Has anyone found a chin strap that works for them?

[kjarels]

I have given up all hope of ever using a FF mask, tried again last night and I had leaks coming out of everywhere. Even when I tightened the mask up it still didn't work. The only thing I can use with some decent results is the Activa but unfortunately I am a mouth sleeper and I am losing air that way. I have tried tape and I still lose air so the only thing that half way works is a chin strap but I have to tighten it so my mouth does not drop open, very uncomfortable.

[mindy]

I've had fairly good luck with the Tiara Topaz. If I tape, I get a leak rate a bit lower so I tape some of the time (nothing that hurts my skin and it's really easy to take off - takes 1 second). Without the Tiara, I have bad mouth leaks!

Mindy

[kjarels]

Thanks Mindy, did you purchase yours online??

[RafterRattler]

I'll throw one other option out - but it's a bit off the wall. Back before I finally gave up and went to a FF mask (Mirage Quattro), I struggled nightly because my mouth kept dropping open. I tried several chin straps, but none really worked well. During the night, the chin straps kept sliding forward or backward, and my mouth would drop again. The closest I got to a solution was somewhat of an invention. Early on in my CPAP experimentation I had tried nasal pillows - which didn't work at all for me. However, the nasal pillow headgear came with several double sided velcro strips. They were the stiffer 'half' of velcro, on both sides. When I started having trouble with chin straps, I ended up putting those strips on the outside of my headgear on the sides of my head. I then put on the chin strap, and positioned it so that it stuck to the velcro - which kept it tight, on my head, and from sliding. It wasn't perfect, but it worked well until I finally went to a FF mask....

Just a thought...
Mike

[kjarels]

Thanks Mike. I have the Quattro as well but I can not get it to stop leaking and my events are really bad when I wear it vs the Activa.

[RafterRattler]

Thanks Mike. I have the Quattro as well but I can not get it to stop leaking and my events are really bad when I wear it vs the Activa.

I understand completely....my post was mainly intended to suggest the 'attaching the chin strap' concept. On the Quattro, I struggle with it at times as well. Not only does the elbow leak more than I'd like, but I have a very small chin - which makes getting a good seal around my mouth difficult. I need to keep it excessively tight on my nose in order to keep the chin tight enough. With this method, which isn't exactly comfortable, I tend to get a leak rate of .06 - which I understand is pretty good.

For the life of me, I just can't understand why these companies (which charge way too much for these hunks of silicone and plastic as it is), can't make a mask that is comfortable and that seals well for everyone.

Mike

[kjarels]

Wow, that is a low leak rate, mine was over 1, something like 1.46 and my events were up around 8. When I wear the Activa my events are around 2. With the Quattro I have to tighten the straps so tight that the bridge of my nose is extremely sore in the morning and it still leaks.

[sleepyred]

Yes - the Pap Cap! I have pretty bad TMJ and the pap cap works wonderfully! Help holds your mouth closed in its natural position.

http://www.pur-sleep.com/content/?id=44

Red

[kjarels]

Hey thanks, do you know why some cost more then others?? I see some are $39.99 and others are $29.99.

[sonogo]

Back to the chin strap question: I struggled with that for awhile and am still experimenting. My current solution is a 3-step process: tape mouth, then wrap elastic band around mouth and neck, then put chin strap on over that (from head to chin, so that's vertical, while elastic band is horizontal). Combined they don't need to be that tight, and they do keep my mouth shut. I also look like a mummy. I may back off and give up one of them and just use two out of three. Just using any single method before wasn't working.

[sleepyred]

Hey thanks, do you know why some cost more then others?? I see some are $39.99 and others are $29.99.

I just bought a pap cap for $29.99 in a green color I liked. I am assuming that they might be discontinued colors? I was not willing to try it at $39.99 but grabbed it for a discount. I have had very good business dealings with pur sleep and Bret (Sleepguy) stands by his products 100%. I highly recommend pur sleep pap cap.

Red

[DreamDiver]

I highly recommend pur sleep pap cap.

Ditto.

[kjarels]

Ok, I will get one of the 29.99 ones, are they easy to put on??

[Babette]

I've had very good luck with the Tiara Medical Deluxe Chinstrap:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/deluxe ... hleak.html

I just bought two more from CPAP.com.

For those that think it "looks wide" - that's the beauty of it. The width allows my "chin meat" to get pushed up into my lower lip and keeps my lips sealed really well.

It's very comfortable, and I don't have any jaw pain from it.

I also threw out my headgear and attached my Nasal Aire II directly to it, by sewing two strips of Velcro One Wrap to it.

See pix here:
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p36/ ... aise/CPAP/

Cheers,
Babs

[sleepyred]

Ok, I will get one of the 29.99 ones, are they easy to put on??

Yes - easiest chin strap ever for me. Just put it on like a cap attach the chin strap and you are ready to go.

On a very positive note - the pap cap, worn under the headgear to my activa, stabilizes the headgear better than without the pap cap. Keeps it out of my hair and in place all night. And no more mouth leaks and not a bit of stress on my TMJ.