Why don't more people use a full face mask?

[echo]

I specifically asked my doctor for a FFM as was denied (i wanted it for mouth leaking) - instead they wanted me lower the pressure to 4 to see how that went. Right, I can barely breath at 4! So now I tape, and actually kinda prefer it (though in all honesty I haven't tried a FFM yet).

[frapilu]

Lineman,

It's ok to ask questions and that's definitely not a dumb question. You're very lucky that a FF mask works for you so it makes sense that you would consider it to be a good thing. Sorry my post is long but this is truly a pet peeve for me.

I've been doing the cpap thing for 4 years now. For the first 2 years, I was ok with a nasal-type mask but my left nostril was getting more and more blocked. Finally about 2 years ago, I gave up and started going through FF masks. I have a very patient DME so I tried so many of them. I finally bought the UltraMirage FF mask, which is the less offensive of the group and I've been using it since then.

One of my complaints with FF masks is that with me, they leak all over the place. I move around a lot, sleeping on my side, sleeping on my other side, sleeping on my stomach, sleeping on my back. I have not met a FF mask that goes with my face that can manage all of that but the UMFF is barely tolerable. I'm a woman with a fat face but with small features. FF masks are generally designed for men.

Another of my complaints is that even though my humidifier is at the highest possible (I've had to get a hose cover to keep from having rainout all over my face all night), breathing through my mouth makes my mouth and throat very dry so I wake up frequently in the night to cough. Then I need to drink but that's hard with a FF. So I've taken to stealing venti-sized straws from Starbucks so I can have a bottle of water with a straw on my nighttable. This way, I can slip up the FF, slip in the straw and sip. You don't know how many times I've knocked over that bottle and spilled water all over the bedroom carpet. Not terribly conducive to sleeping!!

In fact, this has all gotten to me so much that I underwent a septoplasty to correct my deviated septum a couple of weeks ago. The ENT swore that my blocked left nostril was due to a deviated septum and that a septoplasty would correct that. So far this is looking good, the past 2 nights, I've been able to leave that UMFF on the floor beside the bed and I've been able to use my beloved HC406 nasal mask. I truly hope it continues. I'll definitely keep the UMFF but I hope to only have to use it in exceptional cases, like if I have a cold or something like that.

So, sorry to be so long. I'm very glad for you that a FF mask does the trick and that you're ok with it.

Good luck & take care,
France

[jasper]

I agree with the other negatives listed. Worst for me was the sore across the nose bridge... After trying all manner of padding and repositioning I was never able to eliminate this, and it led to an open sore at one point: intolerable.

Next in order of undesirability was the leakage. I was given the Comfort Full 2 by the DME as a freebie. I had to have that so tight that my teeth and jaw hurt... and it still leaked.

I bought the F&P 432, and thought it would work out, but even though it felt comfortable, I got a pretty bad nose sore. Also, once asleep, my face would relax, and the leaks would start. Some have called them "face toots" - a good useful term.

It comes down to a FF having more area to seal, and like Snoredog says, you're trying to seal a moving part, the mandible.

There are those who have made them work, and love them, but I'm not one. I have the Activa, and always liked it, but when I got the Optilife, I stopped looking further. It works great, is light, not too hot and not at all claustrophobic.

If the FF works for you, stick with it!

[Lineman]

Thank you all for the replies. I can see now that there are a lot of reasons to make the mask type choice a very personal decision. I guess I was lucky to have been given a mask that fit me well right off the bat. I haven't tried any others.

I feel anything strapped to my face is claustrophic wether it be over the nose only or the nose/mouth together. However, I somehow manage to convince myself to calm down and "let it be". Once I fall asleep, all feelings of claustrophobia go away (for that night anyway). Being a mouth breather, the idea of tape over my mouth really scares me.

Heat (inside the mask?) doesn't seem to be a problem for me and I have the humidifier set fairly high (5) tp keep my mouth wet.

Skin irritation also is a non-problem, so far. Not even any red-marks or ring-around-the-face. My nose bridge has no weight on it if the mask is sitting high enough (keeping my fingers crossed on that one).

I am a side sleeper and worse I toss around and switch sides during the night. My UMFF stays with me during all that. I do get a little leakage on the chin (sometimes) and once in a while near the eyes (annoying). A quick wiggle of the mask seals it up and it actually fits better as the night wears on. In the morning, when I wake up, the there are no leaks at all (???).

