Need FFM recommendations

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on February 10, 2010 at 10:32am

Reading here and working with my DME I just got a Respironics Comfortgel FFM. I'm very hopeful as it doesn't have the hard plastic at the bridge of the nose that has caused me grief with my Quattro. I will wait until Sunday to try it as I have two nasty broken down areas on the bridge of my nose that need to heal. This is the advice of the DME and my doc's office.
I was on the road to infection, or worse necrosis (it's like a bedsore, got to heal from the inside out) due to my stubborn insistence on wearing the mask no matter what. I hated losing my 100% compliance record and it's been difficult not to rush things. I think one of my problems is that I have so many things in my CPAP medicine chest that I didn't use one remedy for long enough to see progress or lack of it. I think plain bandaids have been my best friend. I bought some gauze to put a little more padding under the bandaid when I start up again.
I thank everyone for their advice and special thanks to the person who posted about getting a whole face infection from continuing to use a mask that was causing problems. That was a heads up.
Oh, I did look at the Roscoe Medical and it is a relatively inexpensive mask.

Mary Z.

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Permalink Reply by Max on March 2, 2010 at 1:04pm

Hi Mary Z
I''ve just started using the respironics comfort gel full mask. I like it the best so far but it still makes the bridge of my nose look as though my wife has thumped me in the night! One site suggested using some silicone ear plugs to be shaped over the bridge and so I am going to try this tonight (time in uk 6.05 pm)
I should be interested to hear how you are getting on with this mask (my pressures range between 12.5 to 20)

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Permalink Reply by Judy on March 2, 2010 at 1:41pm

To protect the bridge of the nose try cutting a piece of Dr Scholl's moleskin to fit the mask cushion and stick it to the mask cushion moleskin side to your face.

Try a Padacheek. A google search will bring up the Padacheek website or Karen is also a registered member of this forum w/the Padacheek ID.

I never had any luck getting that thin outer cushion cover of the Quattro (or the Micro either) to NOT slice into the skin on the bridge of my nose.

The only other full face mask I've tried is the ProBasics Zzz-Mask and I LOVE it. Lightweight, no forehead piece. Headgear was a bit too big for me but a pair of scissors and velcro strips remedied that situation very easily.

Also you will find that if you hang your hose above your head there won't be the tugging of the hose on your mask. Having your hose down allows it to tug down on your mask exacerbating any tendency of the mask to dig into the bridge of your nose.

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on March 2, 2010 at 1:52pm

Max, I had to stop using my CPAP for 15 days for my nose to heal up so I haven't given the Comfortgel a fair trial. I just used it two nights and my pressure being as high as yours found it hard to adjust to prevent leaks. You may not have this problem.
Walmart sells something by Johnson and Johnson called tough pads which was thick enough to give my nose some relief for a while. My skin is just too thin and prone to breakdown that I don't think I can use anything that rests on the bridge of my nose anymore. I already have scars. I'm waiting for a Respironics FitLife Total Face Mask that completely bypasses the nose. By all means try bandaids, macks silicone, duoderm (just buy one 4X4 sheet, not the thin type, available by the piece from amazon). Anything to protect the bridge of your nose. As I said though I haven't given the comfortgel a fair trial. Good luck with it, keep us posted on what works.
Mary Z.
Max said:

Hi Mary Z
I''ve just started using the respironics comfort gel full mask. I like it the best so far but it still makes the bridge of my nose look as though my wife has thumped me in the night! One site suggested using some silicone ear plugs to be shaped over the bridge and so I am going to try this tonight (time in uk 6.05 pm)
I should be interested to hear how you are getting on with this mask (my pressures range between 12.5 to 20)

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Permalink Reply by 99 on March 2, 2010 at 5:07pm

this is from another thread

Thanks Mary Z, 99, SleepyCarol, jeff, Amy and Banyon -- you're right...attitude is everything and mine needed some adjusting...so glad I came on and wrote for help and support. Glad you all are here helping me.

