Is Your CPAP Mask Uncomfortable?

Learn how to avoid having CPAP mask uncomfortable.
How to use properly the dual cushion system to make the mask more comfortable?

Air blowing into your eyes

Avoid Having CPAP Masks Uncomfortable using the Dual Wall Cushion

List of other basic tips

Encouragement to keep searching for a more comfortable CPAP mask

If you have your CPAP mask uncomfortable, know that you are not alone. Remember that almost anyone with CPAP treatment has been in this spot at some point.

You will also find that what's comfortable for some is a torture for other people.

Air blowing into your eyes - The dual wall cushions advantage

One of the most common uncomfortable CPAP mask problem is when the air is blowing into your eyes. This could be very damaging to your eyes.

If you don't have a good seal, you may as well not wear the mask. The goal is to have the air down your throat not escaping out of the sides of the mask.

If you can, use your fingernail to ease the edge of the silicone liner inward this may help to seal the mask.

Many of the masks offered for CPAP users now have dual cushions. ResMed comes to mind with their Mirage line which includes:

• Resmed Mirage Quattro
• ResMed Mirage Activa
• ResMed Mirage Micro
• and even their ResMed Swift FX nasal pillow systems.

EasyLife, ComfortFull and ComfortGel are just a few of the fantastic Respironics dual cushion interfaces. See all these CPAP masks here.

What’s the big deal about dual wall cushions? Dual wall cushions are gaining popularity because they are more comfortable and they seal better. They are the latest and greatest in engineering innovation offered to us patients.

Is your dual wall cushion mask working for you or are you one of those patients who spent a lot of money and is wondering what all the hype was about because it’s not working? Maybe you have a dual wall cushion mask but are not even aware of it.

It's sad to know so many people have great masks that would work if they knew the proper fit, adjustment and seating techniques. Their providers never discussed fit and seating.

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How to Avoid Having CPAP Mask Uncomfortable using the Dual Wall Cushion

Here is what you should know:

• Dual wall cushions need to be inflated to seal properly to the face.
• Put your mask on your face with straps loose.
• Turn on your machine to full pressure.
• Lay down in your bed with your head on your pillow in your normal sleeping position.

• Once your mask is properly fitted for your sleeping position, you need to “seat” or inflate the cushion. Pull the mask straight out from your face about an inch or two to let the mask inflate, then gently lay it back down on your face.
  You may have to repeat this until it feels comfortable on your face, but you WILL KNOW by feel, when it has inflated and seals.
• Smile, fall asleep and wake up refreshed several hours later.

When you change sleeping positions during the night, gravity takes over and you may experience mask leak. If you originally adjusted it for side sleeping and then you roll on your back, you’ll probably experience leak. It will have to be readjusted to eliminate that leak.

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Other Tips to Avoid Having the CPAP Mask Uncomfortable

• Do you have a ramp feature?

  That means your machine starts off at a very low pressure and works up slowly to the pressure you require - anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on what it is set at - giving you time to fall asleep.




• Are you a mouth breather?

  If you do think you are a mouth breather and don't think you can train yourself to breathe only through your nose, or if you often have a congested nose and must breathe through your mouth, you might want to consider a CPAP full face mask (one that covers nose and mouth).

  With a full face mask you can breathe either way without changing the mask. Full face masks seem to be harder to get to fit properly and to seal than nasal masks, that's a potential drawback, but not very difficult in most cases.

  So, you might to take a look at the Hybrid mask and the Liberty mask. These two are very similar just from two different manufacturers. The Hybrid and the Liberty have both nasal pillows for the nose AND a mask portion to cover the mouth.

  Many people find these masks to be very comfortable, and easier to fit and seal than traditional full face masks.




• Do you use a low pressure setting with your CPAP?

  A CPAP nasal pillow system will work quite well at lower pressures. However, before choosing the best nasal pillow for you, answer to these questions:

  • Do you tend to sleep on one side or are you a restless sleeper? - If you are restless in sleep, you may have problems with several of the popular masks. The best nasal CPAP mask for active sleeper is Resmed's Activa mask.
  • What pressure are you running with your CPAP machine?
  • Can you sleep with your mouth closed?

  Answering these questions can help us better understand your situation save you unnecessary expenditures.

  
  

• Is your CPAP Mask too uncomfortable?

  If it's too uncomfortable or leaks, get a different one. See your DME. If your DME does not give good service, find another one. Keep after them until you get a mask that works. A pain, but necessary.




• Is it difficult to get used to your CPAP mask?

  Wearing the mask during non-sleep times: reading, around the house, can help you accept the mask on your face.




• Can't fall asleep with your CPAP mask on your face?

  You may find that falling asleep initially without CPAP - then waking up and putting it on when you was more tired - can make falling asleep easier with the CPAP, even with the ramp.

Encouragement to keep searching for a more comfortable CPAP mask

I wish I could tell you that there is a mask out there for you that will fit perfectly all the time, never leak or hurt and that sleeping position doesn’t matter. Wouldn’t that be great?

There ARE GREAT MASKS available for sleep apnea patients - YOU have to take responsibility for correct fit, adjustment and seating.

The hardest part is dealing with your own impatience and expectations. We already know that having sleep apnea sucks. But we have it. It's not going away.

Being compliant with CPAP takes effort, and suffering some discomfort. It is not easy. You have to do some "toughing it out." There is no way around it.

Consider the alternative: untreated sleep apnea results in not enjoying life, not being able to live up to your potential, sickness and early death. Surgery is painful, doesn't always work, can have bad side effects and isn't always a permanent fix even if it is initially successful.

CPAP is the best treatment, period. I think of it this way:

• If I were crippled, I would hate using a wheelchair, but my only option would be to have no mobility.
• If I had cancer, you would hate chemotherapy, but I would do it or die.

There are people that are much worse off than apnea sufferers, people who don't have the option to say "I can't stand this." They just have to make it work.

I try to think about the fact that I do have a good treatment available for my condition and all I have to do suffer some discomfort and it will work.

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