Mask Fitting Centers

[HateWearingCpap]

Does anyone know of any "mask fitting centers"? Do sleep labs or AWAKE chapters offer this service? It sure would be better to try on several masks to see what fits/works best. You don't just try on one pair of shoes and hope they fit.

[sleep talker]

In my opinion, it's hard to know if any mask will work until you try it for at least one night. So if there were such a center for trying masks, you could possibly be trying a mask that 50 other people had been sleeping with, even if it were sterilized. That's not my way of thinking, again in my opinion, if you have insurance to pay for such things.

I would suggest other ways to find a good mask the first time:

First, go with masks that get regular good reviews here on the forum. Try to avoid masks that are new or touted as 'revolutionary'. Avoid masks that always get bad reviews, even though it looks like a novel idea.

Second, if you try a nostril interface mask and it is un-comfortable or irritating to your nose, then it's likely that any other nostril interface mask will also be un-comfortable for you.

Third, check with CPAP supply websites for free sizing templates. Some of these are downloadable. These can save money on masks that are the wrong size.

Forth, the definition of a good mask is one that is comfortable and doesn't leak. If you find a 'good' mask, stick with it. Don't going constantly looking for something better. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence.

[TiredinTN]

Masks are a tricky thing....what works for one will not work for another..... I went through about 20 masks before settling on the Activa and I have been with it since.

One source I found was my RT at my DME..... When I discussed the problems I was having, she gave me a couple of masks for free. She said that the sales reps leave samples all the time just like getting prescription samples at your doctor.

While the free samples were nice, I never settled on one from them. But it did help me learn what I was looking for and what features I liked!

[Larry2]

saying that one nasal product is like all the rest is just not so. Thats like saying all masks are alike.
I can wear the Comfort Classic but not the Activa mask..
I can wear the Nasalaire II ,but not the Snapp or Lyra...
so , every product is different in it's own way
Sounds like a song...
Everything is beau-ti-ful...in it's own way....oh well, you get what I mean

[sleep talker]

Nasal interfaces and nostril interfaces are two different things. Like I mentioned in my earlier post, I would suggest that if a person can't tolerate one type of nostril interface their chances of tolerating another style of nostril interface are remote.

[LCM]

Sleep Talker, I'm sure no offense was meant. For us newbies, would you mind explaining the difference between the nasal interfaces and the nostril ones so we don't make mistakes? I'm thinking perhaps the former is the "nasal pillow" and the latter is -- what? Something that goes further in? Thanks.

Lorraine

[sleep talker]

Yup, that's what I ment. A pillow interface is a nostril mask, like the Breeze/w pillows mask by Puritan Bennett or the ComfortLite w/ pillows by Respironics. A nasal mask is the more common interface that fits around your nose, not in your nose. Lots of choices there.

There are many different masks of either type to choose from and I wasn't try to discourage anyone from trying a nostril or pillow interface, but just trying to point out that the pillow interface masks usually have the same sensation for people and if you don't adapt to one make of nostril interface, it may be difficult to adapt to another.