Full Mask or Nasal...ARRRGGHHHHHHH!

[Mike081376]

Ok ya'll,

As some of you know, ive been on my cpap now for about a week. My leak rate with the Mirage Swift LT Nasal Pillow has been averaging 33.5, which is right in line with the leak rate for that mask, which tells me im not getting much leakage. I have been starting off on my back and wait until the Ambien kicks in, from there I usually make it to my stomach, unless I drag the hose and wake myself up. Here is the problem....my girlfriend has told me now that about 5 of these nights...I will be sleeping on my back and I will wake her up with my mouth open and air gushing out (ya'll have heard it, it wakes her up). I dont remember this but she tells me that she'll close my mouth!!! Im waking up feeling pretty good but from what she's telling me, DO I NEED A FULL FACE MASK?? I feel really bad that I keep waking her up with the gushing air sound when I open my mouth, not to mention I might feel even better if I can avoid this...thoughts on this???????

Also does anyone have problems with irration inside of there nostrils with the LT pillows??? Ive tried using some Vasoline so it doesn't rub it raw but everynight I put the mask on, its so raw it almost burns until I finally fall asleep!!!!

Thanks All!!!!!!

[Sleepy Boy]

Hi Mike: I'm fairly new to this stuff. I was using the same mask as you are. I did have sore nostrils for awhile, I used Ayre Gel to help with that. A week ago I got a full face mask because of being a mouth breather. Its taken a full week to get used to the switch between the nasal pillows & the FFmask. I used the Swift Lt. since July. But, the FF is better--for me---than the pillows were. Hope this helps...Larry

[Mike081376]

Larry,

Thanks for the reply...are you a stomach sleeper by any chance?? I was using the Mirage Mirco Nasal but that was killing me when I would try and roll over. From what it sounds like (from my g/f) I am either breathing through my mouth or just opening it up naturally and when I do, the air flow jolts me and wakes me up. I am not opposed to a FF mask, but just finding one that will allow me to stomach sleep. Now the real problem would be getting one....my DR.'s office was cool about switching out my mask (2 in the last 1 1/2) but ive got a feeling that wont happen again!!! Thanks for your advice

Mike

[Sleepy Boy]

Larry,

Thanks for the reply...are you a stomach sleeper by any chance?? I was using the Mirage Mirco Nasal but that was killing me when I would try and roll over. From what it sounds like (from my g/f) I am either breathing through my mouth or just opening it up naturally and when I do, the air flow jolts me and wakes me up. I am not opposed to a FF mask, but just finding one that will allow me to stomach sleep. Now the real problem would be getting one....my DR.'s office was cool about switching out my mask (2 in the last 1 1/2) but ive got a feeling that wont happen again!!! Thanks for your advice

Mike

No, I dont sleep on my stomach, either my back or side. I also tried a chin strap, tape, dental strips etc. None of which worked for me. Lots of folks on here tape & have good luck with it-I hated all that stuff-so went with the FF. Since July when I started cpap, I've tried a Comfort Select Nasal Mask, and the Swift Lt. Nasal Pillows, and just got the Quattro last Tues. So, I've about wore out my welcome at the DME office! Good Luck..Larry

[Mike081376]

BUMP!!!!

[anotherRandy]

I'm torn on this, too, Mike. I also started with the LT nasal mask. To answe your question about irritation, I use lip balm inside my nares and upper lip. The RT at the DME recoiled in horror when I told her that and said it contributes to leakage, but I think it has a mild sealing effect. She said never use petroleum products on silicone, but I don't know if chap stick contains any or not.

I sleep with my mouth closed most of the time, but I often awaken to the feeling of air filling my mouth or shooting out of my mouth. My leak rate average is less than .20, so that's not bad, but I do wonder about the expelling of air. I also have awakened to that weird sensation of a gush of air out my mouth, but not frequently.

I tried a Quattro and for me, it is THE tourture device from Hell. Sore bridge of nose, terrible leak rate, farting noises in the night, constant resetting and when it would leak, my APAP would sart building pressure up to the max setting. Two nights, I awoke to see it on the nightstand; I got so frustrated I tore it off with no conscious recollection of doing so. My numbers were horrible. I had the least and poorest sleep of all wearing that mask. It's not the mask for me.

I wonder if the machine considers air leaking out of the mouth in the leak rate. If it does, and your numbers are still within range, I would think your therapy is still OK, too. Maybe some with more experience can confirm or deny this hypothesis.

[sleeplessinaz]

Hi Mike---I use the Swift LT and I love it!!!! I am pretty much a SIDE sleeper only. Can't sleep on my back at all. Go get some AYR GEL at CVS or Walgreens for your nares---that stuff is a miracle gel. Makes CPAP life more comfy!!! You may be using nasal pillows that are too big for you. Try and use a smaller pillow and see if that helps your nares. As far as leak rates--I have zero leaks, and I do not open my mouth at night so I cannot help you with that. The others on here seem to like a chin strap that you can buy to keep your chin up and mouth closed. The air gushing out that your GF hears is the air from your CPAP so your therapy is being affected by this. Hope this helps,
Carrie

[Mike081376]

Randy,

Sounds like you and I are in the same boat...in some ways! Yeah my 7 day average (Because the M Series only does 7 day average unless you reset it everyday) is 33.5. This troubled me when I first saw this but I believe it was REsted Gal who told me to look at the owners manual that comes with your mask. It tells you what the average leak rate should be for your mask. Again, based on my pressure setting of "10" it said I should be around 33.5 because of the exhalation rate. It really hasn't moved since i got my machine....so if this holds true I think my leak rate is ok...the open mouth breathing obviously isn't affecting my leak rate, I think like most humans we just open our mouth at night!! But the difference between US and OTHERS is when we open our mouth, air shoots out!!! haha So its really more of a disruption for me, maybe for you too? If you have the LT Swift, take a look at your manual..if you dont have it anymore let me know what machine you use and what your pressure is set at and I will tell ya what they say is "normal!"

Mike

[carbonman]

Also does anyone have problems with irration inside of there nostrils with the LT pillows???
Thanks All!!!!!!

Mike, you're headed down the same cpap road I'm on.
Couple of things:
1.It is my contention that the burised/bleeding skin on the bridge of the nose
is virgin skin. It is soft and never had to endure what you are doing to it.
Yes, it's ugly and painful. BUT, after it gets toughened up, you won't even notice it.
Sort of like the way your hands toughen up w/calluses....but not as extreme.

2.The fixes for mouth breathing w/a nasal mask are.......not easy,
uncomfortable and a pain in the patute to engineer everynight.

Here is my odyssey to a ffm. It is the best thing I did for my therapy.
Since this post, I have used both the UM and Q w/great success.
I am using the Qs right now and loving it. It is all so subjective.
I am a side sleeper. I can manipulate my mask simply by moving my head and
mask against the pillow. Get it in just the right position and stop leaks when they occure.
If anyone on this board had told me that 6mths ago, I would not have believed them.

Be patient. Be creative. Never discount what talents you can cultivate in making this work.

viewtopic/t38775/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34 ... t=#p298811