Nasal mask.

[chelseauk]

As i didn't win a mask - boo ! but did win the sound conditioner ! Hurray !

I'm going to buy a nasal mask thingy - I've no idea if i breath through my mouth or nose - and whilst this is an expensive way to find out - i'd thought i might try (I can't borrow one from the NHS - as it's one mask only at a time - and that would mean going without the full face one).

So which one.... I wonder... should i try - and this is where you guys come in ! i hope..

The mask, pillow or whatever needs to stay on at higher pressure with no raspberries and without the straps breaking my neck - i'm a side sleeper (Although i do own that fancy pillow - see my prize winning post (well sort of - in that i posted it and it went towards my points and i won a prize)).

Also bearing in mind i may have to sell it on - are any of them less invassive - urgh ! than others.

So any advice ?

[Joe McManus]

Couple of things to keep in mind when picking one.

If the 'sensation' of your full face mask, i.e. the cushion touching your skin, doesn't bother you, you can go for a traditional nasal cushion mask like a Comfort Gel or Profile Lite from Respironics or similar nasal cushion models form other brands. They're a bit cheaper than more innovative models.

If that mask sitting on your face does bother you, and you think that 'nasal pillows' which plug into your nostrils will bother you less, you can try something like a Comfort Curve or Comfort Lite 2 by Respironics, the Breeze SleepGear from Puritan Bennett or the mirage Swift form ResMed.

See http://blog.cpap.co.uk/2007/09/cpap-...-side-sleepers for links to each.

The Comfort Lite 2 is very 'resalable' in the sense that it comes with 2 sets of cushions and 2 sets of pillows already and they can be re-ordered. I'm still debating myself whether to get this one as a bit of variation from my Comfort Curve.