help please please please someone help me!!!

[xglitterkissedx]

I started using a cpap a few months ago, and i can not find a mask to work! i sleep on my face!!! everything hurts, or leaks. i went from a general mask to a simplicity that only covers the nose, well i wake up in excruciating pain in my sinuses, the driest mouth on earth, tooth pain, etc. I breath out of my mouth. so then i got the hans roudolph mask, HORRIBLE!!!! huge, heavy, very very loud!!! and it leaks! cans someone help me?

[blarg]

I sleep on my face too. Try a Twilight NP. Its exhaust goes straight up, so you can dig your face into the pillow.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage.php?PNum=1717

[MartiniLover]

You need to see a RT at a DME and try on different masks.

[bdp522]

If you breathe out your mouth you need to tape your mouth shut or use polident strips on your lips to seal it shut. No nasal mask will work for you if you can't seal the mouth shut.

Brenda

[Sergey45]

Hi there!
One thing I can say – you are at the very beginning of a long long process of finding YOUR MASK. Take a look at my diary; it might give you some ideas.
http://www.sleepapneasymptom.medgrip.com/cpap_mask.html
Currently I am testing Bravo and will update my website as soon as I’ll have definite opinion about this mask.
Also keep reading this forum. In a year you’ll become if not guru, but sort of heavy weight in a world of CPAP.
Sergey.

[Babette]

I started using a cpap a few months ago, and i can not find a mask to work! i sleep on my face!!! everything hurts, or leaks. i went from a general mask to a simplicity that only covers the nose, well i wake up in excruciating pain in my sinuses, the driest mouth on earth, tooth pain, etc. I breath out of my mouth. so then i got the hans roudolph mask, HORRIBLE!!!! huge, heavy, very very loud!!! and it leaks! cans someone help me?

Go to the Mask Roulette thread, and ask to test-drive masks that you think might work.
viewtopic.php?t=19546&highlight=mask+roulette

My suggestions:

Twilight Aura NP Headrest
Nasal Aire II
Bravo
Swift II

Good luck!
Barbara

[Patrick A]

[quote="xglitterkissedx"]I started using a cpap a few months ago, and i can not find a mask to work! i sleep on my face!!! everything hurts, or leaks. i went from a general mask to a simplicity that only covers the nose, well i wake up in excruciating pain in my sinuses, the driest mouth on earth, tooth pain, etc. I breath out of my mouth. so then i got the hans roudolph mask, HORRIBLE!!!! huge, heavy, very very loud!!! and it leaks! cans someone help me?

[Craig-Tx]

... well i wake up in excruciating pain in my sinuses, the driest mouth on earth, tooth pain, etc. I breath out of my mouth.

First thing that needs to be addressed is your "mouth breathing".

If you pressurize your nose, and open your mouth, the air will simply flow in your nose and out your mouth. This is bad for several reasons:
1) You are not actually getting any treatment from pressure. It's like trying to inflate a balloon when there is a large hole in it. Won't work.
2) The airflow through your nose and out mouth will wreak havoc on your airway (as you are finding out.) Your sinus weren't designed for that much air to flow through. This explains the pain in your sinuses.
3) Same goes with your mouth. The airflow through your mouth is drying it out. No humidifier is designed to keep up with that type of flow. This dry mouth also accounts for tooth pain. Prolonged dry mouth will lead to tooth and gum diseases.

Some ways to address mouth breathing are:
1) The DME favorite: A Chin Strap. Works for some, but not many according to people on this board. Easy (and chap) way to try a chin strap is to fashion one out of an ACE bandage. If it works for you, you can decide if you want to invest in a commercially made version.
2) As mentioned by another poster, you can tape / seal your lips closed. There are several users on this board that do this every night. Do a search for mouth taping and there is a LOT of info on it. I would also check the Yellow Light Bulb area.
3) The Full Face Mask: (Or a hybrid mask) This will pressurize your mouth as well as your nose. While this usually works well for many people, obtaining a seal can be more difficult with a full face. Sleeping on your face won't make this easy.

Good luck,
-craig

[Linda3032]

As suggested, the mouth breathing must be controlled.

Either mouth tape and try the Aura Headrest pillows, or

Try the Hybrid.

[Babette]

Or the Liberty. I know at least one forum member who is looking to sell a Liberty.

Cheers,
B.

[OREO]

I was a bury the head in the pillow stomach sleeper 20 yars ago. My husband is the hose head so I can't comment on the masks. If you can't get the mask/pillow thing to work you might try to train yourself to sleep on your back. I broke a 4 time a week chiropractor habit by running a 1" wide or so ribbon between the mattress's from side to side and tying my wrists loosely so I couldn't flip over. It took about 3 weeks with the ribbon, but my body adjusted and became comfortable, and I've never flipped over again. I still bury my head with the covers sometimes and I do get alot of bondage jokes but it worked. The ribbon is flat enough for a partner to sleep on.
Good Luck, J

[xglitterkissedx]

thanks everyone, i made an appointment with a RT, i hope tht helps i cant take this pain anymore!