Well from my first appointment with my primary physican in mid October and 2 sleep studies later I am getting my cpap delivered to my door on Tuesday afternoon. I honestly feel like a kid waiting for christmas morning.....

Now the questions, from what I remember talking to the DME, I was ordered a ResMed unit (S7 or S8, I cant remember) with the heated humidifier and a pressure setting of six. The DME said I can have my pick of whatever mask or pillow I want (ALL covered by insurance). Now I already have a nasal mask (they gave me at my titration) its a respironics comfortselect classic (the cheapeast one with the little gel pad on your forehead, no gel around your nose) and it was pretty comfortable but I want to give the pillows a shot.

My DME is bringing the respironics gel mask (the blue one), the Swift, and the Breeze. I am a side or back sleeper so I think the Swift looks the most comfortable but anyone have any suggestions?

ideally a well experienced person should choose the mask for you, after trying several different brands and using their experience to choose the best
even then, some nbeed to try several ,masks to find 1 that suits them

Johnny Red -

The Respironics gel mask, the Swift, and the Breeze does not constitute sufficient choice.  It doesn't give many choices, and it's heavy on nasal pillows, which aren't for everybody.  If you decide you don't like nasal pillows, you'll have virtually no selection with the models you mentioned.

You don't have the choice of a nasal mask with a double silicone, air-filled seal; I've tried three of them (ResMed's Ultra Mirage, ResMed's Mirage Vista, and Respironics' Comfort Select) and they're good.  The gel mask didn't work for me at all; it didn't seal nearly as well as the others.  My DME said it was because of the angle/shape of the bridge of my nose.  I know you already have a Comfort Select; it's not the cheapest available, and it actually pretty good.

The Swift and the Breeze have devoted followers (I like the Swift), but are hated by others.  My spouse didn't like the Swift, because it blew air almost all the way across the bed!  Since I'm a side sleeper, that was a problem.  My sister, who has a Breeze, indicated it blows air on her husband.  

The Swift makes is easier to sleep on one side than the other (you can choose which side that is).  I found it took a little getting used to using with a Memory Foam pillow, but the PAPillow should make it easier (there are other threads about that - see http://www.apneasupport.org/viewtopic.php?p=6200&highlight=papillow#6200).  I didn't have any trouble sleeping on my side with the Ultra Mirage, Comfort Select, or Mirage Vista.  When you try them out, bring your pillow and try them out while stretched out, not in a chair.

At a minimum, your DME should offer either the Ultra Mirage or the Comfort Select in addition to the three you mentioned.  

Good luck with your choice!

- Ridge Runner

Don't make the mistake I did and presume that the pillows will be the best.  I heard all good things about them and tried so hard to get used to them but I couldn't stand them up my nose.  I now have the Respironics Profile gel mask and I love it.  Try on as many as you can!  Good luck!

Wendy

I agree.  Don't just "jump" at a mask.  However, in my case many masks were brought in.  The Swift Nasal Pillows was an easy choice for my needs.  I didn't feel claustrophobic.  I actually tore the gel mask off...it drove me crazy after only about 20 seconds.
The main thing is, try on all that they bring.  I think the one you'll pick may feel obvious to you at the time.  It was just my experience.  I wish you the best of luck.  Don't get frustrated, and as I've found, this forum is always here with great people who don't judge and are extemely supportive.  
Thanks to everyone.

    DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND SEE IF YOUR DME IS WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU.SOMETIMES THEY'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF MASKS TO TRIAL FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND RETURN THE ONE YOU DON'T WANT. I TOTALLY AM A MOUTH BREATHER SO A FFM WAS MY CHOICE. THE GEL MASK FELT TOO CONFINING FOR ME. I USE A 431 FLEXIFIT -IT HAS A SILICONE CUSHION THAT ACT AS BELLOWS. INITIALLY I HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH MASK LEAKS BUT FOR THE PAST 4 NIGHTS OR SO HAVEN'T HAD 1 ISSUE. SIGN ON TO THIS FORUM OFTEN-I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH INFO I'VE GOTTEN IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.I'VE ONLY BEEN USING CPAP FOR 3 WEEKS-STILL A NEWBIE-BUT SINCE I'VE BEEN AN ICU RN FOR 23 YEARS I FEEL PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH THE WHOLE SITUATION. LIKE I TELL MY NEW NURSES-REMEMBER-THERE ARE NO STUPID QUESTIONS!!!!!! AM I RIGHT EVERYONE?


_________________
EVERY SILVER LINING HAS A TOUCH OF GREY
-Grateful Dead


CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a