facial hair with FF masks

Thanks to you folks who wrote me last week. I am becoming more and more comfortable with this entire process of CPAP therapy. I also tried the breathe right strips (helped) and actually have reintroduced the CFLEX function, as I've realized that the exhalation resistance was a part of my problem.

I have a beard and while I am excited about getting a good night's sleep with the comfort curve mask (which I took a nap with today... so far so good) I am still thinking about asking DME supplier for a full-face mask, so that I can work out the mouth breathing thing. (I notice that I am starting to breathe more through my nose THROUGHOUT the day !)

Any recommendations for a bearded man on 12 CC air pressure?

Thanks,

Jimbo

I have a very heavy beard and mustache. I have had luck with both
the ResMed FF and the F&P Flexifit FF masks. Most of my leaking
occurs at the bridge of my nose, where there is NO HAIR! My problem
was more that my jaw was dropping during the night. I got a Silent
Nite dental device and that kept my mouth closed. It really helped
reduce Cottonmouth and Mask Leakage. It juts the jaw forward and
opens up my airway. You just need to keep trying different combinations
until you find something which works. It takes a lot of time!

I have a beard .. on 13 with no leak problems using the Ultra FF.
I'll use the FF on occasion if I have a cold .. but I am currently using the Aura (Headrest)

. . . I am still thinking about asking DME supplier for a full-face mask, so that I can work out the mouth breathing thing.

Jimbo, I'm making peace with the ResMed Ultra Mirage FF Mask. I got it for the very reason you're citing, but found that using this mask actually minimizes my mouth breathing. It won't stop me from mouth breathing 100% of the time though, as last night I had constant snores over nearly the last hour of sleep.

I think the reason the Ultra Mirage FF Mask helps this way is that it fits just at the bottom of my lower lip and so kind of supports keeping my mouth closed. When I'm settling in for the night I set the sealing membrane in the mask against the skin of my lower lip rather than against my beard and in that way get a good seal. If I don't do this I feel the constant leakage of air through my beard.

I will also say that I was heavily discouraged from getting a full face mask by the folks at CPAP.com specifically because of the beard, but I was concerned enough about the mouth breathing thing. Anyway, after I got used to the mask, and got it optimally adjusted, the leakage rate is now very low despite the fact that it has to cover some facial hair.

If I can ever get my sinus thing taken care of, I'll probably go the nasal pillow route. But, hey, since I've only been doing the xPAP thing a few weeks now, I've got lots to learn yet.

Regards,
Bill

I wear a goatee and I used the F&P HC431 FF mask. If I kept it trimmed really short, I didn't have too much problems with leaks around my chin, but once I slacked on trimming, it leaked badly. If you have a heavy beard, I would not recommend this mask.

I now have a ResMed Ultra Mirage FF mask. Unlike the HC431 that cups under the chin, this one rests just below your bottom lip. This mask seals much better for me than the HC431 ever did.

I have tried to do the nasal masks and can't keep my mouth shut. I wake up with my lips flapping in the wind. I refuse to tape my mouth shut, because I have alot of sinus issues and would be afraid of suffocation.

Hope this helps.