Total Face Mask users-please share your experience

[navymomncali]

Total Face Mask users...I would love to hear about your experience with the Total Face Masks. Was it hard to get used to? Can you sleep on your side? Does it blow air in your eyes? Which one do you prefer? I have always been a nasal mask used but, due to tear duct surgery I am told I won't be able to use CPAP any more. How do you choose between CPAP and an eye the pours all day long? Not much of a choice...need to find a solution to both problems. All info and comments greatly appreciated!!

[49er]

Total Face Mask users...I would love to hear about your experience with the Total Face Masks. Was it hard to get used to? Can you sleep on your side? Does it blow air in your eyes? Which one do you prefer? I have always been a nasal mask used but, due to tear duct surgery I am told I won't be able to use CPAP any more. How do you choose between CPAP and an eye the pours all day long? Not much of a choice...need to find a solution to both problems. All info and comments greatly appreciated!!

Hi,

I posted in your other thread but will post here. Before I share my experiences, are you forbidden from using a nasal mask permanently after a full recovery and if so why? Just trying to understand as an FYI.

Anyway, because of my 3/19 deviated septum surgery which will require that I not use my elan nasal mask for a week, per my surgeon's instructions, if I wanted to continue using the papa machine for the week I couldn't use the elan nasal mask, I had to find a mask that didn't touch the nasal area. Since most full face masks I tried did, I decided to go with the Total Face Mask since I already had it. The surgeon approved it.

I will be brutally honest and tell you that I have used it very sporadically because it has been hard to control leaks and I needed to get as much asleep as possible with the elan nasal mask so I am in the best possible shape I can be. But I just have to find a way to make it work somewhat because using the oral mask was a complete and total disaster when I tried it previously.

Regarding blowing air into my eyes, I found found tightening the upper straps seems to prevent that. Of course, your mileage will vary.

Haven't tried sleeping on my side because after deviated septum surgery, I will be required to sleep with my head in an elevated position. But I vaguely recall someone on this forum saying they were able to do that. Hopefully, they will chime in.

Another trick I have tried that has worked at times to control leaks is to tie a leak strap I previously purchased from padacheck around the top of the mask. That strategy has been hit and miss but worth a shot if you can find something comparable.

49er

[purple]

Newcomers should be aware that the FitLife has the largest allowed leak rate of any mask. That is because of the large space under the mask, it must flow a lot of air to get the CO2 out. My point being, that the area around the center nozzle is supposed to leak, have air flow. Likewise there is some leak around the flapper valve. Make sure it goes up and down without air pressure.

The leaks you can not have is around the outside edges of the mask. Usually it makes a huge farting noise when it leaks around the edge. Plus, the area under the mask does not have a sense of air flow, well very little. If you can feel air movement under the mask, then that might be a leak.

A woman who said she had a small face, also used the XL FitLife. I feel that the straps for the XL are too long, but my DME was quite nice and supplied the Large straps to me. I find that the straps do not last for the Medicare allowed six months, so I have to buy additional head straps from our forum sponsor, cpap.com.

I also am weird in how I position the mask. I used to use a Fischer and Paykill Forma mask (with a sore bridge of nose as well), which had one feature I really liked, the chin cup. As it kept the mask mostly in position. So with the FitLife I slip the bottom of the mask below my chin, instead of just under my mouth. I can do this because I have a really small nose. I might use the recommended way of putting it on if I could get the more modern straps for this mask which I have seen pictures of, but no supplier seems to have in that PR wants to sell out of the originals they have first. The more modern has a chin strap built onto the mask straps.

I am also a strong supporter of the mask liner supplied by Padacheek, AKA Karen. However, I used four inch wide Postal tape to secure the thing so it could never cover of the nozzle barrel designed in, CO2 air overflow exhaust.

I also got a anti-leak strap, Which had a hold in the center of one long strap to go around the nozzle barrel of the mask. I felt it was too close to the barrel, then found I could put that strap across the lowest area of the mask, and hold the mask in position, without the usual straps pressing on my face, which caused pain. I think I should create a small riser on the bottom of the mask, so that with the long strap across the bottom of the chin of the mask, it does not touch my face at all.

My sleep doc said I had really low Respiration rates, which I guess is because I have extra low CO2 from having a much smaller under the mask area (because I slide it down below my chin) than it was designed for. I never told the sleep doc why I thought my respiration rates per minute were low, he was not concerned, because it seemed it was working correctly.

Sheriff Buford once compiled a list of recommendations of how to use the FitLife, you might PM him.

Edit:

If trying to choose between two different sizes of FitLife, then go for the one that is larger. Problem with starting with the XL is that they are likely to give you XL straps, and then you will not get cushioning of elastic in straps. so if the the DME is helpful, try it on at the DME, and see if the straps are actually so long that you can not get a bit of elastic cushioning to keep the mask from hurting at night. You, I bet you know this, can make your own mask liners out of old soft cotton t-shirts, that might help a bit. Leave the center hole a bit smaller than would seem proper, as it will quickly pull open, unless you have some kind of painful sore that can NEVER be touched. There is, for me, no sense of air flow if there is not a leak from around the edge of the mask. Someone suggested a soft Cervical collar to help keep the mouth in one position, so the bottom of the mask would not shift around.

I think all mask manufacturers say you can not sleep on ones side with xxx Mask. As they know almost none of us can sleep on our backs, WTH. Likewise PR says that one must sleep on ones back with this mask. I do NOT, I sleep on my side. I am unusual in that I am a sleeper who can go for sleep periods without moving at all, mostly not over four hours. I also use a hose hanger. I fix up the pillows so they do not interfere with exhaust flow of the mask. but then I am weird.

While we men have foreheads have foreheads that slope back a bit, and women have slightly protruding (but cute) foreheads I am guessing a women will have less problems with leaks on the forehead, and focus on adjusting for the sides of the face, and the chin. With a new set of headgear, I have to adjust the piece across the top of my head just a bit. I try to adjust the across the forehead, to the minimum of what it takes to stop leaks, and then start pulling on the two bottom straps, which are not even as my face is slightly larger on one side.

Be nice if you could sit in your DME, put on the mask, sit there for a few hours on one of their machines, making sure you have the right size. and having someone there to help you look at the straps to see what might be loosened or tightened a bit. Take a mirror?

[chunkyfrog]

If only the Fitlife had an inflatable cushion, adjustable like the "pump" sport shoes of yore,
many more people could wear it. They could even have itty bitty ones for children and frogs.
Ah, yes, the inflatable cushion, ---fabric, if possible! -----Replaceable would be even better!