Full Face Mask & Snoring!

Greetings all.....

Whats up with me snoring like my old pre-CPAP self during my first night with a full face mask? I received my first FF mask yesterday from my DME (a ComfortFull 2 Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear). Previously (for one month) used the Swift Nasal Pillows, which, I actually loved, but am a big mouth breather, and after chin strapping, poligripping, and taping, and a wicked cold this week-end, I jumped at the mask. It wasn't too uncomfortable, of course left a ridge on my nose, but my partner told me I snored all night. The mask really didn't have any leaks that i could tell.

I haven't fiddled with my pressure setting yet (I am at 8 and still feel pretty much the same as pre-CPAP), but I am contemplating making a small hike in it. What do you all think the cause of the snoring is, not enough pressure?

Thanks from the chilly Northeast!

Hi there
when I first started using the full face mask, my husband told me I snored - and so I have found that I require a little bit more pressure with a full face mask vs. the swift - not sure if it's due to pressure right in the nose is more pressure on my throat vs. the full face mask - but I upped my pressure a bit and the snoring stopped and I felt better

when you mouth breathe you open your mouth, you are more likely to snore with your mouth open than closed.

I would increase your pressure by 1cm to 9cm and see what happens.

Are you having trouble falling asleep?
if cpap, are you using the Ramp feature?

I would setup your machine to:

Min./Ramp pressure=6.0cm
Max. pressure=9.0cm
30-minute Ramp timer.

Or if autopap 6.0cm to 9.0cm Min./Max. in AFLE mode.

I too am a mouth breather. I am using the Ultra Mirage FF Mask. I was titrated at 12cm. I found that at 12, I was not feeling much different and my wife told me I was still snoring like a banshee. I finally got an AutoPAP and the software. Once I got that and started seeing my numbers, I noticed that I was snoring quite heavily, and still having alot of Apneas.

I set it to Auto 9-20 and slept a few nights, then pulled my data. What I found was quite shocking to me. Within 60 minutes of turning on the machine, it had already gotten up to 15-16 pressure and then the apneas started to drop, once it hit 17, my snores also stopped. I now have it set for 17-20 with Cflex off and my AHI is running about .9-1.1 all of the time. I have no snores at all, and my wife is a much happier person.

When my doc found out that I was at 17, he immediately told me I needed to get in for another sleep study. I told him where to go and that I get a sleep study done every night. He was shocked that someone was actually taking charge of their medical condition, but I think he respects my decision to do so.

Don't be afraid to play around a little.