I wish the insurance companies, the respiratory therapists or the powers that be, would let you try different masks.  Like, give you a mask, let you use it for a week and if it doesn't work, then bring it back and try something else until you find something you are comfortable with.  My CPAP odessy started on August 10th.  I started with a Comfort Gel that the therapist gave me ---it was awful!!  It felt like I was strapping a brick to the front of my face - no matter how loose I adjusted the straps, it was sheer torture to wear that thing all night.  So she said my insurance would pay for one more but that was it.  I next tried the Mirage Swift nasal pillows.  That didn't work either.  I tried both the small and medium pillows and had a constant air leak.  I spent half the night adjusting the thing trying to get a good seal and in the end made my nose sore.  As a last resort - when I had finished with my last sleep study, the guy handed me a mask and said I could have it.  It's the Breeze with a mask.  He said they can't use it because of how it positions on the head and they need wires to go where it sits.  I took it and thought it was the ugliest thing I'd ever seen and no way would I ever put that thing on.  Well, after the first 2 I was desperate to find something that would work - it did.  I told my respiratory therapist and she was very surprised - she said of all her patients, I'm the only one who likes it.  I know there are a lot of you out there that don't like the Breeze but it's working for me.  I think when people ask for opinions about masks, maybe we should say - it didn't work well for me but maybe it would for you.  I admit that when I first put it on I have to fiddle with it to get rid of air leaks but after it warms to my skin, it seems fine.  As you all know, this is just a whole lot of trial and error.  I'm so grateful for this message board and all of you - it's so nice to know we aren't in this thing alone.  While going through trying the Comfort Gel and the Swift, I got very depressed for awhile.  I wasn't sure I was going to be able to go through the rest of my life trying to sleep like that.  In fact one night I pulled the darned thing off and told my husband "if I die in my sleep, just bury me somewhere!!"  I really didn't have a question - I just wanted to point out that I really wish it could be affordable for everyone to try different masks so they wouldn't have to struggle with one that they've been given.

I agree with you.  There are SO many variables here...different needs, facial structures, personal preferences, etc.  

I can only share my experiances...maybe they will help others, maybe not.

The medical equipment provider my sleep doc recommended, after a telephone consult, came out to my house with tons of equipment.  I expressed some of my concerns of equipment size (me not know a thing about this), portability, etc.  They recommended a ResMed S8 Escape CPAP.  I was impressed on how small and quiet this unit was.  They explained it was very new and it took several more weeks before the humidifier was available.  As far as headgear goes, i was fitted with Mirage Swift Nasal Pillows system.  Thinking back to my initial sleep study i recall an 'anxious' feeling when fitted with a FF mask.  These nasal pillows are great!  Very light, very little contact with my face, i can easily put on/remove my eye glasses while wearing it, etc...the nasal pillows DO tend to make my moustache stick up in all directions the next morning    Anyway, I took to all this better than expected.  i have nothing but great support from my equipment provider and their representative, who explained that he wore a CPAP himself.  i think that the company having a rep who uses this equipment contributed to the caring/concern as they have a true understanding of the situation.


_________________
It's different when you've got a Harley-Davidson...

I was lucky that I w as fitted for my first mask by a person who really did know what they were doing, I still use the same type of mask as its good enough
I agree that it helps when the mask is warmed by heat from the face which softens the silicone rubber
perhaps a mask could be warmed first to help it fit better and reduce airleaks

with the skullcap type, the final adjustment should be made when lying down

its interesting that several have concerns about how their appearnace is effected by wearing a mask and this may affect their choice

in my case I am missing some top teeth, making it more difficult for the mask to push against the area above the top lip

I get a gradual buildup of mildew in parts of the mask which responds to the mask being soaked in chlorine bleach and cold water