Does a full face mask script = mouth breather

[Ikon]

Finished my first sleep study. AHI of 29.4.
Doc gave me a script for an auto adjusting cpap from 5-18.
He also prescribed a full face mask.

I know they had the devices to measure whether I was breathing out of my nose or mouth through the night. But since I have a beard, I just want to be sure, Is a full face mask only prescribed if the amount of mouth breathing warrants it?

Thanks.

[ChicagoGranny]

Is a full face mask only prescribed if the amount of mouth breathing warrants it?

That should be the practice. But, we hear all kinds of stories about screwups this industry makes.

BTW, some bearded ones do well with FFMs, others have problems.

[ChicagoGranny]

Doc gave me a script for an auto adjusting cpap from 5-18.

Did they do a pressure titration? That range is pretty much wide open. The wide-open setting is 4 - 20. It's likely your pressure setting could use optimization (See OSCAR near the top of the index page.).

[chunkyfrog]

If you have a deviated septum or significant irregularities to prevent you from breathing
through your nose, then they might be right.
If you normally breathe through your nose while awake,
then they might have decided for you as a cruel prank.

[Sheriff Buford]

If you can easily breath thru your nose, cpap pillows are less cumbersome than a full face mask. You need to be able sleep with your mouth closed, though. With a full face mask, you can open your mouth.... I have mine open all night.

Sheriff

[Ikon]

Thanks. Have you found a change in mouth breathing to nose breathing over time? Just wondering if the humidity and filtered air can change how you breathe during the night - over time. It seems like it would.

[Miss Emerita]

If you breathe through your mouth during the day, it is unlikely you will be able to wind up breathing through your nose during the night. But the only way to tell for sure is to experiment.

If you breathe through your nose during the day, it is likely that you can use a nasal/pillow mask instead of a full-face mask. But you may need to take some steps to keep your mouth closed given the pressure coming from the machine. These might include using a soft cervical collar to keep your jaw up, special tape to keep your lips closed, and some work on how you place your tongue.