Hopefully my experience over the past month will be helpful to someone. I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea going on 2 yrs ago. After the initial diagnosis, my first mask was the ResMed Liberty Mirage. After struggling with the nose thingys not staying in place I tried the "Hybrid". Same problem this time one. 

After few months, my doctor suggested that I try switching to a nasal mask. He actually said he prefered that I use a nasal mask but I expressed concerns around sinus trouble. No matter what sort of decongestine medication I take or Nasal spray I use, during the night my nostrals take turns plugging and unplugging. Trying to follow my doctor's reco, I switched to the Swift LT Nasal mask along with a combination of (not all at once - smile) Omnaris, and Flonase and Benadral, and Tylenol Sinus and Allergy to keep my sinuses open. During that time my pressure was set at around 7 I think.

Between January and June of last year (2009) I lost 35 lbs. I was not very much overweight to begin with, and the 35 lb loss brought me into the optimum healthy weight range for my age and height. This started as series of experiments and sleep studies to determine: 1) if I still needed any sort of apnea treatment, and 2) if using an Oral Device (Snore Guard, TAP Appliance) would be a viable alternative. Long story short, my weight is not a major factor in my apnea, I still needed treatment, and the Oral appliance was not an option.

After the weight loss, my doctor reduced the pressure on my machine to 5, and I had several sleep studies. One that was supposed to be 1/2 the night with no treatment, and the 2nd 1/2 of the night on machine to determine optimal pressusre. The technicians screwed this study up and I went through the whole night with no treatment, and I came our of this with a false sense the I didn't need to use the machine.

At this point we started experimenting with the oral applinces. After working with my dentist and being fitted for a TAP appliance, a second sleep study concluded that the oral appliance was not a viable solution. So it was back on the machine using a nasal mask at a pressure of 5.

The 3rd sleep study was supposed to be a calibration study to determine optimal pressure. I was told the morning after the study by the technician that my new pressure was 10.  So, I went from 5 to 10. Sounded suspicious and I was concerned about the drastic change. I also had reservation about using the nasal mask at the higher pressure because during the study I kept waking up with air rushing out of my mouth. The study was done on a Friday night and there was nothing I could do about it until the following Monday. I also figured I'd try to adjust. I woke up Sunday morning feeling bloated and pumped full air after spending the night waking up to the sound of air rushing out of my mouth and struggling to keep it shut. Needless to say, I was back at the center on Monday asking for my pressure to be decreased. My official follow-up visit was not scheduled for several weeks, but because I was unable to tolerate the pressure set durng the study, my doctor took a quick look at the results and said that he was concerned. He said that even at a pressure of 10 they were unable to control the arousals during the study. Even with this concern he agreed to decrease the pressure to 8. At this pressure, I could no longer use the Nasal mask, so I reverted back  to my ResMed Liberty Mirage full face mask until my follow-up visit.

In January I started the search for a workable full face mask. I tried the Respironics Full Life, The Respironics Comfort Gel, the SleepNet Mojo, and the Probasics ZZZ. Both the Respironics masks cause sever brusing and scaring on the bridge of my nose. Even after discovering and using the Sleep Care Comfort Pads to protect my sore nose, they still caused irritation. 

The SleepNet Mojo - I tried both the small and the med. I couldn't get a good seal with this mask.

Finally, the Probasics ZZZ is with winner. As advertised, it is light weight and comfortable and seals well. Most important it does not irritate the bridge of my nose at all. If you read the reviews on this mask you'll learn that the biggest complaint is the head gear. I would agree with what most people say about the flimsy head gear. It is also one of the most reasonably priced masks out there. (Around $90 but available at some sites for a little as $68) That might explain the flimsy head gear, but they got the mask design right. HOWEVER, I discovered that the head gear from my Liberty Mirage actually works with the ZZZ.

So if anyone out there has purchased the new ZZZ and is unhappy with the head gear, try the head gear from one of your other Full face masks (w/o the forehead piece).

I hope this is helpful to someone!

Simanc