How To Properly Fit a Mask. From a Techs Point of View.

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 31, 2009 at 10:15am

Kim, the fitting problem doesn't belong to you, it belongs to DME!!! That's their freakin' JOB and there are a gazillion masks and manufacturers out there. My DME guy fits me in a chair that's a recliner and then has me lie back and just relax while he fine-tunes it.

One thing I learned on SG was that Mack's Silicone Ear Plugs could be used to cushion noses, etc., and also to help provide a better seal. You can get them in drugstores--I get mine at Walgreen's but they're all over the place. Don't get the foam ones--you need the silicone ones so you can mold them to any shape you want..

I've never had a problem with the redness and soreness some people talk about till I got my new full face mask (it's my 4th mask!!). It's been leaving an increasingly sore, broken out place on my nose. SO, now I've been using 1/4 of a Mack's, flattened out and held firmly on my nose where the spot is--it holds all night and ends up sticking to the mask in the exact same place in the a.m. IT WORKS!! My nose is getting better every day. Plus you can use the same 1/4 (or however much you need--they come 4 to a package) for several nights. They last a long time which is good cost-wise.

I've also been told on here that the same silicone stuff can be used and shaped in all kinds of ways to close up leaking places in masks. I haven't had to use that yet, but I will if mine starts to leak. It's GREAT stuff. I think Judy may have been the one who told us about it in the first place.....

You might wanta give it a try--maybe it would make your mask work better for you. It may help with the red marks on your face too, 'cause if it stops leaks you wouldn't have to strap it on so tightly.....

Susan McCord :-)

kim smith said:

I have a problem, I have tried 3 different masks and the respiratory tech told me the problem is I am in between sizes, a small is too little and a medium is too big. Now, the only way that I truly feel there are no leaks is if I have the straps pulled as tight as possible, and I feel great when I wake up BUT, I do have a red mark over the bridge of my nose, and the impression of the mask reddens my skin....... any ideas ?

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 31, 2009 at 10:25am

My Mirage Quattro is exactly the same way, Mary.

Susan McCord :-)

Mary Zimlich said:

Rock, Thanks,
Everything you said works for me but starting with the machine on. The pressure blows the soft part of my Mirage Quattro out so it's impossible to place down on my face. I usually get some leaks as the night goes on as I move around alot, but tightening the mask on the bottom always helps and is not uncomfortable. Maybe the headgear stretches out some during the night.

Anybody tried one of those special pillows? I'm wondering if I could make one myself.

Thanks,

Mary Zimlich

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 31, 2009 at 10:27am

I don't have any suggestions re: mask, Jeanne, but I've experienced that "hearing my pulse in my head" thing--it's annoying, and keeps me from sleeping when it happens. Thankfully not often....anyone know what causes that???

Susan McCord

Jeanne Berry said:

Thanks, this helped. the sleep center has sent me home with many models to try for a few nights. I have a TINY problem. I have tried 11 masks, and finally have one that seems to work. But, I hear my pulse all the time, except if my head is in one position all night. Then, my neck is sore. I asked my doc, and he said he had heard this complaint a few times before, and followed up with neurological studies, and nothing was ever found conclusive. The thump, thump, thump is annoying, but I can live with it. Any suggestions?

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on October 31, 2009 at 10:28am

Yeah, I'm a medium small, too and haven't found a comfortable mask in between yet. I use a bandaid over the bridge of my nose with one end folded over (a small bandaid), the pad does not irritate my skin. I also finally found out how to use the forehead adjuster on my Mirage Quattro full face mask and that took a lot of pressure off my nose.

Good luck,
Mary Zimlich

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Permalink Reply by Ms_ZZZZ on November 16, 2009 at 5:45pm

Thanks. This is very helpful for a newbie.
ZZZZZZZ

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Permalink Reply by Max on March 2, 2010 at 9:31am

Thanks Rock. The only instruction I had on using my mask was in the sitting position ..... last night using your advice and also bits picked up on the discussion (eg silicone ear plugs) was the best I've had with my mask. Again many thanks

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