Newbie with some new questions

[cpapguru38]

1. Due to nasal restrictions from congestion I have decided to try and full face mask, Ultra Mirage, full face mask. My problem is one sinus closes during sleep and I begin mouth breathing during sleep. I tried the comfort gel mask.
Is it more difficult toadjust to a full face mask, then just a nasal mask? And if so, why?

2. what is the average pressure a Cpap users has?

3. Ayone else have the problem with one sinus closing off? It seems to correspond with what side I'm laying on. But no matter what I do, only one sinus stays open during sleep.

[elader]

If you use a full face mask, it doesn't matter if you breathe through your mouth. I do it all the time. No problem.

My guess is that if you graph the pressure used, you'll get a bell shaped curve with the mean about 12 - like 8-16 for most, with some outliers.

[jnk]

1. Due to nasal restrictions from congestion I have decided to try and full face mask, Ultra Mirage, full face mask. My problem is one sinus closes during sleep and I begin mouth breathing during sleep. I tried the comfort gel mask.
Is it more difficult toadjust to a full face mask, then just a nasal mask? And if so, why?

2. what is the average pressure a Cpap users has?

3. Ayone else have the problem with one sinus closing off? It seems to correspond with what side I'm laying on. But no matter what I do, only one sinus stays open during sleep.

1. Full-face masks can be a good solution for some mouth-breathers, so it is worth a try. Getting the humidity right and eventually getting used to everything helps too.

2. I don't know what the average is. I'm not sure the users of this board are typical in that or in other aspects either. My guess would be around 10.

3. Google "nasal cycle."

"There is a normal nasal cycle . . . The cycle occurs approximately every four hours -- first one side then the other. Although the nasal cycle is a normal phenomenon, this pattern can sometimes be confused as obstructive symptoms."--http://www.bcm.edu/oto/grand/72194.html

[RipVW]

If you use a full face mask, it doesn't matter if you breathe through your mouth. I do it all the time. No problem.

Thinking that really depends on one's experience. I've almost always used a FFM, but mouth breathing with my FFM caused a serious issue--extreme dry mouth, I mean VERY dry, unlike anything regular mouth dryness I'd ever experienced. And, that dry mount leads to tooth decay. I first tried to deal with this problem with high humidity setting (even tried 2 HH at once--my integrated along with a stand alone), but to no avail. I had to figure out a way to keep my mouth closed to overcome the dry mouth problem.

[rogier40]

I have not experienced the nasal blockage you describe. Although I have not used a nasal mask, I have several FFM. I find them to be comfortable and stable on my face, even though I am not known to be a mouth-breather.

[builta]

Hi,

I use a FFM and Heated Humidifier. Stats at bottom of post. I breath through my nose mostly and find that taking an "Over the Counter" Claritin before bed helps with my sinuses. But, I live in Michigan and everyone here has sinus problems.

Just a thought here but, what you are describing sounds like what happens to me whem I get a low level sinus infection.