This is my first post, it may need to go in the review section, but has some more info so I thought posting here would be better.

Hello fellow snuffleupaguses (We have to have a sense of humor about it).

I started about a year ago. Had the sleep study done. My average was about 40 AHI. Yes, a walking zombie. I didn't catch it sooner because I thought my lack of energy was do to depression which I have been going through for about 20 years. Anyways, on to my road so far...

My insurance, and especially the sleep store I go to have been great about letting me try different masks and products before I settle on one. Here's some of the things I've run across, and maybe can provide you with more info if you are like me. I am a little overweight, in my mid 30's, and am a very hot sleeper. Night sweats, restlessness, tossing, turning, the woks! I'm a mouth breather.. with very bad allergies. Not good genes at all

So to start off, I used the Mirage Quattro! Great for the mouth breather! No silly chin strap needed, very comfortable, and doesn't block your vision. If I couldn't breathe through my nose, easy to breathe through mouth. Why it didn't work for me? I sleep on my side, stomach, my skin has always been oily, and even after washing my face before putting it on, I would still loose the seal and air would leak after the oil came back. This is not a mask for side sleepers, any bump would break the seal.

I was told all full masks would prolly do this, so enter Ultra Mirage II, and the FlexiFit HC40. No bueno for me. No seal problems(until), but did have some vision issues, and again i'm a side, stomach sleeper. Turn to the side, psssshhhhhh, wake up instantly. And now an annoying chin strap. But I could deal with it, so I tried the next in line.

Nose pillows. The Swift FX. Very light weight, couldn't break the seal on my stomach or side, and lots of pressure. Finally great nights of sleep. AHI dropped to 2.0, and I could feel it the next morning. Downsides.. For some reason, I really had to tighten it down for the seals not to break. Pushed my nose up to where I would have red lines on my nose and face in the morning that took a while for them to go away. Sometimes developed raw spots on my nose. Go away during the day, but came back at night, the minute I would put it back on. Search continues..

Hey, this is new, try it! Wow...Airfit P10. Can't tell you have it on in terms of weight. Very light. No seal breaks... and that's about it. They told me it really didn't need the swivel, since the hose was so light. They are correct, except that the hose bunches and kinks. The straps aren't adjustable, so the first 2 weeks, the one size fits all felt like I was feeding oxygen directly to my brain it was so tight. It started to loosen up, and I was getting some good night sleeps. Then it started to get too loose, and seal breaks would happen. Again, chin straps like the others. I can deal, as long as it works. I really need to stop mouth breathing.

Last night I tried the Pilairo Q. Very comfortable. It's a one size fit's all that actually balloons up, and has a hard guard on the outside. No seal breaks on side or stomach. Downfalls already though for me. I'm a hot body. The pillow balloons up past my lip, and causes me to sweat wherever it touches. When you are breathing in and out, it jolts a bit trying to keep up with filling the balloon. I had high hopes for this, but it seems to be another trip back.

I'm not picky. I just want a good night sleeps without interuptions. Before, at least I didn't know I was waking up. If I'm waking up because of the mask, then something needs to change. I did however try on a Nuance pro while I was at the sleep store. The gel in the pillows was very comfortable, and really wanting to try that now.

Funny thing is, they keep telling me.. "This one is quieter, and you can barely feel the air coming out". All in all, so far the swift fx has been the best. Yes, it is has more noise, and may bother your loved one in bed. But for hot sleepers like me, I actually enjoyed the air coming out if it. It was like a mini air conditioner!

I hope this helps the ones with similar body types as mine. I'll update if/when I decide to try a different mask. Thanks!

(05-28-2014, 09:22 AM)PollCat Wrote: Way to go, Khemeckal! Nice to have an understanding insurance company and DME. How long (i.e. how many nights) did the entire mask search take?

(05-28-2014, 10:37 AM)trish6hundred Wrote: Hi Khemeckal,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
You are fortunate to have a good DME to work with.
Sounds like you have had a rough time of it with masks. Do let us know if you try another one.
Hopefully, you will find the holy grail of masks at some point, (Ha-Ha).
Best of luck to you with your CPAP therapy.

(05-28-2014, 07:42 AM)Khemeckal Wrote: So to start off, I used the Mirage Quattro! Great for the mouth breather! No silly chin strap needed, very comfortable, and doesn't block your vision. If I couldn't breathe through my nose, easy to breathe through mouth. Why it didn't work for me? I sleep on my side, stomach, my skin has always been oily, and even after washing my face before putting it on, I would still loose the seal and air would leak after the oil came back. This is not a mask for side sleepers, any bump would break the seal.