Hi all,

I am a newbie (one week) to cpap, and really struggling with masks. The plastic is chapping my face and leaking air, and/or I can't lie on my side due to pressure on my cheek bones. I'd like to try the new circadiance sleep weaver advance cloth mask, and I'm wondering if any of you have tried it. My pressure is only 5, so I don't think I'll have too many leaks with it. I have begun to use moleskin, but I'm still finding that I wake up in pain after about 3 hours of sleep with the masks that I've tried so far.

I have asked Circadiance if they could send a sample to my DME company for me to try, as I'd like to convince the company to carry it for me, if I sleep well with it. I am definitely finding that I need to be my own advocate in this journey. I've convinced the DME company to teach me how to access the daily data on my machine, and I've begun to track it.

I've chosen the name "Happy Sleeper", because that is what I plan to be with cpap! I tested at 32 .5 AHI/hour, so even though my pressure needed is low, I realize that this therapy is important to my health.

So: * Have any of you tried the new Circadiance Sleep Weaver Advance, and how did you like it?

* Also, if you have used it, do you find that your DME carries it? My DME is telling me that they don't carry it as my insurance won't cover it. However I called Circadiance, and they tell me that Medicare covers it, so it is likely the my insurance will. Hmmm...

* Other suggestions?

Thanks for your knowledge and experience,

Happy Sleeper

Machine: ResMed S8 AutoSet II
Pressure: 5
Mask: I've tried Fisher & Paykel Zest nasal mask, F&P 407 nasal mask, Respironics Comfort Fusion small, Res Med Sift II medium pillows, Full Face Respironics Comfort Gel medium, Respironics Optilife nasal cushion small.
Humidifier: in machine, on setting 0 or 1

Gosh...just ONE week and you've been thru 6 masks? And also in that time you've found an obscure new mask design no one ever heard of and checked it out with the manufacturer, your DME and Medicare?

Wherever did you find the time to do all that and post similer sales pitc....er..."inquiries" on 3 different OSA forums?

You've been really, really busy! And at a time we've been targeted by several shills hawking their "new and improved" crap here.

Pardon my skepticism...

Hi LinkC,

What a response to a new user! Yes, I've been busy trying to make this work, with not much success.

I'm not touting anything, I'm asking for opinions on this mask, and for help.

Happy Sleeper

Happy Sleeper wrote

Yes, I've been busy trying to make this work, with not much success.

I agree with LinkC's assessment of your posting.

Trying six masks (unsuccessfully) in your very first week has to be a record. I'm only up to five (one less than you) in seven months. What specifically were the problem(s) with each mask? And how are you doing with an untreated AHI of over 30? since not one of the six masks has worked for you? You must be extremely frustrated in spending sleepless nights (and days) waiting for the right mask to make an appearance.

I'm a side sleeper who presses his face against the pillow while sleeping. The F&P Flexifit underchin fitting models (431, 432, ..) work great for me. Give one a try. Wouldn't it be great to have a full night of restful sleep while you wait for the mask that you mentioned in your posting?

Hi Cinco777,

After reading my first posting again, I can see why it could be interpreted that way. I don't know about the other postings. Yes, it would be great to have a good night's sleep. I am exhausted.

I tried all but the Flex and the nasal cushion at the sleep lab. At about 4 AM we had a trying-on session, and ruled out the other 4 masks due to discomfort to my cheek bones when I tried to rest on my side, or with the full face mask, the pressure on the bridge of my nose was uncomfortable. The nasal pillows seemed to blast my nostrils, but if the mask that I'm expecting and the mask that you suggest don't work, I'll go back to trying them.

So for the past week (actually 10 days, but I've taken a few nights off allow my skin to heal) I've been alternating the Fisher & Paykel Zest nasal mask (can't sleep on my side, and my skin is raw where the plastic sits on it) and the Respironics Optilife nasal cushion small (presses hard into my nose, which is painful, and leaks). I'm not saying that these masks aren't good, I'm saying that they aren't working for my face.

Thanks for the suggestion about the F&P Flexifit underchin fitting models. I'll request that, especially since you're comfortable sleeping on your side with it. That's what I'm looking for--practical advice.

From a not-so-happy sleeper.

Search the forum for fitting tips on the masks that you have tried, are trying, or will be trying. Folks who have discovered how to get a good fit (comfortable, secure, and no leaks) for a particular mask that they use and like have shared their fitting tips and recommendations on this site. I've posted a few times on how I fitted my F&P 431 FF mask. Hopefully, my experiences in getting a good fit with my mask have helped others who have acquired the same mask.

Most (maybe all) masks take a while to fit. Fitting my F&P 431 FF mask took me an hour one afternoon before I got it mostly right (secure and no leaks plus pretty comfortable). Over time, I was able to improve the comfort level plus also stop any leaks more quickly after laying down.

