Comparing 2 Types of CPAP Masks: Likes and Dislikes

I have used a CPAP mask for a few years now. There are good and bad things about both types of masks I have used, so I thought I would share my experiences.

The first mask was actually the one I had during the sleep study! Being as I used it 1 night and in that type of setting, it's personal use, so they sent it home with me. 

Why might they send it home with me, you may ask? (Especially since I didn't even have a machine to hook it up to!) Or, why would I even bother to take it home?

Simple goal: get used to the mask

It's pretty simple – they sent it home and I brought it home after my technician explained that I was to put it on and wear it while watching TV, knitting, lying down to sleep (for me gaming, lol), etc...

That way, I could get used to the feel of wearing the mask on my face with the tubing flopping around way before the machine was even hooked up with the air turned on.

And it did help a lot! I wore it off and on for about a month until I got my actual machine.

Using a full-face mask

So, what was this first mask like? It was a full-face mask, kind of a triangle shape with rounded corners. It fit over my nose and around my mouth with head straps that went around my forehead, then again at about my jaw bones and around the back of my head.

It had this snorkel-type thing right out the front, where the tubing attached. And right under that, some little holes melted through the plastic-like breathing holes.

Getting my real mask

This one was a lot like the practice mask, although it was more of an oval/oblong shape than a triangle. The straps to hold it on were in pretty much the same places, along with the snorkel thing where the tubing was attached. I'll tell you what I liked about this mask first.

What I liked about the full-face mask

• When it was new, and all the cushions were still soft, it was very comfortable around the nose and mouth.
• Again, when it was new, it sealed around my nose and mouth very well.

Now for what I didn't like about this mask.

What I did not like about the full-face mask

• Before it was even time to order a replacement mask, the cushions were all worn out and almost had a stiff, scratchy feel to them.
• Again, even before it was time to reorder, the seal would break on and off all night long, causing interruptions to my sleep every time. Not only that, but the sound it made when the seal broke – all that air hissing at a high rate of speed – would wake my husband up, who then woke me up to fix the problem.
• At times, it made me feel claustrophobic.
• Red marks and bruising on my face.

My second mask: nasal pillows

I now have what are called nasal pillows. There's nothing around my mouth. There is just a little thing that fits under the nose and has 2 little, very soft extensions that go into each nostril. There is 1 strap that comes up from about the cheekbones and wrapw around my head.

What I like about nasal pillows

• Extremely lightweight
• I do not feel claustrophobic
• Good seal to the nose and seal is easily adjustable if need be.

What I do not like about nasal pillows

They can cause soreness at nostrils openings

What are your experiences with CPAP masks? Have you tried more than one style? What did you like or not like? Tell us more in the comments below!