CPAP product reviews and other helpful tips for CPAP users!

Buying the perfect CPAP mask isn’t easy. A lot of times, you might think you’ve picked the right one, then you take it home and find it sucks. It happens. More often than you think, actually. Masks are made to fit the average face, but that doesn’t mean they’re always a perfect fit. But with a little bit of research and some insider information, not only can you find yourself the best fitting mask, you might be able to return that ill-fitting one you can’t bear to wear another night.

 Do plenty of research

There are 3 general styles of CPAP mask. Which style mask did you get? Nasal pillow? Nasal mask? Full face mask? Each one of them caters to a specific type of sleep position and facial structure. So, for example, if you’re a side or stomach sleeper, you probably won’t be too comfortable in a full face mask. If you haven’t already, click here for a description of the different styles of masks.

Go back to your CPAP store/provider 

Armed with some knowledge and a list of questions you now have, go back to your CPAP provider and ask to see if they can exchange it for you. Make sure you follow each CPAP vendor’s exchange policy as they all have various timeframes for exchanges (standard is about a month). Be prepared: some sellers won’t take it back if the mask has been used or the packaging has been opened. (But between us, if you make a good enough case, they might bend that rule. Just remember to be polite and not lose your cool).

Ask a lot of questions

This is a major purchase. If you’re the kind of shopper that asks a million questions about the cheese you’re about to buy, why wouldn’t you be extra curious about something you’ll be wearing for a third of your life?! Ask which mask style is best for your sleeping position, and ask to try on a bunch of them before you decide. Wear it for a while. Try lying down with it. Does it smush your face? How does it compare to other masks? A lot of people expect to try on a mask and have it fit like an old pair of slippers - this will likely never happen. What you’re looking for is a mask that feels the most comfortable to you compared to other masks. Remember: CPAP masks are made to be as unobtrusive as possible, but that doesn’t mean they’re fun to wear.

Does the clinician know what they're talking about?

A good CPAP Clinician is a God-send! These people are professionals, but a good, patient one is a keeper. A knowledgeable clinician can tell you all the pros and cons of any given masks and let you try them on and test them out.

Returns & exchanges

It's important to note, if you’re buying your mask online, KNOW WHAT YOU WANT BEFORE YOU ORDER. Online stores can offer deep discounts - especially on masks. But a lot of them don’t accept returns or exchanges. You want to shop online for a deal - when you already know which mask is best for you, or if you’re replacing a mask that you’ve already used and love.

Get loads of recommendations 

If you have friends and family who are on CPAP, ask them what they like. There’s nothing better than asking someone who’s already gone through the process and learned a thing or two. Look into that recommendation while you shop and see if those masks are right for you. The process can take a bit of work, but anything good in life requires some heavy lifting. Just know that at the end of the process, you've learned so much more about CPAP masks and more importantly you'll be much more successful with therapy and sleeping.

Educate yourself

There is a wealth of information online waiting to be tapped. Read reviews on CPAP blogs and forums where people share their experience based on their own differences: machine pressure, if they have facial hair, have a big nose or sleep on their sides. Watch YouTube videos on product and user reviews that can guide you in making the right selection. Once you know which style may work for you, you can narrow down your search. We recommend looking for newer masks compared to ones that may be out for a couple of years. Technology is improving masks by the day and the newer ones are being designed with better materials that fix a lot of comfort and performance issues.

And when you find something that works - stick it with! Consider buying one or two back-ups. Because you never know when a mask will be discontinued. Sleep tight!

It's late into the night, you're exhausted, you're in bed longer than you've liked and you're still awake because you can't shut off your brain. You get up, reach for a sleeping pill or some sort of sleeping aid for relief.  Sounds familiar? It's okay, me too and for thousands of other Canadians. The sleeping aid will kick in and you'll get your sleep. But that's not a long term solution if you suffer from Insomnia. 

At best, sleeping aids are temporary relief. Whether you use prescription sleeping pills, over-the-counter sleeping aids like Tylenol PM, NyQuil or herbal supplements like chamomile or melatonin, they have side effects, which vary depending on the specific drug, the dosage, and how long the drug lasts in your system.

Common side effects of sleeping aids include next-day drowsiness, headaches, body aches, constipation, dry mouth, loss of concentration and even drug tolerance. More severe side effects include sleepwalking, sleep-driving and risk of harming yourself and or others. 

For better sleep, opt for an activity or behavioural change. Here are some tips to put into practice to create habits that will combat insomnia safely and effectively. 

Writing Things Down

Put your thoughts on paper. Create your to-do list, reminders and even jot down your problems and emotions to clear your mind. By writing everything down releases some pressure and allows you to feel organized and shut your brain off. Revisit your list with a fresh set of eyes the next day after a good night's sleep may help you with a solution you couldn't see the night before. 

