Help! Shingles on face need new mask ASAP

I've been using a nasal mask (over the bridge of my nose) successfully and suddenly yesterday I developed what the doctor says is shingles right alongside my nose and cheek and up to my eye. I can't stand to have the mask on and had to sleep without it last night. Even wearing my glasses is painful. I want to buy a nasal cradle type mask (not the pillows that go in your nostils) and would like to just order it off Amazon or something to get fast delivery. If I call Apria who knows how long before it will get here, although maybe that's what I should do if insurance is going to pay. I'm not even sure insurance will pay anyway, I think they told me I used up my mask allowance and I have to wait six months or something before I can try another.

So if I don't fool with them and just pay out of pocket, I understand I cannot get an assembled mask plus headgear without a prescription, but I CAN buy each part separately which seems insane but there you have it.

Here is one website where it looks like you can just order the AirTouch N30i without prescription. You just choose a size, then they have you "add" the headgear, for a total $128. I would have to guess the size, I haven't found one that comes with a "fit kit" that doesn't require a prescription.
https://cpapsupplies.com/resmed-airtouc ... -cpap-mask

But here is Amazon, for the AirFit N30i says they can get it to me day after tomorrow. But it's confusing, the mask say it needs a prescription for the whole setup, but I take it I can order the item without a prescription because it doesn't have the rest of the headgear?

The mask:
https://www.amazon.com/Airfit-N30i-Stan ... 196&sr=8-6

The headgear:
https://www.amazon.com/GJX-Headgear-Com ... hlbWF0aWM=

The Amazon is just $100 for both and that includes shipping. Should I just take a stab and do that or try to call Apria which may end up getting better advice on the sizing and possibly insurance might pay because I have a new medical problem? But then I'd have to get my doctor to contact Apria blah blah, I can see not getting it til next week at the earliest if I'm lucky.

GrandmaA wrote: ↑

Wed May 21, 2025 3:54 pm

may end up getting better advice on the sizing and possibly insurance might pay because I have a new medical problem?

I wouldn't go holding my breath because of the shingles making your current mask unusable. Your insurance won't care.

Headgear is once every 6 month no matter which mask. So if you have got headgear within the last 6 months your insurance won't pay for it.
The mask frame (no headgear) can be replaced every 3 months but if it requires different headgear....useless if you can't use it.

As far as the shingles....OUCH You got a rough next 4 to 6 weeks ahead of you.

Where do you live? I might have the N30i in all sizes in the donations box (would need to go look) and if I do you can have it for free and if you want overnight postage....I can do that if you will pay postage.
Let me know if interested.....just send me a PM.

I think I have found a solution without having to buy new masks (shout out to Pugsy's kind offer!) Last night I changed back to the small size nasal mask (I had switched to medium for some reason) and the smaller one did not reach the rash so I think this is going to work. I'll give it a few nights and see what happens. But if anyone wants to weigh in with input about buying parts vs complete assemblies, exeriences with any suppliers or Amazon, feel free.

It's worth remembering that any doctor can write the script for a CPAP mask. And you can ask for the script to include unlimited refills. Ask for a hard copy of the script so that you can upload it to on-line sites that require a script to buy a mask. The fact that insurance isn't going to pay does not invalidate the script.

robysue1 wrote: ↑

Thu May 22, 2025 8:19 am

It's worth remembering that any doctor can write the script for a CPAP mask. And you can ask for the script to include unlimited refills. Ask for a hard copy of the script so that you can upload it to on-line sites that require a script to buy a mask. The fact that insurance isn't going to pay does not invalidate the script.

Thanks! The original prescription just says "mask fitted for patient comfort" and I was told by phone that means the insurance will pay for I think 3 different ones in the first 90 days but then not another new one for 6 months or something like that. I have no idea if a a new medical issue arises requiring another mask change would be paid for by my insurance or would require a new prescription like "she has to have an x type mask because of medical condition y". But, good point to remember that even if insurance doesn't pay and I want an "assembled" system requiring a prescription I can still use the script even if I have to pay out of pocket.

I'm still doing okay with the small AirFit N20 for now.

An OT comment on shingles...both time I had shingles I was able to take an oral anti-viral, which shortened the duration of the rash and decreased the other symptoms. And the second time around I used aloe gel on the shingles rash areas, and that really helped speed up healing even more. And decreased the itching and associated pain a lot. Now I've had the two-shot shingrix vaccine and really hope that I'm done with shingles :-). I'd had the old single dose shingles vaccine after the first time I had shingles, but that didn't prevent the second time around. As I recall, they told me when I got the old single dose vaccine that it was about 50% effective. Shingrix is supposed to be about 90% effective after two doses, so my odds seem better at this point.

By the way, the ResMed AirFit N30 is another nasal cradle style mask, if you end up going that way. I've used both the N30i and the N30, and found that the N30 works better for me. I think that the N30 also costs less. Masks are individual, but I thought that I'd offer my experience. None the less, I hope that the N20 keeps working for you.

I lost any CPAP coverage many years ago, and had been getting my masks off Amazon for quite a while now. They weren't playing the game about a missing piece, I never had to submit a prescription (it's been a few years . . .) but the masks are brand new, they came from DME's, in sealed packages from the manufacturer (nowadays they are packaged like potato chips in resealable foil/plastic bags!), and I have never had an issue with them.