mask.

I took the N30i back because it has no vertical adjustment and depends on fitting your head like an accordion and being pulled towards your face with the rear strap. And that top hose without the smaller super flexible feeder hose is a mistake.

The best, as long as they still sell it, is the Swift FX because it adjusts vertically and has a horizontal strap as well and is very easy to fit any cranium. And it is quite soft silicone rubber and despite that, has little cloth things that protect your cheeks.

[Lucid]

I sense a business opportunity in marketing cats as a sleep aid!

I often wonder if the engineers who design the masks have actually tried to sleep with them.  There should be way more sizes, at a minimum.  Eyeglass frames, for example, come in so many shapes and sizes.  A lot of that is fashion, but the shapes and sizes of people's faces, noses, and heads varies so much.  As it is we have to try different types of masks and different brands of the same type until we find one that happens to fit OK.