CPAP and Beards

mynameisangel · Post by **mynameisangel** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:51 pm

Hi Everyone:

I've been on CPAP for two months and I'm feeling great. However I'm starting to become resigned to the fact that having full facial mask and full beard is not a match made in heaven. Once my beard grows in fully and starts looking really good I have more and more trouble getting a good seal and preventing leaking with the mask. I'm a 40 year old earthy crunchy type and really love leaving my face in a more natural state. However if I have to be shiny and clean shaven to preserve my health it is more than worth it.

Any advice???

Angel

neilmalcolmson · Post by **neilmalcolmson** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:50 am

i think you have answered your own question.
if you cnt get a mask to seal the beard has to go!!

S-Dubya · Post by **S-Dubya** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:54 am

I had a beard that I quite liked before I started on CPAP. I have tried to bring it back 3 or 4 times in the 5 years I have been on CPAP. Each time I surrendered to the mask. I have consigned myself to the fact that if I want a good night's sleep I can't have a good beard.

The upside of this is that my wife prefers kissing a clean-shaven man.

travismcgee · Post by **travismcgee** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:17 am

Here is my beard story. When I went for my titration study my Dr. asked me to shave my beard and mustache so it wouldn't pose a possible problem during the study. I agreed, it was the first time I had shaved it in 30 years, I've had it since I was 20. After all the results came back and I was set up with my machine for a few months I decided to grow it back, my wife was especially pleased.

I use a Mirage Activa nasal mask and keep my beard fairly short (1/8 " according to the Wahl shaver attachment). I also use an inexpensive chin-strap to gently hold my mouth closed. My AHI averages about 1.3/month and my leak rate is always within the parameters given with the mask depending on pressure setting. My auto is set for a range of 9-12. Have you tried using a nasal mask and chin strap? I assume you use a FF cause you mouth-breathe.

Cheers,

Travis

sthnreb · Post by **sthnreb** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:08 pm

I have a beard and use a nasal mask. You probably need to pull the bottom straps slightly tighter to seal on the mustache. However, you can go to nasal pillow type mask that doesn't effect the beard at all. The pillows insert into the nasal passage some sealing barely inside.

BigMoose · Post by **BigMoose** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:35 pm

I also have a full beard, and settled upon a nasal mask (nasal pillows for backup) with a chin strap. AHI below 1.

mynameisangel · Post by **mynameisangel** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:40 pm

Thanks for the comments and advice. I know the nasal pillow/chin strap deal would never work for me. I'm going to try living without the beard for a while and see what happens.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:44 pm

Contemplate the Nasal Aire II and a chinstrap. I've got a few friends with beards who are getting good results with it. Just had a satisfied customer leave my house in fact. Cute little beard and mustache, very happy with his NAII and PAP-CAP from http://www.pur-sleep.com.

I run a Test Drive for this mask. See more info here:

INFORMATION ON THE GREAT NASAL AIRE II TEST DRIVE:
viewtopic/t30639/The-Return-of-the-Grea ... Drive.html

BABETTE’S NASAL AIRE II TIP SHEET:
viewtopic/t23207/Babettes-Nasal-Aire-II-Tip-Sheet.html

PIX OF BABETTE’S CHINSTRAP/HEADGEAR MOD:
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p36/ ... aise/CPAP/

Definitely think about this. I'm all in favor of hippies and hair. Ask Goose.

Peace, Love, Change,
Babette - Who is NOT a hippie, I'm a well-dressed Mountain Woman! (though technically, we smell the same)

filbert · Post by **filbert** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:40 pm

I get a pretty good seal with the Ultra Mirage full face mask. OTOH, I've never tried CPAP without the beard. My beard has been short, although it's usually long and I noticed little difference.

I wasn't asked to shave for the sleep study or by the DME.

Fuzzy Guest · Post by **Fuzzy Guest** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:17 pm

filbert wrote:I get a pretty good seal with the Ultra Mirage full face mask. OTOH, I've never tried CPAP without the beard. My beard has been short, although it's usually long and I noticed little difference.

I wasn't asked to shave for the sleep study or by the DME.

Okay, that's just not right... ...if Filbert can get a seal with his beard, why can't I make any mask seal with my goatee? I've suspected for a while it has more to do with the shape of my face than it does with the facial hair, but I'm unwilling to shave to find out for sure.

norm · Post by **norm** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:29 pm

When I went for my sleep study I had a full beard. The tech, who was great, started with a nasal pillow, but I hated it. We then spent hours trying to get a nasal or full mask to provide a good seal. Nada. He then said give the nasal pillow another chance. I did and fell asleep. I hated it during the first two weeks of use, but sometime during the third week I realized that it didn't bother me any longer. You might want to try a naal pillow and see if you can adjust to it. For me, it was that or shaving.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:52 pm

Fuzzy Guest wrote:
filbert wrote:I get a pretty good seal with the Ultra Mirage full face mask. OTOH, I've never tried CPAP without the beard. My beard has been short, although it's usually long and I noticed little difference.

I wasn't asked to shave for the sleep study or by the DME.

Okay, that's just not right... ...if Filbert can get a seal with his beard, why can't I make any mask seal with my goatee? I've suspected for a while it has more to do with the shape of my face than it does with the facial hair, but I'm unwilling to shave to find out for sure.

Cuz you need a full beard ... not a half-bearded goatee.

I too have a full beard and although I normally use a nasal pillow mask, this past weekend I got a great seal using the Liberty. I think using a chin strap to keep the lower FF mask strap from pulling the lower jaw open helps a lot ... Try Sleep Guy's PAP-Cap.

WhiteBeard · Post by **WhiteBeard** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 10:41 pm

I also have a beard and I use the Liberty and the Hybrid and have had good luck with them, the leak rate is a little high but my AHI's have been well below 5 with AI's of 0.0. My average pressure is 12.4. I have made a mod for it to keep the nasal pillows from slipping, the mod is posted on the other forum sites with pictures. Good Luck to you

Fuzzy Guest · Post by **Fuzzy Guest** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:11 am

DreamStalker wrote:
Cuz you need a full beard ... not a half-bearded goatee.

I too have a full beard and although I normally use a nasal pillow mask, this past weekend I got a great seal using the Liberty. I think using a chin strap to keep the lower FF mask strap from pulling the lower jaw open helps a lot ... Try Sleep Guy's PAP-Cap.

The full beard comes and goes, but always leaves at least a goatee behind.

Nasal pillows work great for me, but I can't keep my lip sealed, and I've tried everything anyone has suggested (except shaving). No full face mask seals, and I have tried them with a chin strap. I have a Liberty the DME gave me for free (thank goodness I didn't have to pay for it, it's useless). I haven't seen a PAP-CAP yet...sounds like it would be hot...all that other gear is.

Bigburd · Post by **Bigburd** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:06 am

Full beard, Mirage Quatro.

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