It is a lot of air pressure and I know it was prescribed as I wrote notes during the sleep specialists follow-up after my sleep study. I had my first sleep study in 2007 - I was diagnosed as mild apnea and now again in 2010 as moderate apnea. The doctor said the sleep study showed that without the mask I got one hour of REM a night and with it--5 hours.

In answer to Banyon, my machine is made by Phillips Respironics, Remstar Pro C-Flex +. Its set at 18 for Therapy and I was prescribed 18. I pushed on info and found an AHI # for 7 days 7.1 and for 30 days it was 6.8. What does that mean? The mask is a Respironics ComfortGel nasal mask. I just read the instruction book and see that I can customize the fit by placing in boiling water, cooling and wearing for 5 minutes to form to my nose. I'll try doing that tomorrow. The equipment is all paid for by my health insurance and it is a 3-month rental for now.

I like the 45 minutes to allow a slow rise to that pressure because I'm fast asleep by that time but I think that's where the problem lies also--in that I don't know where the leaks are until an hour or two later when I probably turn over, the mask moves somewhat and the leaks appear. I read about leaks sometime ago on the forum so new immediately what to do even in my groggy sleep...sometimes I get the finger in and around, lift the mask and place it back down resolving immediately and then other nights I fuss and fuss and finally just take it off and turn it off. I have a chiropractic pillow I've been sleeping with for years but I want to get one of the pillows mentioned in previous discussions as it seems to be even better than the one I have although not a necessity at this time either.

Branson, I asked my husband if the mask resolved the loud snoring. He said I still snore, its just a muffled snore now.

Jeff, I patted myself a couple times when I felt I had made it through another few hours and another night but then I guess it just becomes frustrating when the leaks start and I awake. One thing at a time and slow down like 99 suggested.

Mary Z - you're the best. You could tell I have a lot more going on than just a CPAP. I've been going through a lot and I feel like I finally found the right therepist to help me sort it all out. I went back to do another Sleep Study by my own judgment because I believe that it may have been causing some of my other problems such as lack of concentration, unable to multi-task, weight gain, depression and anxiety. I just want to sort it all out and find solutions to be well again.

You all are fantastic.

Max said:

Hi Mary Z
I''ve just started using the respironics comfort gel full mask. I like it the best so far but it still makes the bridge of my nose look as though my wife has thumped me in the night! One site suggested using some silicone ear plugs to be shaped over the bridge and so I am going to try this tonight (time in uk 6.05 pm)
I should be interested to hear how you are getting on with this mask (my pressures range between 12.5 to 20)

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Permalink Reply by Max on March 4, 2010 at 5:17am

Thanks Mary Z...had to go back to the ordinary comfort full 2 mask last night which seems to suit me better although the comfort gel feels better .... yesterday looked like having spent 10 rounds in the boxing ring even with the silicone. Today is much better and my wife comments I look almost normal!
I don't know if you can get this cream in the States but 1% pimecrolimus cream is very good for healing the bridge of the nose ( if the skin is not broken or infected) and I don't think it thins the skin like a steroid cream. However, like all new things, it is expensive.
Hope things are going well.

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on March 4, 2010 at 8:24am

Max, thanks for the suggestion, 1% pimecrolimus cream is available here. I'm afraid I've gone past topical applications, bandaids, duoderm, pad-a -cheek, comfort care pads, finger spints bent into the shape of my nose, macks silicone, moleskin, hmmmm, what else have I tried... I'm just at the point where the nose knows- no more pressure! My FitLife mask came in, but unfortunately in spite of using the fitting guide it's too small and I'll have to wait on the DME to swap it our for a large. So about a week more and I should be set.
I'm glad your nose is doing better.
Thanks again and continued good luck to you,
Mary Z.

Max said:

Thanks Mary Z...had to go back to the ordinary comfort full 2 mask last night which seems to suit me better although the comfort gel feels better .... yesterday looked like having spent 10 rounds in the boxing ring even with the silicone. Today is much

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