I did a new sleep study

Jethro · Post by **Jethro** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:31 am

I've brought this topic up before about allergy type symtoms and that I was giving up on using my cpap. My DR. recomended a new sleep study to see what was going on.
Well, i did the study again and they found out what was going on.
My mouth would open up during my sleep and allow the air flow blow freely through my nose and out my mouth, this would dry up my nazel passage way so bad that my body would respond by allergy type symptoms.
I will probably be going to a full face mask after final analises with the specialist and my doctor.
Hurray! I think I finnally solved this problem!
Any recomendations on full face mask anyone?

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ww · Post by ww » Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:47 am

Guess many of us went through the same thing. Although you need three 3D mask fitting templates (available from ResMed or your local DME should have them) the Ultra Mirage Full Face is a well made mask. I finally got it properly fitted with a small although the DME though it should be a medium (based on looking at my face and not using the proper templates). When a full face is too large, it either fits too low on your chin or leaks into your eyes. I have not found another mask that works as well, yet!

Did they fit your with a mask during the sleep study. You might want to try that one if it worked well and fit your face.
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Jethro · Post by **Jethro** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:28 pm

[quote="ww"]Guess many of us went through the same thing. Although you need three 3D mask fitting templates (available from ResMed or your local DME should have them) the Ultra Mirage Full Face is a well made mask. I finally got it properly fitted with a small although the DME though it should be a medium (based on looking at my face and not using the proper templates). When a full face is too large, it either fits too low on your chin or leaks into your eyes. I have not found another mask that works as well, yet!

Did they fit your with a mask during the sleep study. You might want to try that one if it worked well and fit your face.

ww · Post by ww » Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:00 pm

Yes, that is called a chin strap. I bought one and it worked some nights but had to be so tight that it left deep marks in my face. The UMFF so far is a better solution for me, but if I could find a chin strap that worked, I would have a much wider range of masks. I also have a Hybrid full face mask, but I get worse numbers on the Hybrid than the UMFF for some reason. I also tried a ComfortFul, but it was too large and leaked badly and made farting noises. The connectors are much better for the straps on the ResMed masks.

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:17 pm

If you find you can't wear a FF mask, and when you find out chin straps don't work, tape or polident strips work fine to stop mouth leaks.

Using my data card and trying both of these I figured out my problem w/o another sleep study. Couldn't afford one anyway and don't have insurance.

Jethro · Post by **Jethro** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:27 pm

JeffH wrote:If you find you can't wear a FF mask, and when you find out chin straps don't work, tape or polident strips work fine to stop mouth leaks.

Using my data card and trying both of these I figured out my problem w/o another sleep study. Couldn't afford one anyway and don't have insurance.

I have facial hair, if i use the FF mask or even the tape should i shave? (not a problem)
As of right now, i'm not using anything and would like to start back on my cpap, so what kind of tape and were do you buy it?

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:05 pm

jethro
i have tried but cannot get a full face mask to work for me...and chinstraps just drive me up a wall...
i have never taped, nor do i have facial hair (yet ) but i have used the polident strips and found they work well...
the nice thing about them is that you wouldn't have to worry about your facial hair at all

i take one strip, cut it in half lengthwise so i have two narrow strips, run them under the tap for just a couple of seconds, press them end to end onto my bottom lip, press my top lip against my bottom lip till it sticks and voila...they're really easy to remove in the morning and if you need to breathe through your mouth in the middle of the night you can open your mouth with minimal effort

i'm sure others will weigh in with many tape options

Jethro · Post by **Jethro** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:38 pm

sharon1965 wrote:jethro
i have tried but cannot get a full face mask to work for me...and chinstraps just drive me up a wall...
i have never taped, nor do i have facial hair (yet ) but i have used the polident strips and found they work well...
the nice thing about them is that you wouldn't have to worry about your facial hair at all

i take one strip, cut it in half lengthwise so i have two narrow strips, run them under the tap for just a couple of seconds, press them end to end onto my bottom lip, press my top lip against my bottom lip till it sticks and voila...they're really easy to remove in the morning and if you need to breathe through your mouth in the middle of the night you can open your mouth with minimal effort

i'm sure others will weigh in with many tape options

So you put the two strips together, is that for better adhesion? i'll try it for tonight and let you no tomorrow

