Hello. My ResMed AirSense 10 with full face mask has worked great for me for a couple of years now. Recently, the silicone part of the face mask, which I have only replaced once with a spare that came with the machine, started leaking air and making funny noises. (Is that part called the pillow?) Obviously that needs to be replaced again. Then last night one of the "wings" of the "frame" of the face mask, that the head gear attaches to, broke. I'm having a hard time finding replacement pillows and frames online. Any suggestions? Can I use a different mask entirely? Is this a possibility? Looks like I won't be sleeping with my beloved CPAP machine for a while, until I figure this out, and that is kind of stressing me out as I rely heavily on it for a good night's sleep. Would really appreciate any info and insight. Thanks so much!
Welcome to the forum,
Yes, for sure you can replace the whole mask with one from almost any manufacturer or type, and you can get parts for most masks too. My wife has a Resmed Mirage FX mask and one of the parts of the frame broke, and I managed to glue it together with Gorilla crazy glue. I recall it lasted for a while, but a new part is probably the real answer.
What specific mask do you have?
Hi Sierra- I have the original mask that came with the machine. Covers nose and mouth. So, you think a ResMed Airfit 20 would work/fit. Or even a different brand altogether?
I am not aware of any standard mask that comes with a machine, because the mask type is so individualistic. Just about any brand will connect to your hose as all the hoses except for the travel machines are standardized for size at the mask end. That said I believe the most popular full face mask is the ResMed AirFit F20 mask. If your original mask worked well for you, I would try to buy the same one. There are all kinds of full face masks that are "new and improved". However, until you try it for yourself you never know if they will work for you. Here is a link to the CPAP.com site full face mask section. They list the masks in order of sales popularity. What you might want to do first is look through the list and the close up pictures of them to find the brand and model you have. Most likely it is still made and you can get parts for it too. Once you open the specific mask there should be another tab to the Replacement Parts list. Also there should be some fitting instructions so you get the right size if you decide to change brand and model. As a general rule the lower your pressure the less critical the mask type becomes. With higher pressure getting a good fit can be difficult. Some masks include free return insurance from this site.
Hope that helps some,
Thanks so much! I will check out the link right away!
One last thought. Assuming you are in the US there is a strange regulation there that you need a prescription to buy a mask. You can get around that issue by buying parts and assembling the mask yourself. It usually comes in two parts, and the total prices is the same as a full mask assembly. They know the game...
I AM in the US... Really? I need a prescription to buy a mask? This country, I swear...
I suspect your original CPAP prescription would do if you have it. Or, just order the parts.
Sadly I don't have the original prescription but I'm trying to work with new insurer to try and figure it out. Even parts add up to around $140, which I'd like to avoid paying out of pocket if I can. Really feeling the effects of not using my CPAP for a week now. What a difference that machine makes!
I have the same one you have except I have the Pillows. Been on it for 5 months, and feel worse in the mornings now than I did before I started using CPAP! All hype, and no results. Should have known that those videos they show are everyone living in a perfect world.
I would recommend downloading SleepyHead and finding out what is happening during the night. When your AHI varies from 1 to 17 something not good must be happening. Perhaps your machine setup requires some fine tuning.
I haven't seen the videos Mrzocor but I empathise with your sentiment and would agree with it much of the time.
However, on the rare occasion when I am being honest with myself, I remember the first time I hooked the machine up and the relief of being able to breathe fully for the first time in many years. Then there was the time I stayed at an off the grid place and the generator shut down around midnight and I was forced to give up on sleeping altogether and just wander around for the rest of the night.
Of course a momentary lapse into honesty doesn't stop me from resenting the machine and desperately wish I could be without it.