Experiences with AirTouch Memory Foam mask review

I though I would post my experiences, and see what others thought also.

Resmed ceased production on my old mask, and switching is traumatic and the surprise caused a full panic, requiring ordering masks blindly, until finding one that worked.

I started with the Resmed AirTouch (Memory Foam) N20 nasal mask.

Tried both the rubber (AirFit) and foam (AirTouch) nasal cushions. The Memory foam runs a half size small, so I needed a medium AirFit (rubber) and a large AirTouch (foam).

The mask is much smaller than my previous mask, which when strapped in tight folded over to cover my lips. The new ones didn't do that, and my mouth popped open in the night despite a very tight chin strap (it made the bronx cheer basically).

FYI all these new masks from resmed use air pressure to hold the mask to the face, you cannot just crank them down (although I did anyway, but it only helps a little).

So in desperation I tried the full face mask (F20), fitment chart said I needed a small, and that worked well for a few days after a few days of getting mostly dialed in.

Then it started snivelling, which made my nose itch, and it did it constantly, so another panic ensued.

Turned out it was because I was using vaseline (white petrolatum) on my eyes, because cpap dries out my eyes due to the draft it causes at night.

The 'goo' as I call it, had soaked into the memory foam, and once saturated it was no longer porous (apparently air seeps through slowly), and instead was 'bubbling' slowly through the vaseline, causing the snivelling, this was my worst nightmare, turned the mask into a torture device.

I did what they said not to do, I washed the memory foam part, I have years of experience cleaning stuff, don't know why that matters, but it did here. The trick was to compress and uncompress the foam underwater while it has soap, and then do that many more times in clean water (under water in a warm pot, refreshing the pot water often to get all soap residue out), and the last pot is filled with distilled water to get out the minerals dissolved in the water so they don't deposit into the foam when it dries. And lastly squeezing the foam with an absorbent towel (power towels), and repeat until no more water comes out. The entire process only takes a few minutes but requires some care to get all the dirt out, and then to get all the soap out, and then to get all the hard water out, then to get it dry as possible.

Initially it looked as if I had ruined the memory foam, it did not come back to it's shape, it was flat and looked destroyed. So this was another panic as it was the only pad I had, the others on order got stuck in Texas due to the snow storm. So I tried microwaving it, and putting it in the oven (at 150 degrees to hasten drying), none of that helped. I just set it out, and over about 6 hours it returned to normal shape and my sleep experience was like new again.

Now I am more careful to not put 'goo' anywhere near the foam, we'll see if I can get a month or two out of one of these cushions. At $50 ea I am hoping to get more than their 30 day recommended lifespan. I know from experience with memory foam mattress toppers that memory foam wears out, it loses its resiliency, meaning it retains its shape but it requires less pressure to flatten it. On a bed that takes years, we'll see how these foam things do, it's a very soft foam, so not intended for a long life span.

In review, the new memory foam masks are giving me a better experience than my previous masks so far, if my mouth didn't pop open the nasal mask was fantastic, but my mouth wouldn't stay shut (and I know many tricks). Was thinking about the adhesive lip strips maybe. The nasal mask is less finicky than the FF mask.

Oh, I am so sorry about your eyes! I had the same problem when I started on CPAP and was absolutely miserable the first 14 months. Someone who has not experience this really cannot understand. My husband, also a PAPer, does not have issues with leaks/exhaust drying his eyes out and while he's not unsympathic, he has never experienced the constantly tearing, grittiness, blurred vision, sore eyes, and basically, inability to function normally due to lack of visual acuity!

Other than FINALLY finding a competent dry eye specialist, what helped me most was the Bleep mask. You did mention chin strap and your mouth staying shut, so I'm not sure if you would consider nasal pillows, but I LOVE the Bleep! You really don't need to worry about leaks or exhaust into your eyes...it seals with adhesive and properly applied, DOES NOT LEAK! I have had no air into my eyes since I started using it. Also, it exhausts downward so the filtered exhaust doesn't point upwards towards the face. There is no headgear so you can't tighten it too much. The only time I have leaks is when my mouth opens, which does happen occasionally, but not often enough or long enough to impact my therapy. You might still need to use your chin strap.

It may be something to consider, if you decide to look at other options.

Thanks for that, I have considered going to a dry-eye specialist, ophthalmologists all tell me it's the vaseline getting into my eyes and plugging the tear glands. But not using vaseline is worse. There is a pill for dry eye I have been wanting to try (restasis).

Back to the N20/F20 review, now that I've had some more time with them:
- N20: focussed exhaust, that's a con, memory foam pads more comfy than rubber, they run a half-size small. The rubber snivelled on me, the foam didn't.
- F20: circular mild exhaust, very nice, rubber seems more comfy than the memory foam (the foam snivels more easily than the rubber).

So I am using the F20 with a small rubber cushion, that's the best of them for me (I tried small and medium of each cushion type on both masks.

Both N20 and F20 are brilliant products, well designed, and easier to use and adjust than previous generation masks. I am sleeping better now than I have in a long time.

I also started using two featherweight short tubes (circadience) between the virus filter and my mask, this makes the hose a lot less intrusive without that big virus filter weight attached, which also contributes to better sleep. You can see one attached in the pic below.

One last thing, I like to sleep with my head under blankets, CPAP lets me do this, but with some masks the exhaust is touched by the blanket, here is my solution:

That's a little wood crafting and some 5 minute epoxy, I call them horns, I wish all masks came with them, all of mine over the years have had them. It's a 5/16 wooden dowel cut with an exacto tiny saw, round wooden pucks from amazon, and the mask surface is roughened with 150 grit sandpaper before gluing.

I really wanted to like the AirTouch F20 memory foam mask, but it totally did not work for me. The way it goes way up between my eyes was uncomfortable and awkward to me and made me feel like I was back in the military and wearing a gas mask. Also was not thrilled about the alleged good-for-only-30-days thing at $59 a pop.

Tried the AirFit F30i with the top hose and liked it a lot but found that sleeping on my side (I’m a 50/50 back and side sleeper) was a problem as the air tubes would compress too much and cut off the flow of air.

Finally tried an AirFit F30 and BINGO, it was perfect. It’s very similar to the Philips Amara View but all the reviews are better for the F30. I have young children and a baby and often need to get up at night for them and the front quick disconnect hose connection is great.

Kurth83, that’s amazing that you’ve customised your masks. Very ingenious.