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Here we go again
Well, I have tried the mirage quattro, ComfortFull 2 and I am currently using the FullLife full face mask. I was very happy with the FullLife mask to start with, but I have developed this nasty sore on the bridge of my nose. At first I thought it was because the mask was too tight, but I when I loosened it just a little bit I had significant leakage.So, I am on to yet another mask. I talked with my DME today and he doesn't want me using the FullLife anymore because he doesn't want me to have the issue of skin breakdown. He has put in an order for the Hybrid full face mask which is just like the mirage liberty they are just manufactured by different companies I believe. The DME that I spoke with today is the General manager of the location that I use. His comment to me was "I don't know why we didn't try that mask after the first one didn't work for you" I felt like reaching through the phone and strangling him. I mean its been a real joy trying to find a mask that works for me, and to think they could have made it a lot easier and I wouldn't have to deal with this huge sore spot on my nose that is just about the size of Texas, well maybe not quite that big. I am really hoping that the Hybrid with be "the one". I should have my new mask within a week (I hope)
Until then I guess that I will have to use the Quattro mask even though it makes my forehead sore. I think that I would rather deal with that over dealong with a huge sore on my face. I will say that this quest for "the one" is quite frustrating. Have any of you had difficulty finding the right mask for you?
Until then I guess that I will have to use the Quattro mask even though it makes my forehead sore. I think that I would rather deal with that over dealong with a huge sore on my face. I will say that this quest for "the one" is quite frustrating. Have any of you had difficulty finding the right mask for you?
Views: 64
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by wallace j smith jr on
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yes and im sorry you're having such a time tryin to find the right one..mine had the pad that went on the forehead..it killed four layers of skin and made me look like the beast on beauty and the beast i swelled so much! i finally ended up with the" breeze" mask with the nasal pillows and thats not 100% but as you know hte masks are very expensive! so im stickin with that one until they come out with the perfect mask for me..unfortunately we're all made different so tryin to make a one size fits all mask with several adjustments just doesnt work either.. we all get frustrated tryin to make em fit perfectly which of course is what it takes to make them work!..you have to keep trying, and i know, try tellin that to a sleep deprived person , right? i wish you the best in your pursuit of a painless sleepful night!
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Permalink Reply by Christine C on
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THe mirage quattro that I have had to go back to has the forehead support, and yes, it hurts me too. It feels as though I have bumped my head. Thats even after adjusting it so its not tight on my forehead. The hybrid mask that my DME has ordered has the nasal pillows. I am hoping against hope that it works for me. I am fortunate that I have medicare/medicaid that pays for my masks..otherwise I wouldn't be able to afford all the mask changes I have had to go through. I do hate that they have paid out so much for 3 masks that have failed. Maybe one day they will come up with a fix for finding the proper mask for each individual.
wallace j smith jr said:yes and im sorry you're having such a time tryin to find the right one..mine had the pad that went on the forehead..it killed four layers of skin and made me look like the beast on beauty and the beast i swelled so much! i finally ended up with the" breeze" mask with the nasal pillows and thats not 100% but as you know hte masks are very expensive! so im stickin with that one until they come out with the perfect mask for me..unfortunately we're all made different so tryin to make a one size fits all mask with several adjustments just doesnt work either.. we all get frustrated tryin to make em fit perfectly which of course is what it takes to make them work!..you have to keep trying, and i know, try tellin that to a sleep deprived person , right? i wish you the best in your pursuit of a painless sleepful night!
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That is too funny...I guess I can't reach through the phone and strangle him because I haven't learned the proper technique.
But.....I do have to go in and pick up my mask whenever they do decide to let me know when it comes in so...Maybe I can strangle him when I go in :o)
j n k said:Strangling someone over the phone is an art that requires years of training and should not be attempted unless fully versed in the subtleties of the technique. Besides, most DMEs have strangle-blocking installed on their phone lines to prevent that very common reaction to their methods.
Hope you find the right mask. It means EVERYTHING.
jeff
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Permalink Reply by Melinda Hertel on
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Unfortunately, I have not had good luck with the Hybrid with my patients. I've had better luck with the Liberty made by ResMed. But, since the mask involves fitting the mouth and nostrils separately, it can be hard to prevent a leak. Also, some people, including myself, find the pillows to be very irritating to the nostrils.
How loose are you wearing the forehead support on the Quattro? I'm wondering why it hurts so much since it is flat. You are not the first person to complain about that, but I still don't understand why it causes pain for some people. If you get a good fit with the Quattro, and it's just the forehead support, go to a website called www.padacheek.com. The company makes really nice fleece fittings for headgear and other parts of the mask that might make it more comfortable for you. We carry their product, including the forehead pad, if you'd like to visit our website too: www.ezcpap.com.
Best wishes in finding the right system! I wish I could help fit you myself!
Melinda Hertel
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Permalink Reply by Dan Lyons on
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Christine,
To offer a few suggestions:
I have recently been speaking with several other ff mask users who have been having leakage problems and raw spots on their nose bridge. They have picked up some moleskin from the local pharmacy, cut it into strips and applied to the seal of their mask and been able to reduce the raw spot and still obtain a good mask seal.
In so far as the forehead support with the quattro, might I suggest a forehead pad of some type to alleviate the pressure. You can see them at www.padacheek.com .
Good Luck
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Dan, Thank you for those sugesstions. I will be going to the store today to see if I can pick up some moleskin. At this point I am willing to try just about anything to alieviate this forehead pain.
