I will be joining this little country club soon and I would like to know which machines / masks I should not even bother to look at.  I have a very small face.   The mask used at the Sleep Center was horrible.  It covered part of my eyes, and half of my mouth.  

Also, my Dr wants me to return to the sleep center to get it.  He knows everyone there personally.   That place creeped me out.

I have Tricare Insurance and a Tricare supplement, which is suppose to pick up the difference.   We will see.  

Any help you could give me would be welcome!!!

I have Tricare Prime they paid for everything.  I have the RESMED ResMed's VPAP III bilevel with the HumidAire 2iTM heated humidifier (integrated).   The mask I have is the Mirage Swift nasal pillows system, it is great.  I heard the Breeze was good also.  The Mirage vista stinks to be sure.  Also you might need to get the PAPillow so your mask want get knocked off your face by your pillow.


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Well, here is my 2 cents.  With the fact that you say you have a very small face, you will be different than the "average" cpap user.  You might PM restedgal, I think she has personally tried every mask there is!

I wonder why they don't make smaller masks....I also have a problem with finding a mask and headgear to fit....there seems to be a fair amount of people on these boards that have small faces...


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*** Linda ***

Haku wrote:

I have Tricare Prime they paid for everything.  I have the RESMED ResMed's VPAP III bilevel with the HumidAire 2iTM heated humidifier (integrated).   The mask I have is the Mirage Swift nasal pillows system, it is great.  I heard the Breeze was good also.  The Mirage vista stinks to be sure.  Also you might need to get the PAPillow so your mask want get knocked off your face by your pillow.

Why do you think the Mirage vista stinks? That's the one I tried during the clinic does it leak?

The vista does not leak for me if I lie on my back and do not move.  But if I move to one side or the other it leaks.  Maybe the PAPillow I ordered will stop the vista from leaking when side sleeping.  I think the forehead support of the activa are needed to help stop these types of leaks.  The head gear is hard to work and figure out on the vista.  I just thing the swift is a better and more comfortable mask for me.  Resmed says they made the vista so you could read while wearing the mask.  They never mention sleeping with it.  Maybe they designed it to read, like they say, but not actually to sleep with.  What is important that whatever mask you pick works for you.


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Where do you get the PAPillow? I have had some trouble getting it adjusted, but I've only had it a week. Also what do you do when you have a cold? Stuffy nose, sore throat. Should I get a full face as well?

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Thank you:)
Rookie

I would like to know which machines / masks I should not even bother to look at.

Any mask that has the word comfort in it   ........AVOID


   Think ResMed for Masks and  Respironics for machines

I strongly believe selecting a mask is a very personal thing, and it depends on your face size and structure, sleeping style, and proximity to partner.  A good respiratory therapist/DME supplier can help you along that path, noting what types work best with your face, and telling you what others experience.  He/she can generally tell you, for example, that people with high pressure settings complain most about a particular mask, or that another mask is good for active sleepers.  Of course, using a mask for several nights is the ultimate (but expensive!) decision maker.

What someone else hates might be perfect for you; the other person may have a bad fit or misadjusted straps, and then blames the mask.  It's like having your eyeglasses maladjusted and thinking you have the wrong prescription, when all you needed was a little adjustment so your glasses fit right.  

Go for your mask selection appointment with an open mind, and look at what's good for you.

The one piece of advice I'd give is not to choose a mask that breaks often.  The Breeze is one of them; the rigid plastic piece that goes over your head breaks frequently.

Hi MAx4

Masks and machines are very, very individual.  For every person who loves an interface, you will find someone who despises it equally.  The questions to ask are what do you want out of an interface?

Remember, each mask has pros and cons, which may only be applicable to the user (an example of this follows)

I have both Respironics and Resmed instruments, I don't value one over the other, as with masks, each has pros and cons.

1.  Do you want unobstructed vision or are you claustrophobic?  Try;
     Nasal pillows
     Comfort Curve
     Resmed Vista

2.  Can you sleep with your mouth closed and you don't care of your vision is obstructed?
     Try;
     Nasal masks (There are many different types, some have thin silicone seals while others
     use a thick gel material).

3.  Do you move around a lot?  Try;
     ResMed Activa (I personally hate this one, the headgear is hard plastic and cuts into my
     ears.  See, maybe your ears are placed differently on your head than mine and the
     mask would work well for you).

4.  Do you open your mouth or are your sinuses hopelessly messed up?  Try;
     A nasal mask and chin strap
     Full faced mask (If you end up using a full face mask email me as I do have suggestions
     for this.

5.  Adult masks come in S, M, L.  You have to try the mask on!  I wear a M with one brand
     and a S with another.  There are probably also pediatric masks available, check around.

     Vicki



Last edited by Vicki on Sat Sep 03, 2005 5:41 am; edited 2 times in total

I agree with Ridge Runner about masks being a very personal fit selection to make.  One that works great for many people can be a leaky disaster for someone else.

The older Breezes were indeed prone to break easily according to many posts in the past.  Luckily I never had it happen with my "original" Breeze.   However, Puritan Bennett finally addressed that long-time issue and improved the Breeze (was it just last year?)  The "improved" version is very sturdy by most accounts.  I have the newer version too and really like it.

That's a good checklist, Vicki!  

mamama, take your pillow with you and insist on "trying out" any masks they let you try on by leaving your dignity at the door and laying down on a bed, couch or even the floor with your pillow.  Have them hook a cpap machine to it at your prescribed pressure and simulate your usual sleeping positions.  Toss and turn, too.  It does no good at all to be fitted sitting up only and thinking a mask "feels ok" and "doesn't leak", only to have it be nearly unusable when you are actually trying to sleep laying down at home with it on.