Hey all,
My name is John, I'll be 48 this year and I've been using my CPAP machine now for approx 10 years. I use the ResMed Escape EPR with a full face mask in size medium and I've had my tube insulated from day one. When I started using the machine I filled the distilled water reservoir and used the humidifier but it was just an annoyance and seemed counter productive as I was awake more often with moisture problems than with my Sleep Apnea. Needless to say I stopped using the humidifier and I can't say I needed it in the first place. After about the first year of using the CPAP I started getting a rash and flaky skin from time to time on my face where any silicone was in contact with my skin. My doctor gave me creams, I bought other creams and on and on it went with it getting worse day by day. It didn't matter how many times I cleaned it or even if I replaced the mask, the rash was there. Then it got to the point where it wouldn't go away at all and woke up one morning with a giant pimple on my face. When I attempted to burst the thing it left me with a scar on my cheek along side my nose. Then I discovered and bought just about every liner out there, but in the end they were all disappointing, useless and way too expensive to keep on buying all the time. That's when I resorted to making my own liner's for my mask out of socks. I went and bought a bag of socks and cut about 10 of them to fit. It took me quite a while to get the socks right and it definitely wasn't the best solution, but on some nights sleeping was almost good again while using them. Eventually the socks frayed, they would move and wrinkle during the night which would of course lead to leaks that would always wake me up and the socks always tickled my eye lashes making it difficult to even get to sleep. Another problem was what my wife had to put up with each night while I was having my regular fits of frustration. It's been a real struggle, for both of us.
What I want to know is if any of you have found the "Holy Grail" of mask liners that have actually worked as well as they claim it does? I haven't found it that's for dam sure and I've tried them all. I'm hell bent on either finding something that will work or I may just have to create the dam thing myself like I did with my socks! It won't be a sock liner though lol. I'm just so frustrated and tired of being tired every day.
So here you go, I've created this survey on Google CPAP User Comfort Survey to find out what other peoples experiences have been like and I would appreciate it if you'd be so kind in filling out the short survey for me. If I ever do make the "Holy Grail" of liners it means that by filling out my survey you'll be on my email list of contacts so I can let you know right away when I have created the "Holy Grail" of liners. I would need of a group people to do testing on the liners of course and they would receive them absolutely free of charge, no shipping costs or anything. I'd send them directly to your door. The only thing I would ask from you is your feedback, your true honest opinions of the liner. You may hear from me sooner than later because I'm serious at this point where I'll stop at nothing to fix this problem. Good luck out there and I hope to read all of your answers soon. Thanks for reading my long rant! lol!
P.S. I also posted this on CPAPtalk.
John
Can't comment on your skin reaction as I have no experience but I have used mask liners with a Simplus mask. The material was made of tee-shirt type stuff and not sock type material. The liners kept the mask from leaking into my eyes and making disgusting noises. I then went to an Amara View full face mask and no liners needed. The cushion material is totally different and perhaps using this type mask would help you skin reaction. The Amara View seldom leaks at all and is easy to adjust when it does. I think the answer might be a different mask.
The Amara View full face mask uses silicone like all the others doesn't it? At least that's what it looks like it's made from. The same issue's will occur with more money being wasted again, that's what I feel about it anyways. There's the new P20 buffer that's made from memory foam but it only lasts for a month and they want like $60 (+ taxes) a pop and the reviews aren't going well for it. Like I said previously I'm going to be creating a liner that will cover all the comfort and cost issue's that I'm experiencing that I believe everyone else is experiencing too. It won't be too long before I'm back here writing a new post with a link to my crowdfunding campaign where the liner will be there for all to critique and to support. I'll have plenty of data on it from those who are chosen to test the liners from my email list that I'm collecting through the Google survey here called CPAP User Comfort Survey
The material in the Amara View is unlike that used in the Simplus. That they are actually composed of I have no idea. If their composition is different, my thinking was that your skin reaction might be different. Good luck with your quest for the perfect mask liner. Let us know how that works for you.
JWalsh: I use a mirage quattro mask. The cushion is silicone elastomer. I also use a Remzzz mask liner. The silicone makes my face perspire therefore allowing leaks. The mask liner probably leaks as well but there is not the noise associated with not using the liner.
My gripe with masks fitting properly is that the mask is one of the essential parts of delivering air (other than the machine and tube). Yet, no manufacturer has come up with a solution to have the mask cushion fit the different contours of ones face. Instead there have been "band aids" to the problem. Different cushion materials and mask liners are not the solution. Of course the headgear used by the different mask are sometimes a joke as well as these can stretch until adjustments cannot be made.
After approximately 2560 days or 17920 hours of using the same mask and a ResMed machine I have concluded that there is no solution on the horizon to the mask and I am just satisfied that treatment for a serious problem like OSA can be rectified by a machine that pumps air and I do not have to ingest any medication.
