Backup mask to use with beard (Mostly a DME rant)

[TimeToSleep]

Posting again after a huge hiatus (Mostly because everything CPAP has been smooth sailing. Thanks cpaptalk and the collective internet for getting me off on the right foot!).

I had a couple miserable upper-respiratory infections right when I started CPAP and with the mask I had (Started with AirFit N10) too much congestion / impossible to sleep with. I think I could start off okay but a couple hours in I was a snotty stuffed up mess.

Anyway with cold-and-flu season upon us again and enough time passed that my insurance will pay for a new mask, I grudgingly setup an appointment with my DME and made the trek across town to be fitted for a full face "backup" mask.

Much to my chagrin the staff (of 2) in the small office have had 100% turnover in the 9 months since I was last there. The tech who originally set me up with CPAP (and had me run it in his office, tried several masks with me, etc.) is gone.

The new guy didn't appear to even have a spot to plug my CPAP in. As soon as I walked in he said "Well I have bad news, we won't be able to find you a mask that will work with a full beard. I can still give you a mask if you want but you can't exchange it once I give it to you.

Oy. Sounds like it's time to find a new DME.

I'm also remembering why I just bought my last mask cash out-of-pocket on the internet.

Anyway, thanks for letting me rant -- anybody have mask suggestions for a heavy beard? It doesn't need to be perfect because it would just be for a couple days tops when I have the dreaded nasal congestion.

Alternatively, any suggestions for dealing with that? I think last time I cranked the humidity way up (or auto humidity with the heated hose on the highest setting) and I just ended up with a wattery and stuffed up nose. Maybe that was too much moisture?

[SleepyEyes21]

Hi TimeToSleep, sorry to hear about the problem at the DME. I've experienced the same with the employee frequent turnover (I think it's fairly common for some reason.) What type of mask are you looking for- a full faced or nasal mask? I don't know which would be better for beards, so someone else would have to advise you there. However, I have both nasal and/ or full-faced masks that may work for you as a backup that I can send when you decide. Just send me a PM. Thanks

[TimeToSleep]

Guess it wasn't clear -- Looking for suggestions for full face mask to use the handful of times a year when a nasal mask only just won't cut it.

I can order from my DME online so once I gather some ideas here I'll probably just go for it (and forgoe working with their less-than-helpful staff).

THE GOOD NEWS IS this is just about being prepared. Right now I am not sick, and my AirFit P10 is working great!

[SleepyEyes21]

Guess it wasn't clear -- Looking for suggestions for full face mask to use the handful of times a year when a nasal mask only just won't cut it.

I can order from my DME online so once I gather some ideas here I'll probably just go for it (and forgoe working with their less-than-helpful staff).

THE GOOD NEWS IS this is just about being prepared. Right now I am not sick, and my AirFit P10 is working great!

Glad to hear you are not sick at the moment, TTS! You can do a search (top of page, left side), using words: beards and full face masks. That will bring up past posts about this topic for you to read through to get some ideas until others can post to help you out.

Take care & Be well

[Pugsy]

The only FFM that I really have any personal experience with to convey is the Amara View from Respironics.
While I don't have a beard...you might look at it. The overall foot print isn't quite as large as some of the others and the less the mask is in contact with the beard the greater the chance for success.
It doesn't have to be perfect since you are only planning to use it when you are ill and chances are that things won't be ideal if you have a cold anyway. The idea is to make the best of a not so good situation while you have to.

Otherwise some others may chime in with there own personal experience with beards and full face masks.
It's a crap shoot. Pick one that looks interesting to you.
Check with me once you spot something that looks interesting...I might have a donated full face mask that would work depending on size. That way you wouldn't have to burn up your insurance mask allowance on something that you only will use for a rare occasions. I just got a full face mask in..donated...unsure of size...I think it is a F & P Simplus...
take a peek at it at cpap.com and see if it looks interesting to you. It wasn't used but a couple of nights so there's a lot of life left in it and it actually looks brand new.

[SewTired]

My brother uses a Fisher and Paykel Full Face Mask - HC432. The Forma may also work (Lincare substituted it for the HC432 in June, so don't know yet if it will work). With either mask, he also uses a Walgreens Sleep mask around the end (where the hose inserts) to increase the connection without making the straps too tight so he can pull his mask on and off without redoing the straps. He puts the eye part around the back of his head. It has just the right amount of stretch. He is disabled so both cannot shave nor mess around every night redoing the straps.

[D.H.]

I've been using CPAP since 1999, had a beard since birth (just kidding, but I did have a beard since long before 1999), and never once used a full face mask. If the medications don't unclog you sinuses, sleep a few hours, stay up a few minutes to clear everything when you can't sleep, then repeat the cycle. That worked for me.

Also, you might want to switch to a new DME regardless of this.

[robysue]

The new guy didn't appear to even have a spot to plug my CPAP in. As soon as I walked in he said "Well I have bad news, we won't be able to find you a mask that will work with a full beard. I can still give you a mask if you want but you can't exchange it once I give it to you.

My hubby uses the F&P Simplex FFM. He has what I call and "off and on" beard. Whenever we go to visit his mother, he shaves his beard off. Soon as we get home, he starts letting it grow. Most of the time he has a full beard, but it's never excessively long because he shaves it off so frequently for those visits with his 95 year old mother. His beard is thick and wiry when it is fully grown in and he has no serious trouble sealing the Simplex. His pressure is on the low side: He uses straight CPAP at 7cm. His leaks are nonexistent when I look at his data in SleepyHead.

[Janknitz]

What about a Fit Life total face mask? I've often thought that would be nice for acold because it would t be putting any pressure on my tender inflamed sinuses either.

Screw the DME and buy it with return insurance from our hosts.

[TimeToSleep]

Aaaand I do want to get this taken care of but I only care about it maybe 30 minutes out of the week. Ha ha ha.

I'll send some PMs and see if someone here can't help me out then.

I just accidentally ordered the wrong mask on replenishment from my DME (Airfit N10 wanted the P10 but the P10 I have is working fine anyway so) and probably can't be bothered to deal with them to try, so I can potentially trade or offer up that for karma as well. Look at us all helping each other.