I've tried and tried but can't tolerate any mask on my face since I always feel like I'm being smothered and can't breathe. <_<

The question is what can be done, if anything? Anyone have any input?

Thanks.

P.S. Also, nasal pillows don't work since the thing never stays on my head when I turn over and move about in my sleep (nice thought though if anyone was going to suggest nasal pillows or nasal prongs).

Wow. You've been on CPAP for well over a year now, haven't you?

All this time, you've been having problems, or did you switch to another type of mask? Did you ever have a mask that was giving your less problems than your current one?

What type/brand of mask(s) have you been using over the past year?

I am having the same problem in just a month(full mask) I am prone to headaches and the mask just makes it worse. I am trying a new mask on friday but I have a feeling I will be bagging the whole thing and take my chances.

Yes, over a year now.

Let's see, I've tried various nasal masks of different styles and size. I've tried a few nasal pillows. I've tried the Nasal Air II prongs (kept sliding off). Can't recall all the brand names, Swift, Respironics masks, etc.

Ooof, it's a hard road right now. :blink:

A mask giving me less problems than my current ones? Yes a nasal pillow, at least I didn't suffocate but I couldn't get it to not fall off when I turned over in bed (rats!, cause I liked the fit of this one!).

Speaking of the nasal pillows and the Nasal Air II (nasal prongs), maybe you people can give me ideas on how to rig it so it wouldn't keep falling off? I'd appreciate it.

I lot of people have problems with full face masks. They generally tend to leak more, simply because there is more area that must seal, due to the larger size, as compared to a standard nasal mask. In addition, due to leak problems with full face masks, people tend to "tighten down" the straps much more so than they would have done with a nasal mask - that can cause headaches as well.

Unless you're having problems with a nasal mask, I would suggest dumping the full face mask.

Please see my note below on possible masks to try.

All I can give you is some info I've learned. I currently use the Mirage Swift II nasal pillows system. It's not perfect, but I do like the ability to "see beyond my nose" when a mask is on. It will, once in a great while, come loose, so I generally wear it a bit tighter than I'm supposed to, I think, and I do suffer a bit from the "morning red marks" on my face.

Before that, I used an Ultra Mirage nasal mask (Resmed). I was pretty happy with it - and it probably tended to seal better than the nasal pillows system, but it was bulky, and I couldn't see past my nose when wearing it, so I switched to the Mirage Swift instead.

My father, who also has sleep apnea, swears by Resmed's Mirage Activa mask. I've never tried it, but it has some sort of "ActiveCell Technology" that is supposed help seal the mask better, with less strap tightening, and it is better for those who move around a lot at night. It forms a bubble type seal which permits the frame of the mask to shift separately from the cushion. This assists in keeping the mask in place and sealed even while changing sleep positions. From what I've heard, this system seems to solve a lot people's problems (at least those with sealing and moving around a lot at night).

If all types of masks keep falling off your head, I'm wondering, is this caused by your movement at night, taking up slack in the hose (where the hose itself is "pulling" the mask off your face)? If that's the case, you may want to get a longer hose, or get one of those "over the headboard" contraptions, which keeps the hose untangled, over your head.

One month and two masks down. I just tried the mouth/nasal pillow version but with no success.. The pillows would not stay in causing major leaks. I even tried taping them in with moleskin. They came ajar when inadvertently I scratched my nose while sleeping.......arrgh!!! IT IS NOT NORMAL TO WEAR A MASK WHILE SLEEPING!