Taping my mouth with a FFM!!!

[tossandturn]

Anyone heard of this??? I am using a Mirage Quattro mask, and if I don't tape my mouth shut I wake up to find my lower lip resting OUTSIDE the mask!!! No leaking, just mask misaligned and dry, dry, arid mouth. What's up with that? Yes, it fits. It's a small. Didn't have this problem at first. Only started in this last two weeks. Yes, nose is a bit congested, that's why I went from nasal pillows to mask. Think it's my body's attempt to keep from smothering??

[lktnky]

Anyone heard of this??? I am using a Mirage Quattro mask, and if I don't tape my mouth shut I wake up to find my lower lip resting OUTSIDE the mask!!! No leaking, just mask misaligned and dry, dry, arid mouth. What's up with that? Yes, it fits. It's a small. Didn't have this problem at first. Only started in this last two weeks. Yes, nose is a bit congested, that's why I went from nasal pillows to mask. Think it's my body's attempt to keep from smothering??

The only time I tried a ffm I ended up with the bottom of the mask under my chin and a dry mouth so while I may not be the best person to advise you on a ffm mask, it sure sounds to me like you've got the wrong size, no matter what brand.
I use a Swift LT, chinstrap and tape. Seems to be working. If you have to tape, why not switch to a simple nasal mask (not pillows)? At least you won't end up with dry mouth.

Good luck!!
LKTNKY

[tossandturn]

Have the Swift LT for her, nose stays too stopped up. Had the mask for six weeks, no problem until arm weather change, and if I tape my mouth shut, mask stays put. don't think it's the wrong size.

[roster]

...... Think it's my body's attempt to keep from smothering??

Yes. When one is congested reducing the nasal air flow, the mouth will reflexively open to take in more air.

A properly fitted and adjusted FF mask will be large enough to cover the mouth when it is wide open. In fact, that is what it is made for.

[tom@]

Anyone heard of this??? I am using a Mirage Quattro mask, and if I don't tape my mouth shut I wake up to find my lower lip resting OUTSIDE the mask!!! No leaking, just mask misaligned and dry, dry, arid mouth. What's up with that? Yes, it fits. It's a small. Didn't have this problem at first. Only started in this last two weeks. Yes, nose is a bit congested, that's why I went from nasal pillows to mask. Think it's my body's attempt to keep from smothering??

Yes I have thought of taping my mouth shut with a FFM.

I use the Liberty mainly, but have recently got a Quatro, and my mouth is just as dry with the Quatro as the Liberty, with the added effect of a VERY itchy nose were the Quatro. I tend to sweat where the mask touches my face with the Quatro, even with the humidifier turned off.

If I don't where a chin strap with my FFM my mouth is so dry I have to peal my cheeks off my teeth. I am in the process of trying nasal pillows again to see if I can keep the air from leaking out my mouth.

The whole process has been very frustrating, and the DME and Doctor although willing to help have been virtually useless in resolving the issue, giving me information I know is wrong.

They even told me I was getting rainout because I have a hose cover. I laughed at them. They also tried to tell me the Liberty mask causes a loop where the air goes in the nose and out the mouth. Laugh again.

[wasColette]

My first response would have been to say you have the wrong size mask, but you say that when you tape your mouth that the mask stays put. Hmm. Strange. Maybe you are opening and closing your mouth while sleeping and the movement is causing the mask to slip down. If the mask is working otherwise, meaning you can breathe easily through your nose, than I would just continue taping your mouth with the FFM.

[LoQ]

Anyone heard of this??? I am using a Mirage Quattro mask, and if I don't tape my mouth shut I wake up to find my lower lip resting OUTSIDE the mask!!! No leaking, just mask misaligned and dry, dry, arid mouth. What's up with that? Yes, it fits. It's a small. Didn't have this problem at first. Only started in this last two weeks. Yes, nose is a bit congested, that's why I went from nasal pillows to mask. Think it's my body's attempt to keep from smothering??

I have the exact same problem. What I have been trying is taping the mask to my face. It works pretty well. I use enough tape to keep my chin from falling down, as well as sealing the mask.

A properly fitted and adjusted FF mask will be large enough to cover the mouth when it is wide open.

I suspect you don't understand faces that are not like yours. It astonishes me that there are so few models of masks on the market when faces come in such a huge variety, along many different axes. The notion that there is a mask somewhere on the market to properly fit any face is wrong-headed and ignores the variability, even just normal variability, of human bodies.

[tossandturn]

Thanks everyone for your replies. It is indeed frustrating, and this feedback helps me feel I am not crazy. Guess I could tell DME I need a larger mask, and try that... My chinstrap (the white elastic girdle looking thing) didn't help at all. Kept slipping off my head-slick hair, I guess. For now, it's back to the tape..