My nasal congestion (blockage really) has 3 doctors shrugging their shoulders. All have theories but no fix (nothing for surgery to fix, the ENT says). The allergist is lining up a 5 year series of allergy shots because I do apparently have some allergies and that will cure them he says .... eventualy. But no guarrantee that is what is causing my nasal problem. Anyway, I'm still hopefull for a nasal cure, but in the meantime this CPAP is the only thing allowing me to get some sleep.

Thanks again for all the replies, this forum is great!

[scenestealer]

I stopped wearing a FF because it was big and bulky and I couldn't sleep on my side without breaking the seal. I also was having a LOT of stomach pain the next day, so I think I was experiencing aerophagia (swallowing air). Despite how messed up my sinuses are, I haven't been tempted to go back to a full face because the stomach pain was too much.

[Sid]

After 12 weeks I have finally gotten used to CPAP therapy. Can't use the nasal masks because of serious mouth breathing. I am now using a Hybrid FF mask with the headgear from my Ultra Mirage. The headgear that came with the Hybrid was pure torture, the Ultra headgear is great. Side sleeping hasn't been a problem. Still have some leaking issues but not often. Starting to get a full nights sleep and it's great. Shame it took this long to experiment and get it right. Also, got some great advice on this website concerning building up to the recommended pressure. The doctor had me at 12 and I felt like I was in a wind tunnel. Per the advice, I lowered the setting to 10 and have gradually built it up over the past 4 weeks and that has really helped out. And the best thing is that even with bad sinus problems, I don't wake up congested anymore.

[geoDoug]

In addition to the many words of wisdom offered above, I'll add this:

First off: the only dumb question is the question you don't ask!

Now, as far as your point is concerned, I'm using a Hybrid right now and so far am quite satisfied. I originally had a nasal mask. The problem with it, and the reason I didn't try a full face mask, was that the nasal mask leaked at the bridge of my nose into my eyes. It was enough to irritate my eyes and led me to not want to use my mask. This is a Bad Thing. I've been very happy with a Hybrid.

This is an individual thing, since there are so many factors. In my case, i think the reason the original mask didn't work for me was my individual facial architecture.

Doug.

[socknitster]

I WISH I could use a ff mask!

I have tried most of the ones available.

I have a receded jaw--the geometry of this means that either the masks won't seal or put sooooo much pressure on the nose to be too painful to wear for too long. The best one I have found for this is the hans rudolph, but even this one, though it will seal, kills my nose after a while.

If a manufacturer makes a ff mask specifically for patients with receded jaws I will buy it. Until then, it is pillows and something to seal the mouth off.

BTW, I tried the hybrid and the liberty too--but both had problems with this as well. THe hybrid: the pillows were not at the right angle no matter what I did. The liberty: the pressure was on my upper lip instead of nose.

jen

[neverbetter]

For the same reason a lot of us wear the Hybrid.
Less claustrophobic.

[oceanpearl]

1) Claustrophobia
2) Heat
3) Skin irritation
4) Poor sealing ability for side sleepers

add:
5) Can't speak to partner

I don't think that I would want to try and talk with a nasal mask on either.

[Guest]

I can talk with mine! And drink! And maybe kiss, but I haven't tried.

LOL,
B.

[JeffH]

The simple answer for me is sealing around the nostrils, vs. sealing around half my face. Simple physics. Less area to seal and that makes for a better nights sleep.

[rested gal]

With the particular nasal pillows mask I use...and the way I use it... LOL!! (decapitated) there is virtually no mask to bump against a head pillow. I like being able to snuggle the side of my face down INTO the pillow. No hanging off the edge of a pillow or feeling a hard plastic edge through a mask cushion.

Much more like the way I used to sleep pre-cpap, but with easy breathing all night long.

For the comfort of the mask I use, taping my mouth was a piece of cake.

[drummergirl410]

I never really considered a FF mask. I tried one on at my titration and again at the doctor's office. Even though I'm not claustrophobic by nature, it did seem weird, like too much stuff on my face. I don't mouth breathe at all. I can't stand to and never have save for the occasional cold/allergy issue. For average nightly use my nasal works fine. I'm not ruling out a FF mask altogether. I may get one at some point just in case I get a stuffy nose that just won't give in. Otherwise, I'm fine with my nasal mask.

[tillymarigold]

1) Claustrophobia
2) Heat
3) Skin irritation
4) Poor sealing ability for side sleepers

add:
5) Can't speak to partner

It's much easier for me to talk with my Hybrid on than it was with the nasal mask. With the nasal mask, every time I started speaking, I felt like I was suffocating because all the air went whooshing out my mouth, just like happens when you open your mouth at night. With the Hybrid, the sound is a little muffled by the mask, but I can speak normally.