Trying different masks

[csrivats]

Hello all
I am having difficulties with my current mask (easy life) and seem to take it off everynight due to it not being comfortable. Not very good I know!
What is the best way to try other masks?
Do I need to purchase them before I try them and see?
Just wanted to hear people's experience and how they found their ideal mask.

Many thanks

[Grumpy]

try the NHS first

Always worth asking your sleep clinic if they have any alternatives. Unfortunately my clinic seemed to offer a choice of full-face (F-P Forma) or nasal (Resmed Swift) only. I have since discovered that they also have the Resmed Liberty Mirage and I will getting one at my next review.

If you do have to bite the bullet and buy one then I will be amazed if you don't get on with the new Resmed Quattro FX (see other thread in this section).

[Barely Awake]

I only know one hosehead that having adapted to their first mask straight away is still using the same make more than ten years on.

If you don't get any joy from your clinic one way of finding a mask to suit is to take up one of the mask manufacturer's offers to try a variety of masks. If you live near enough that is. They charge for this of course. Even then you may not come away with the answer, but it may be worth a try.

From my own experience I think putting more resources into kitting newbies out with a mask they can readily adapt to would save clinics money in the long run. It would save scrapping many of those first used and of course it would help the patients comply faster and a greater % likely too. It would help if the actual mouth breathers were sorted from those like me that blieved (just thought) they were mouth breathers, and of course those that thought they were nose breathers that are actually mouth breathers. Getting an anywhere near suitable mask would have saved me a long slog that's for sure.

[KarenH]

Keep going back to the sleep clinic

Hello all
I am having difficulties with my current mask (easy life) and seem to take it off everynight due to it not being comfortable. Not very good I know!
What is the best way to try other masks?
Do I need to purchase them before I try them and see?
Just wanted to hear people's experience and how they found their ideal mask.

Many thanks

My NHS sleep clinic has been very helpful, but you have to contact them. If you don't they will assume everything is okay for you and won't expect to see you for about a year. I have been on treatment for about nine months now and have tried three types of mask at home all without any cost to myself. I am not sure there is a perfect mask for me, before CPAP I would sleep all night, now I wake up every couple of hours to adjust the headgear or like you remove it.
Hope you find a suitable one.