[roster]

..........I suspect you don't understand faces that are not like yours. It astonishes me that there are so few models of masks on the market when faces come in such a huge variety, along many different axes. The notion that there is a mask somewhere on the market to properly fit any face is wrong-headed and ignores the variability, even just normal variability, of human bodies.

Tossandturn did not indicate there was anything "wrong-faced" about her anatomy. In fact, from her avatar, it looks quite normal and should be easy to fit with a proper size.

[LoQ]

Tossandturn did not indicate there was anything "wrong-faced" about her anatomy.

What are you talking about? I was talking about "right-faced" anatomy. I talked about normal variation. Look at my post again. You even quoted that part.

You can't tell by looking at someone's picture whether or not there is a mask to fit that face. There are variables that don't show up in the picture. Let me ask you, which mask is going to fit her face? You must be able to tell from the picture, surely, since you've already determined that there is one to fit her. If not, then you admit that there are variables you can't see from a picture.

Furthermore, maybe in your ideal world there is a way to try all of the available masks, but in my real world, I can only try what the DME stocks, which is 4 FFMs. I can switch DMEs, with a lot of paperwork, but I won't have many choices as there are only a few where I live. I can't keep buying to try. It's way too expensive. Even the return insurance runs about $30 (ballpark average) for most masks. Still too expensive. And there's no guarantee that other masks are different enough that they will fit me. I suspect the manufacturers have a bias towards Caucasian male faces. Otherwise, why would we need a "Swift for Her" style of mask and not the "for her" style in all other masks? Or "shallow" option in some masks but not the majority?

And at the end of the day, if we let everyone try every mask out there, my guess is that there are plenty of people who would not find a good fit with any of them. Not "wrong-faced" anatomy people, people within the (huge) normal variation of face shapes. I think you just have not studied enough faces to realize this.

You have a parochial view because you've been able to find a mask that works well for you. I am happy for you and others who have this good fortune to find a mask that fits well. Understand that there are others of us, with normal faces, who may have worked harder at it than you have and still are having trouble getting a good fit.

[roster]

Oh LoQ, what surprising passion you have about the subject (whatever the subject may be - I am no longer sure).

Good for you, I prefer passionate personalities to milquetoast personalities.

But to review what I think our discussion might be about, I suggested to a "newbie":

..........A properly fitted and adjusted FF mask will be large enough to cover the mouth when it is wide open. In fact, that is what it is made for.

I am happy to see that a simple statement would bring forth such passion and that is what I really enjoy about this forum.

Now on a more practical basis, a newbie says when her mouth opens the full face mask does not cover it. Are you objecting to a post that informs a newbie that a FF mask is designed to cover the mouth when said mouth is open?

In any case it seems tossandturn might get the correct message:

........ Guess I could tell DME I need a larger mask, and try that.....

A properly fitted FF mask should be given a serious try before resorting to taping.

Best regards,

[Portageegal]

My bottom lip does the same thing. I am going to try a bigger mask next time and see how that works.

[LoQ]

A properly fitted FF mask should be given a serious try before resorting to taping.

I can't quibble with that.

So how about if you give us the specific steps anyone can take to find a properly fitted FF mask? No hand-waving....be explicit.

[timbalionguy]

In my very limited experience so far (5 days), I will offer this. I use the Quattro FFM, and really like it (especially for a first pick!). I found the first couple of nights I would tend to open my mouth and have a dry mouth, even with the mask. Because I have some degree of nasal congestion most of the time, I think this is what is causing me to breathe through the mouth. I also noticed that the dry air usually took care of the nasal congestion after a couple of hours.

I slowly increased the heat setting on the humidifier, no more than a step every couple hours. Eventually, I reached a setting where the mouth would remain reasonably moist and the congestion would still clear out. I then raised the setting a bit more. Surprise-- the nasal congestion returned! Backing off one step brought things into balance.

So the combination of rainout and breathing through your mouth suggests to me you might try reducing your heat setting a little bit at a time. You might find a state you like.

The last two days or so, I have noticed I am no longer opening my mouth to breathe at night. A good thing!

[roster]

A properly fitted FF mask should be given a serious try before resorting to taping.

I can't quibble with that.

So how about if you give us the specific steps anyone can take to find a properly fitted FF mask? No hand-waving....be explicit.

Oh LoQ, that is an easy challenge. Here you go:

1. Join cpaptalk.com
2. Read
3. Post questions
4. Read
5. Post questions
6. Read



Have a good weekend,