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:58 pm

Jethro wrote:
sharon1965 wrote:jethro
i have tried but cannot get a full face mask to work for me...and chinstraps just drive me up a wall...
i have never taped, nor do i have facial hair (yet :lol: ) but i have used the polident strips and found they work well...
the nice thing about them is that you wouldn't have to worry about your facial hair at all

i take one strip, cut it in half lengthwise so i have two narrow strips, run them under the tap for just a couple of seconds, press them end to end onto my bottom lip, press my top lip against my bottom lip till it sticks and voila...they're really easy to remove in the morning and if you need to breathe through your mouth in the middle of the night you can open your mouth with minimal effort

i'm sure others will weigh in with many tape options
So you put the two strips together, is that for better adhesion? i'll try it for tonight and let you no tomorrow

That's what I use. I also have a full beard and want to keep it. I use one strip and bend it a little and lick my lips, place it, put on my blowfish preventer and go to sleep.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:57 pm

And I would be willing to bet that the passover humidifier isn't helping one iota either.

You would have been better served had they provided you w/the Humidaire 2i integrated heated humidifier for that S7 of yours.

I got absolutely NO BENEFIT from a passover humidifier, rather it aggravated an already uncomfortable situation, and I could NOT use my CPAP until I was able go back a heated humidifier.

Jethro · Post by **Jethro** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:41 am

Well here's the scoop, I used the Polident and M tape over my pie hole.
It worked. I feel a little weired though! I had to get up in the middle of the night to shut my dogs from barking and had the tape still over my mouth and my son and his girl friend we're in the living room watching TV and laughed there ass*s off when they saw me I'll keep evryone posted.

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:30 am

Jethro wrote:Well here's the scoop, I used the Polident and M tape over my pie hole.
It worked. I feel a little weired though! I had to get up in the middle of the night to shut my dogs from barking and had the tape still over my mouth and my son and his girl friend we're in the living room watching TV and laughed there ass*s off when they saw me :lol: :lol: I'll keep evryone posted.

I wouldn't think you would need both. I don't.

Jethro · Post by **Jethro** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:32 am

I wanted to make sure I kept my mouth shut! so I used both.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:33 am

Jethro wrote:Well here's the scoop, I used the Polident and M tape over my pie hole.
It worked. I feel a little weired though! I had to get up in the middle of the night to shut my dogs from barking and had the tape still over my mouth and my son and his girl friend we're in the living room watching TV and laughed there ass*s off when they saw me I'll keep evryone posted.

Pictures would help ...

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:28 pm

Jethro,

I tape every night and have for most of the last year. Like Sharon, full face masks do NOT fit my face well. I find it far more comfortable to tape and use a nasal only mask.

I understand your frustration with the tape. I take mine off sometimes and it still sticks when I put it back on.

Recently I had a scare when my lips started getting irritated. I have a long history of allergies. I thought it might be the tape. Turns out it wasn't the tape but my lip gloss that I apply before the tape.

The last time I ate a mango, my lips and mouth tingled (a sure sign of a developing allergy for me) and then I had gastrointestinal distress for about 24 hours. When the lip thing started I looked at the label of the lip gloss and lo and behold it said it had mango butter in it--who would have guessed you could squeeze butter out of a mango. But switched to a different lip balm and lips returned to normal within a few days. Very weird.

I also tried the polident strips but they didn't work as well as tape for me, so I just stuck with tape. We all have to find our own path.

I hope whatever you settle on is easy and comfortable!

jen

Mask

Additional Comments: Equipment isn't correct, S9 ASV w/H5i