Deep Abdominal Breathing 

This type of breathing is deliberate and involves slow deep breaths that open the chest, the stomach and rib cage. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Each exhales should be longer than your inhale. Deep breathing will trigger the part of our nervous system that controls relaxation to aid in sleeping.

Sex

Sex prior to bed will help combat insomnia. This is due to the hormones released during sex including prolactin after an orgasm instantly helping you feel relaxed and sleepy. 

Exercise 

This one you hear a lot. Exercising regularly allows us to blow off steam and control daily stressors. It also helps lowers your body temperature significantly at night allowing the body to fall and stay asleep longer. Aerobic-style exercises such as jogging or playing soccer are ideal to combat insomnia as they increase oxygen levels in the blood. 

Try one or a combination of these activities to help you fall asleep and stay asleep through the night. These activities are the most natural and effective way to relax your body and mind so it can get the rest it deserves. If you really need to reach for sleeping aids, always consult with a physician first so you know if it's right for you.

If you're asking yourself: "What is this Lumin™ Bullet thing?",  you're not alone. We've received tons of questions from confused CPAP users asking what it does and why would someone want such a thing.  

What Is The Lumin™ Bullet?

Before we dive into what exactly the Bullet is, let's briefly talk about the Lumin CPAP Sanitizer - the sidekick to the Bullet. The Lumin is a multi-use CPAP sanitizing device for your personal items. To use, simply put stuff like your phone, toothbrush, dentures, keys and even baby bottles into the CPAP Cleaner’s drawer, close it and the Lumin Sanitizer blasts it with ultraviolet light technology to kill viruses, bacteria and mould in just a matter of minutes.

The Lumin has been a strong competitor to the popular SoClean sanitizer in the CPAP world which uses ozone technology as it's the active agent to disinfect CPAP equipment. Although the Lumin is an excellent product, the biggest drawback was its inability to sanitize CPAP tubing - giving SoClean, it's competitor a leg up.

That's where the Lumin™ Bullet comes in.  It's a CPAP Tubing cleaner. Used in tandem with the Lumin Sanitizer, it covers all bases of your CPAP sanitizing needs.  

What Technology Does This CPAP Cleaner Use?

Here's how it works:  Put your CPAP mask and chamber into the Lumin drawer, close it and let it do what it does best.  While that's going on, slide the Bullet (it's really more like a pen or a wand) into your CPAP tubing.  Slide it out slowly - slow enough so it takes about 60 seconds to pull it through the entire length of the tubing.  

The Bullet unleashes powerful UVC light to destroy germs and pathogens in the tubing, leaving you with a sanitized CPAP tube.  There is no delay period and no harmful gas or chemicals are emitted.

The Lumin™ Bullet comes with:

• An outer bullet shell
• A metal "bullet" that's chargeable 
• USB cable

The Bullet requires charging before you use it for the first time.  You'll know its charging by the red blinking light.  The indicator lights up solid blue when it's done.  It can be used about 30 times on a single charge.

How To Use This Lumin Product?

Place charged Bullet into your tubing. Open the shell, put your tubing inside and close and lock the shell. Take about 1 minute and slowly pull the entire tubing through the bullet shell. Once the hose is pulled through, it comes out of the shell, but the bullet stays inside the shell.

Compatibility: Which CPAP Tubing Does It Work With?

The Lumin™ Bullet works with most standard CPAP tubing. It does NOT work on popular heated hoses like the ClimatelineAir, and others require some minor adjustments to use. For example, to sanitize the AirMini hose, you'll need to remove the attachments on the hose so the Bullet can fit through. The DreamStation heated hose will allow the Bullet to fit through one end only. 

Usage: How Often Should This CPAP Cleaning Equipment Be Used?

It is recommended to use this cleaning device twice weekly on your hose to prevent the development of a nasty biofilm - ensuring that your hose remains slime free. Make sure to use it daily during flu season for extra protection. 

Our Final Verdict: What We Really Thought

In our opinion, we find the Lumin CPAP Sanitizer and the Bullet both make excellent CPAP and personal sanitizers but they work best as a pair (What's the point of cleaning your mask and machine when your tubing is still filled with gross bacteria and slime?!) 

Not only will it clean your CPAP equipment, but many other personal items in the home - offering way more bang for your hard-earned bucks. We really like that there is no need to constantly replace filters on the Lumin and the light bulb lasts for ages!  There are no chemicals or odours released into the air and, unlike the SoClean, you don't have to wait for your CPAP stuff to air out.   

Together, we think the Lumin and the Bullet are a great pair and offer an excellent alternative to the SoClean.  Considering the Lumin's added uses around the house, it may be the smarter choice.