Modifying Mask

Only 2nd night with new Mirage Quattro but bad dry mouth again. The vent is kinda long on this mask and when I in hale air comes right in to my mouth, not alot but some and through the night it turns in to bad dry mouth.
So I took a small peice of tape,1/4" wide and not even 1/2" long and that stoped the air coming in my mouth when I inhale. You guys think I should tolerate the air or stay with fix? I know the vent is a safety feature but don't like the dry mouth.
One other thing, when I took my mask off this morning I seen some condesation right below the vent, checked the pipe but didn't see any in it.What could cause this. Thanks for any help,
Duke

It is a really BAD idea to block any of the vent holes! The vent is there to flush out the carbon dioxide and moisture from your exhaled breath. Blocking even part of the vent can be dangerous.
Try taping your mouth shut, using a chin strap, turning up the humidifier or using a moisturizing product for the mouth. I know biotene makes moisturizers for the mouth. I'm sure there are other products that can help.
If none of these ideas work for you, it may be time to try a different mask.

Brenda

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier

Duke wrote: ... Only 2nd night with new Mirage Quattro but bad dry mouth again. The vent is kinda long on this mask and when I in hale air comes right in to my mouth, not alot but some and through the night it turns in to bad dry mouth.
So I took a small peice of tape,1/4" wide and not even 1/2" long and that stoped the air coming in my mouth when I inhale. You guys think I should tolerate the air or stay with fix? I know the vent is a safety feature but don't like the dry mouth.
One other thing, when I took my mask off this morning I seen some condesation right below the vent, checked the pipe but didn't see any in it.What could cause this. Thanks for any help, ...

You've got me confused (not hard to do!). The Resmed Quattro is a full face mask, its intended to cover both your nose and your mouth so that you CAN breathe thru BOTH your nose and your mouth.

You don't say WHERE or WHAT you taped. Its not even clear what you mean by vent since you say the vent is kinda long. It sounds like you taped the exhaust vent of the mask which you should NOT do! That vent is there for a very deliberate medical reason - to allow the C02 to escape. Too much CO2 is NOT good for you at all.

We generally call the condensation in the mask or hose (not pipe, hose) "rain out" and it is the result of higher humidity than we need or your CPAP and humidifier setting higher than the level of your head. This can be avoided by placing the CPAP and humidifier lower than the level of your head, by hanging the hose above your head, by insulating the hose w/a hose cover, by taking the hose under the blankets w/you or by purchasing an Aussie heated hose.

Slinky,
what I taped up was right on top of the bridge of the nose on the mask. That vent is about 3/8 wide and 1,1/4 long, just a bunch of little holes in that area. I had the bottom 4 taped. Thanks for the CO2 information. I can adjust my humidifier settings and as far as the condensation I can move the humidifier. Thanks for all the help, I'm still learning. Duke

Hey, I remember the early learning process and even now I am still learning and have LOTS more to learn before I ever get anywhere near close the knowledge that some of our members have gained. So many of them never cease to amaze me.

I've never seen a Quattro in the flesh but several RTs have said they have had somewhat more success for their patients w/the Quattro than w/some of the other full face masks and I've been considering getting a full face mask for "those" nights when I'm all congested and the humidifier isn't able to "decongest" me so will be trying to get at least a look-see at one in the near future.

Really, tho, do NOT block ANY vents that are manufacturer made in any mask. It is not a safe or wise thing to do.