Dan Lyons said:Christine,
To offer a few suggestions:
I have recently been speaking with several other ff mask users who have been having leakage problems and raw spots on their nose bridge. They have picked up some moleskin from the local pharmacy, cut it into strips and applied to the seal of their mask and been able to reduce the raw spot and still obtain a good mask seal.
In so far as the forehead support with the quattro, might I suggest a forehead pad of some type to alleviate the pressure. You can see them at www.padacheek.com .
Good Luck
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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any luck trying the moleskin? how did it work out?
Christine C said:Dan, Thank you for those sugesstions. I will be going to the store today to see if I can pick up some moleskin. At this point I am willing to try just about anything to alieviate this forehead pain.
Dan Lyons said:Christine,
To offer a few suggestions:
I have recently been speaking with several other ff mask users who have been having leakage problems and raw spots on their nose bridge. They have picked up some moleskin from the local pharmacy, cut it into strips and applied to the seal of their mask and been able to reduce the raw spot and still obtain a good mask seal.
In so far as the forehead support with the quattro, might I suggest a forehead pad of some type to alleviate the pressure. You can see them at www.padacheek.com .
Good Luck
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THe moleskin did work some. I didn't have the tenderness to my skin, but I did still have slight pressure soreness. I can say that it isn't near as bad as it was before...And, I dont have those awful circles on my forehead after taking the mask off in the morning...Oh yes, and for the past 2 nights I have slept from about 10 pm until about 7:30 - 8:00 am with the mask on :o)
Mike said:any luck trying the moleskin? how did it work out?
Christine C said:Dan, Thank you for those sugesstions. I will be going to the store today to see if I can pick up some moleskin. At this point I am willing to try just about anything to alieviate this forehead pain.
Dan Lyons said:Christine,
To offer a few suggestions:
I have recently been speaking with several other ff mask users who have been having leakage problems and raw spots on their nose bridge. They have picked up some moleskin from the local pharmacy, cut it into strips and applied to the seal of their mask and been able to reduce the raw spot and still obtain a good mask seal.
In so far as the forehead support with the quattro, might I suggest a forehead pad of some type to alleviate the pressure. You can see them at www.padacheek.com .
Good Luck
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Well, after 2 nights with the hybrid I have thrown in the towel. The first night went okay, but yesterday morning when I woke up my nose was so very sore. I decided to give it another shot. A few hours after I had it on I felt my nose strart running so I took the mask off to blow it. Well, my nose wasn't really running,..it was bloody. Needless to say I went back to the Quattro. I would rather deal with the forehead soreness than the other. I am going to put in an order for the padacheek tomorrow....
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Yes, that makes sense. When I loosen the the forehead support I get leaks around the eyes. Do I just need to loosen the bridge piece and tighten the straps? I am going in to see my DME tomorrow morning. I have to do an over night oxometer test and have to take that equipment back to them tomorrow. I did have another thing develop from the hybrid mask. Its the same thing that happened with the FullLife mask. I got these tiny little pimple like things that are in a cluster under my nose where the hybrid mask rubbed. When I was wearing the FullLife the same exact thing happened except it was on the bridge of my nose and between my eyes. When that happend my DME was worried about it because he didn't like skin breakdown. I am to the point that I am starting to get frustrated. I'm not ready to give up. I am getting results from CPAP, but I am tired of trying to find THE mask that will work for me. I'm on #4 now and I have only been on PAP for a month, so that averages one a week. Not just that, I'm not sure how many more masks I will have to go through before medicare decides that they don't want to pay for anymore. The saga conitnues......
Cindy Brown said:Doesn't the Quatro have an adjustable "bridge"? Maybe it's too tight on your head and you need to adjust it back a bit. Try putting on your mask while looking at yourself in the mirror. You mask should look perpendicular to the plane of your face. If it's tilted then you need to adjust the bridge or the straps. if the top is out loosen the bottom or tighten the top whichever seems to work the best. And the opposite if the bottom is out. Does this make any sense?
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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For many of us it took numerous masks before we found the ONE that we liked, was comfortable, and gave us the best therapy. I tried full face masks, nasal masks, nasal prongs masks, and nasal pillows masks. I know many find the idea gross, but many of my masks were used, purchased from another forum's members, a local ad put on a local website, eBay, and www.cpapauction.com. Purchasing masks that were slightly used allowed me to try more masks than if I were paying full price. My insurance at the time wasn't bad, but why pay full price for something that might not work. I still have many of those masks, stored, in case I ever decide to retry them or I need a spare.
I tried the following masks -- The Fisher and Paykel 431 (my main mask when I need a full face mask and the one my doctor prescribed and insurance paid), the Comfortfull, the Hybrid, Ultra Mirage full face, Snapp X, Swift original, Swift II, Ultra Mirage Nasal mask, Breeze, Optilife (another the insurance paid for), Nasal Aire I, Nasal Aire II, Comfortlite original, Comfortlite II, Simplicity, Phantom, and several others. Yes, it was expensive, but not nearly as expensive the way I did it than if paying for price. I don't regret the journey at all as I found the perfect mask for me -- the Headrest/Aura.
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Went in and saw my DME today and they agreed that my face is a mess from the mask. This time instead of me choosing the mask I had the suggest one for me. They think that the FitLife will be the best one for me because I have had such a hard time with skin breakdown.They had to order the new mask for me so I can look at another week before I get it.
Last night was the first night in the past few weeks that I woke up at 4:30 and had to take the mask off because it hurt. I ended up just staying up. Reading the dangers of not wearing it was enough to scare me into not sleeping without it.
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