Newly Diagnosed: Rooster's Interface Progression

roster · Post by **roster** » Thu May 24, 2007 10:59 am

After going through this myself and now helping a friend go through it, I throw this out as aid for the newly diagnosed.

If you are newly diagnosed, you need to figure out the type of interface that meets your body's requirements. IMAO, here is a good progression:

1. Nasal pillows
2. Nasal pillows with chin strap
3. Nasal pillows with mouth taped shut
4. Full face mask (Hybrid in my case)
5. Pray that someone invents a better way, like tomorrow.

In step 1, you need to figure out as quickly as possible whether you can keep your mouth shut well enough to get a good therapy (I couldn't).

In step 2, you need to figure out if the chin strap will stop mouth leaks and if you can tolerate the dang uncomfortable strap (I failed both).

In step 3, you need to check whether your cheeks puff out and awaken you over and over (mine did).

Step 4, resign yourself to a ff mask and try several different models to find one that works for you.

If you just don't like nasal pillows, you can substitute a nasal mask for pillows in the first three steps.

Keep coming back here for advice; you will get a lot of advice here, some of it contradictory. Most people can wade through it and eventually get something that works for their case.

Good luck.

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JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Thu May 24, 2007 12:18 pm

Let me add a 3.5.

Wrap an old headband or ace bandage or something around your mouth to stop the blowfish effect. I cut an old headband and added velcro to both ends so I could wrap it to where I needed it and that has worked for me. I also mouth tape with 3M Micropore tape. Anything but a FF mask for me.

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Thu May 24, 2007 12:52 pm

Why not just get a Hybrid and not go thru all the hassle????

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Thu May 24, 2007 1:35 pm

Hey, why not just put a baggie over your head and alleviate the need for ANY device?

Sorry, I'm getting irritable again. Sign that I'm progressing to "normal".

Gosh only knows what "better than normal" will look like on me.... I may turn out to be a serial killer that was only restrained by my incredible lethargy...

LOL,
B.

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Thu May 24, 2007 1:48 pm

oceanpearl wrote:Why not just get a Hybrid and not go thru all the hassle????

I've got a Hybird....in the closet.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Thu May 24, 2007 1:51 pm

Hey Jeff, several people on the forum would gladly take that Hybrid off your hands. Post it for sale or trade.
B.

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Thu May 24, 2007 2:03 pm

Babette wrote:Hey Jeff, several people on the forum would gladly take that Hybrid off your hands. Post it for sale or trade.
B.

I'm keeping it in case I ever need a FF mask from being sick or really congested. Of course, I'd have to shave my goatee to make it work right.

new2 · Post by **new2** » Thu May 24, 2007 2:21 pm

Rooster,
Your progression was my progression, exactly.
You nailed it.

Code: Select all

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Thu May 24, 2007 2:29 pm

oceanpearl said:

Why not just get a Hybrid and not go thru all the hassle????

not everyone can tolerate a nasal mask or a full face...i can't have anything touching my extremely sensitive skin and i'm more than willing to try all the other fixes out there to avoid a full face mask

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Thu May 24, 2007 2:40 pm

sharon1965 wrote:oceanpearl said:
Why not just get a Hybrid and not go thru all the hassle????
not everyone can tolerate a nasal mask or a full face...i can't have anything touching my extremely sensitive skin and I'm more than willing to try all the other fixes out there to avoid a full face mask

For me it is pretty simple. The mask has to seal to skin. The nasal pillows are the smallest thing there is that has to seal to skin. FF mask are a HUGE area that has to seal to skin, therefore, more problems with leaks.

Also, I have facial hair and would prefer keeping as much of it as I can. I am already down from a full beard to a goatee and really don't want to go "clean shaven" if I can help it.

Since I've had my nose repaired, mouth taping and a strap are not a big deal because my nose now works like it is supposed to.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): seal, Nasal Pillows

Daffney_Gillfin · Post by **Daffney_Gillfin** » Thu May 24, 2007 2:42 pm

I have to agree with Jeff. Different people have different tolerances. I don't use tape, or Jeff's method, but I do find the method I use (DIY mouthguard) to be more tolerable than a full face mask. The hassle to make up a new mouthguard every now and then is well worth it.

I've tried a UMFF, and couldn't get a seal. Well, I could up until the time I moved. I once started laughing so hard at the fart noises, and my boyfriend trying to carry on a conversation with my mask by making the same noises, it made my head hurt. The more I laughed, the more the mask had to say, and then I would laugh harder. It was a very short-lived trial, and I traded it for a Hybrid.

I recently started using the Hybrid. I was actually doing well with it. Within a couple of weeks, I had progressed through the cutting off the the chin flap phase. I had leakage under control most of the time. Then one morning I dumped the cushion into the vinegar/water solution, and forgot about it until it was time for bed. Instead of taking the time to manually dry it out, I went back to my Optilife for what I thought was just going to be one night.

OMG! Going to sleep with the Optilife after two weeks with the Hybrid was like heaven to me! It was just like sleeping with a nekkid face. Now a couple weeks later, I still haven't gone back to the Hybrid. I will someday, temporarily, I suppose. Just so if I do end up *really* needing a full face, I have it, I'm somewhat used to it, and know how to fit it without a lot of fuss.

Anyway, my point is that for some people it's a long jump between steps three and four, and tape is not the only option.

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Thu May 24, 2007 2:43 pm

Since I've had my nose repaired, mouth taping and a strap are not a big deal because my nose now works like it is supposed to.

jeffh

me,too! thanks to you...it was from reading your posts about your surgery that i realized i needed to have the same thing done, and breathing all spring without allergy meds has been HEAVEN...did i remember to thank you for that?

sharon1965

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Thu May 24, 2007 2:45 pm

sharon1965 wrote:
Since I've had my nose repaired, mouth taping and a strap are not a big deal because my nose now works like it is supposed to.
jeffh

me,too! thanks to you...it was from reading your posts about your surgery that i realized i needed to have the same thing done, and breathing all spring without allergy meds has been HEAVEN...did i remember to thank you for that?

sharon1965

Glad I could be of service. Glad it worked good for you also.

blowfish · Post by **blowfish** » Thu May 24, 2007 3:35 pm

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Thu May 24, 2007 3:54 pm

mth712 said:

Hey Babette , I think I love you - just kidding. You never fail to crack me up. If this is you tired than you may have a new career as a stand up comic

Hey! Wait a minute! it's not that long ago that you were asking if i was married! watch out for this one, babette, he's fickle!

sharon1965

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