Any CPAP users with beards? (Only men need reply<vbg>)

[dvejr]

My CPAP treatment has been mostly successful for 10 years. Always had some mask leaks. Past 9 years I've used nasal pillows. But mouth leaks seem to be increasing to the point that my AHI is rising slightly from .2 towards .9

I wear a beard and don't want to remove it. What are the odds I can successfully fit and wear a hybrid interface with pillows and oral mask? I watched a manufacturer's video about how to fit their device to a patient, and I think I'm doomed. Clean dry skin seems essential to getting the mouth "gasket" to sit properly on the patient's face. Have you ever had much success fitting an oral mask on a bearded patient?

[zoocrewphoto]

My CPAP treatment has been mostly successful for 10 years. Always had some mask leaks. Past 9 years I've used nasal pillows. But mouth leaks seem to be increasing to the point that my AHI is rising slightly from .2 towards .9

I wear a beard and don't want to remove it. What are the odds I can successfully fit and wear a hybrid interface with pillows and oral mask? I watched a manufacturer's video about how to fit their device to a patient, and I think I'm doomed. Clean dry skin seems essential to getting the mouth "gasket" to sit properly on the patient's face. Have you ever had much success fitting an oral mask on a bearded patient?

You will get better responses from other men who have successful treatment while wearing a beard. Most DME Clinicians have never used a cpap and don't really care if it works well. I wold change the subject line to reflect the issue - full face mask with beard. You can also do a search of the forum as the topic does come up every now and then. Those who have had success have given tips of what worked for them.

[LSAT]

My CPAP treatment has been mostly successful for 10 years. Always had some mask leaks. Past 9 years I've used nasal pillows. But mouth leaks seem to be increasing to the point that my AHI is rising slightly from .2 towards .9

I wear a beard and don't want to remove it. What are the odds I can successfully fit and wear a hybrid interface with pillows and oral mask? I watched a manufacturer's video about how to fit their device to a patient, and I think I'm doomed. Clean dry skin seems essential to getting the mouth "gasket" to sit properly on the patient's face. Have you ever had much success fitting an oral mask on a bearded patient?

With a consistent AHI of between .2 and .9, your leaks are insignificant. Keep doing what you have been doing for 10 years. I don't have a beard and after 8 years I would be thrilled to death to have consistent AHIs that low.

[Krelvin]

I've never gotten any real advice from a DME...

With a consistent AHI of between .2 and .9, your leaks are insignificant.

Actually, if you are having large leaks, the AHI reading could be misleading and wrong. dvejr has not stated what his leak rates have been.

In anycase, I've never used a nasal mask. My first sleep study 10yrs ago where I had never used CPAP before was done using a FFM and I just stuck with that. Other than switching over time to different FFM's I have pretty much stayed the same. I also have had a full beard and mustache the entire time though now days I keep it a bit shorter than I used to.

You don't show what pressures you are using, which can make a difference I think.

I use an S9 VPAP Auto with pressures set at PS 4.0 over 10.6-18.0 and use almost 100% of the time a Quattro Air FFM.


You can click on it to get a larger view. The chart above shows the other night. I turned off the two segments that were not part of the actual night sleeping part. 0.56 is actually lower than normal for me as I tend to move around a lot normally and typical is < 2.xx to at best around 0.8x.

The only time I have leak issues is normally when I shift positions. Been dealing with a back issue the past week so I am spending a bit more time than normal in bed to help relieve the stress, I have been moving a lot less as a result as well.

[BlackSpinner]

The last DME tech I asked about leaks had me hold up the mask to my face and looking at it from across a massive desk said that it couldn't be leaking......

[Okie bipap]

When I did my first titration study, I had a full beard. It was trimmed short (about a half inch), and they used a Quattro face mask on me. It sealed well using a Remzzzs mask liner. Since that time, I have shaved the beard and now use the Amara View mask.

[chunkyfrog]

My husband has less trouble with a full beard than I have with my unconventional face.
I agree with the others; most clinicians don't know squat--many by CHOICE.

[dvejr]

My husband has less trouble with a full beard than I have with my unconventional face.
I agree with the others; most clinicians don't know squat--many by CHOICE.

After looking at your avatar photo, I gotta say that I can see the reason DMEs have had trouble fitting your mask <grin>.

[jonny515]

Got a little goatee, doesn't seem to be an issue.

[Goofproof]

I understand leaving MOST women out, but what about the N/A's, they are already confused. Jim

[chunkyfrog]

Acceptance of diversity, --women with beards, be they genetic, hormonal, or TG.
People who snore so loudly, while choking and struggling to breathe, while asleep,
that people laugh, shudder, or get violent.
It is all part of our weakness or strength as human beings, to see ourselves in another's shoes.
To be mature enough to not equate difference with inferiority.

[Sir NoddinOff]

Opinions are up and down and all around concerning the beard/goatee issue. I had to shave it all off because my therapy pressures were higher than most peoples. Anyway, I did the deed and my leaks went way down. I've never looked back and don't regret it.

[SleepyToo2]

I use nasal pillows. Took a while to get used to them, but I have been using them for years now. My full beard made it impossible to get a low leak rate with an FFM.

[Sheriff Buford]

Wow... anyone notice that the title of this thread changes in the middle of this thread?

Sheriff

[chunkyfrog]

I did that several times in my breast cancer thread--just for updates.