Mask problems

I presently use a full face mask but can only tolerate it for short periods due to eventual air leaks. I have a thin, long face and it doesn't stay in place very well after I fall asleep. The straps will also kick in my TMJ and will often wake up me up with terrible pain. I would like to swith to a nasal mask, but when I have tried the nasal pillows with a chin strap, I get air in my mouth and it forces it open. Is this an unsual occurance and what can be done to stop it? Thank you so much and hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!

Hi. For starters I suggest you register as a member, so when you then go to the top left of the forum page, just above where threads start, you can then access the User Control Panel and set your Profile prefs, at the same time you would fill in your equipment with the full name of machine and mask (text please, not icons), as well as adding in your pressure settings and anything else you think matters. That way each time you post, we'll be able to see what's what (see blue notes below everyone's postings) and be more likely to be able to help.

Without knowing how high your pressure is set for, it's hard to comment on the 'air' problem, but in fact many of us do mouth breathe once asleep and lose Cpap air that way, so the quick answer would be to use a full face mask, but you can try taping (search on the site for it to get more detail) for a few nights (it's a lot cheaper). Once you have that question answered, then see if you can get your DME to let you try, in different sizes, various appropriate masks - hopefully while lying down. And do come back here for more help.. there's lots of that too .

Whiskers, it would help if we knew what equipment you were using... can you please go to the user control panel and fill out your equipment?

There are a few of us here with TMJ.

Wiskers,

In addition to telling us more about your CPAP equipment, it would also help to know what (if any) kind of treatment/device you use for the TMJ.