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BiPAP masks
What BiPAP masks do you all use? I’ve been using nasal pillows for a few years. They’re not bad, but there’s definitely room for improvement. Sometimes they irritate the skin on the inside of my nostril. They have to be positioned very precisely, and it’s very draining to try to explain to a caregiver how to move them if they’re uncomfortable or leaking – sometimes I give up on trying to communicate and just sleep through the pain. Plus I’m a side sleeper, and I need my caregiver to move my head around a lot to get it in the right spot – that makes it more likely that my mask will get pushed out of place – but adjusting my mask can bump my head out of place, and so on in a vicious cycle. Does anyone have any masks they really like, or just general tips for dealing with this? All the advice I can find online is for people who can reposition their masks themselves, which is not helpful for me.
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6 Replies
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I use the nasal one as well. I definitely get the issues you brought up, but it’s still the most ideal for me. Anytime I had the full-face masks, they always led to more sores and irritation. The nasal ones can still be irritable, but overall, they’re much better. I wonder if you could ask your caregivers to practice adjusting the mask while you’re in your chair. That way, they can get a better idea of what you’re asking. Sometimes it’s hard for me to articulate what I need while I’m in bed. I understand those communication issues.
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Thanks for the reply! Yeah, the communication is tricky. Even when I’m sitting up and awake, I have a hard time pinpointing why it feels wrong and finding the words to explain that to someone else.
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Oof, I know exactly what you are talking about. I tried the nasal pillows, but they bothered the inside of my nose. Also, whenever someone moved my head, the pillows would come out of place. It was a good idea in theory, but it just didn’t work out for me. So I switched to a regular nasal mask. I like that the softness of the mask doesn’t cause irritation on my skin. The straps sometimes slide around, but I imagine that’s the case with any mask. So I just tell my caregivers how to adjust it, and we practice this before bed so they don’t wake me up too much in the middle of the night. Here’s the mask I use.
https://cpapx.com/products/zest-cpap-bipap-mask
cpapx.com
Zest Nasal CPAP/BiPAP Mask with Headgear
Available in three sizes the Zest Nasal CPAP Mask is small, quiet, and easy to use. The Zest offers superb comfort right out of the box combining a new Easy-Clip Silicone Seal and Advanced Air Diffuser with proven FlexiFit technologies … Continue reading
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So glad I’m not the only one! Thanks for the advice, I’ll look into that.
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I also am a side sleeper. What I have found that works best for me is the Resmed AirFit™ N30. It has a nasal cradle instead of nasal pillows. It is much easier on my nose. It is pretty easy for a caregiver to put it on properly.
https://www.resmed.com/en-us/products/cpap/masks/airfit-n30/
resmed.com
AirFit N30 is the CPAP mask that discreetly fits into your lifestyle to easily adjust to therapy. With soft, under-the-nose nasal cradle cushion and slip-on headgear.
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I saw this one when I was doing research online, maybe I’ll give it a try. Thanks!
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