OK- I have tried the Sleepweaver Advance. I could not believe it was so lightweight and will absolutely not hurt your face or leave marks anywhere. It vents very very quietly through tiny holes in the fabric, placed so they don't blow everywhere and bother your partner. The headgear fit great, which is unusual for me. Now, the negative part- there is a small seam in the fabric that hits just below your nostrils. It irritated my skin, but not too badly. The reason I gave up on using it, was for the same reason I have not been able to wear a lot of different masks- I could not stop the leaks into my eyes, no matter what I tried. I would start out with a good seal, but all night long I had to fight it.

I'm not blaming this mask in particular, just noting my issues.

Now for the good news... Try the Mirage liberty. Since there is nothing on the bridge of the nose, no leaks into your eyes, and no sores on your nose!

Probably the most common mistake newbies make is tightening their mask too tight. And most "mask fitters" (RRTs at our DME provider's or even PSGTs at the sleep labs tend to fit a mask too tight - hey, they can't FEEL how tight it is on the patient and often it doesn't feel too uncomfortable - at first. The longer it is too tight the more uncomfortable it gets.

For me, nasal pillows blowing the air more directly into my nostrils tended to be a bit uncomfortable at first, even w/adequate humidity. But two or three days of sticking w/the nasal pillows, adequate humidity AND some Ayr Saline Nasal Gel for my chapped, dry nostrils and I was okay w/nasal pillows.

Nasal cushion masks and full face cushion masks present different problems. The cushions NEED to be filled w/air to fit properly. Tightening them too tight reduces the amount of air needed to fill the cushion for a good seal.

1] you should be laying down when fitting any mask, 2] your xPAP should be turned on at your pressure or up to 10 cms whilst fitting your mask, 3] setting the mask a skosh low on your nose whilst fitting, then lifting it off your face a skosh and sliding it slightly up your nose to proper position as you let it sit back down on your face turns the edges of the cushion UNDER thereby providing less leaks and a better fit, 4] running your fingertip along the seam between cushion and face reduces or eliminates leaks.

I've probably been thru AT LEAST a DOZEN masks in the 3 years I've been using xPAP. I have found my favorite, but I still occasionally get the urge to try one I've read about. After settling on a nasal cushion I like, I tried a couple of nasal pillows again and found 2 I kinda like - but find I still prefer my favorite nasal cushion. I just recently tried my third full face mask - and I LIKE it - but it hasn't been w/o problems. Headgear too large and too "stretchy" and whilst usually one might be inclined to need a slightly higher pressure w/a full face cushion I tend to think that w/this particular full face mask I need LESS pressure than w/my usual nasal cushion. I experienced that w/one of the nasal pillows masks as well. But never did experiment w/changing to a lower pressure setting. I intend to work some more w/this full face mask and a lower pressure setting sometime in the near future.

It wouldn't surprise me at all that if I go back and try some of the first few masks I tried when first acclimating to xPAP thereapy that now I could make them work,quite probably even satisfactorily for me or maybe even find that I REALLY like one of them now that I have more experience wearing and adjusting and "fixing" different mask problems. I most likely wouldn't give up as quickly w/some of them.

Then again, some people just have more sensitive skin than others, some have a lower pain threshold than others, some are more sensitive to noise than others .....

Slinky wrote

It wouldn't surprise me at all that if I go back and try some of the first few masks I tried when first acclimating to xPAP thereapy that now I could make them work,quite probably even satisfactorily for me or maybe even find that I REALLY like one of them now that I have more experience wearing and adjusting and "fixing" different mask problems. I most likely wouldn't give up as quickly w/some of them.

So true. Two months ago, I refitted my first FF mask (acquired April 2006) to see if my new mask fitting skills would make a difference. They did. I could now wear this mask as an alternate if my usual FF mask ever causes a sore spot that needs a "break".

Hi TXLadybug, Thanks for your review of the Sleapweaver Advance--just what I was looking for. I think I'll ask my DME if I can come in and try on the masks that I'm seeing are well used by people here, such as the Mirage Liberty, the Mirage Micro Nasal, and the one that Cisco777 suggested.

Slinky, Thank you!! for the tips on mask fitting. Very helpful for this newbie. The DME rep did not size my face, and cinched down the masks pretty tight. That alone may be the reason that the cushion wasn't working for me. When I had leaks I tightened the fit, which then hurt my nose, and I had to lie perfectly still to keep it from leaking, which doesn't lend to a good night's sleep. I think I'll go to Cpap.com and measure my face for a few masks before I go in.

I also appreciate the tips I'm learning on this site--Lansinoh cream, Ayr Saline Nasal Gel and moleskin. My Resmed S8 Auto set II is very quiet, which has been great.

Happy-er Sleeper

Yes, I have the same cpap machine as you do and it's the best.....Good luck on your mask hunt. I used to call them "mask wars". I too have gone back to some of the first masks that I got and rejected, and found that the reasons I thought were the problems with them were not correct. It had to do with the fitting techniques, and the headgear. I actually use a Respironics size small headgear with my Resmed Mirage Activa LT and my Resmed Mirage Micro. They are interchangeable. I also pulled the vent elbow piece off the Activa and use it on my Micro, because I think it's quieter and I like the way the air is dispersed better than the one it came with. Don't be afraid to experiment.