Having MUCH difficulty keeping this mask on my face, HELP!

[Patience]

Can ANYONE help me? I have tried three different masks and I am STILL having difficulty keeping this thing on at night. Is there anything anyone can tell me? I have OSA and they tell me it is due to my being overweight. Which is fine, because I am having Gastric Bypass Surgery to deal with that issue. But, in the meantime I have to rack up 200 hours on this machine and I can't seem to keep it on my face, so how the hell am I supposed to rack up the hours to have the surgery to prevent this problem? LOL. Does anyone have any ideas? The masks I have used was the one that looks like a triangle and goes only over your nose, the one that goes over your nose and mouth and the nasal pillows. I have asked my provider to provide me with the one for just the mouth. Is this a good idea? Do you have any better ideas?

Thank you,
Patience

[wordlife15]

Can ANYONE help me? I have tried three different masks and I am STILL having difficulty keeping this thing on at night. Is there anything anyone can tell me? I have OSA and they tell me it is due to my being overweight. Which is fine, because I am having Gastric Bypass Surgery to deal with that issue. But, in the meantime I have to rack up 200 hours on this machine and I can't seem to keep it on my face, so how the hell am I supposed to rack up the hours to have the surgery to prevent this problem? LOL. Does anyone have any ideas? The masks I have used was the one that looks like a triangle and goes only over your nose, the one that goes over your nose and mouth and the nasal pillows. I have asked my provider to provide me with the one for just the mouth. Is this a good idea? Do you have any better ideas?

Thank you,
Patience

Do you know make,models, sized etc.. of these masks. Were you having having trouble with leaks, mouth breathing or irritation? It could be a combination of any of these factors.

[Babette]

You can shop for new masks at https://www.cpap.com, http://www.cpapauction.com, and just google "cpap+mask" and find lots of other vendors out there.

There are literally hundreds of masks out there. Only you can decide if it's going to work for you. It took me trying 8 differenct masks over the course of 6 weeks before I could find one that worked for me. The first two came from the DME - all the rest came from this forum. I either bought used masks from members, or swapped for masks, or in one fabulous case a lady gave me a mask for free.

I suggest you do some online research, and look for masks that you think might work for you. Then go try to find those masks online at a price you can afford. Craigslist.org is also a place to hunt for masks.

If you search this forum for "Mask Roulette" you'll find a thread dedicated to swapping masks. That might help you. I got several masks off that thread.

Good luck!
Babs

[rested gal]

Check out these fixes for many masks. Maybe you'll see something that would make a mask you've already tried work better -- or something that will help you with the next mask you try:
LINKS to Lab Rat Trophy awards
viewtopic.php?t=15104

Also, if it's mouth air leaks or mouth breathing, when not wearing a FF..."Full Face" mask that covers mouth and nose together... check out the topics about controlling mouth breathing during sleep:
LINKS to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard
viewtopic.php?t=8011

I don't think you'd be very happy with a "mouth only" mask, but...ya never know. Type this into a Google search:

oracle site:cpaptalk.com

That will bring up topics about the Fisher & Paykel "Oracle" oral mask...a "mouth" mask.

P.S. If you absolutely can't keep a mask on while you sleep, you can rack up the necessary hours to qualify for your bariatric surgery by wearing the mask and using your machine when awake at home...like while watching TV or reading or working on the computer. But, for your own health, you really do need to be using the machine during sleep. So, do keep working on the mask problem. Good luck!

[bdp522]

Wearing the mask during the day, as RestedGal suggested will also help you become more comfortable with the mask. Increase the amount of time you wear the mask(with the machine on of course) each day. Soon you should be able to make it through the night.

Brenda