Another Newbie Question - Masks

[millich]

Hi all,

As I said in my first thread ("Does this sound right?"), I'm a newbie to the forum and will be new to CPAP. During my titration study, I still had about 11.7 AHI on a pressure of 13. At that pressure, leaks were a major problem.

My question is: what type of mask will be best? The study was done on a full face mask because I told them that I am a mouth-breather. However, I noticed with the extra airflow, I was quite comfortable with my mouth closed. Are any masks less prone to leaks than others? Which is better - full face mask or a nasal mask with a chin strap? I don't see me tolerating nasal pillows very well.

I can't thank you enough for your help!!!

[Julie]

If you can get a FF mask, do it, especially if you've been told that when asleep, you mouth breathe (you were obviously conscious at the lab to have been aware of being comfortable in the mask, so that doesn't count as it's not something you'd be aware of in your sleep). Just be sure you find the right size of the right mask, like e.g. an Ultra Mirage, which is very popular.

[millich]

Thanks for your input, Julie.

I just know that my doc - prior to the study - was keen on a nose mask with a chip strap, but they didn't try that on me during the titration study. Because leaks were such a major issue during the study, I wondered if a nose mask would be less likely to leak.

[GumbyCT]

The more surface area the mask has to seal, the more prone it will be to leak. This means the one you don't like (pillows) are indeed the easiest to seal. Then the nasal mask, then the FFM.
HTH

[mipookiebear]

I started with the nasal mask with chin strap & just could not stand it. So I then tried a full face mask. I like the full face mask over the nasal mask. The other night I tried nasal pillows & thought my nose was going to explode. I don't understand how a person can adjust to that. Plus I still would need a chin strap. I have only been doing this since June 13th. Hope this info helps.

[Pugsy]

I thought I was a mouth breather because I often woke up with dry mouth and raging sore throat. This was pre-cpap treatment. Now I know that was not the case at all. I was most likely gasping for air causing the sore throat and dry mouth when I was having bad episodes.

All that has gone away and I now use the nasal pillows without having to tape or anything to keep my mouth shut.
I did initially seem to have an "open mouth" sometimes issue when I first started therapy but for the past month I haven't needed anything to keep my mouth shut. I can only guess that my initial mouth leaking from it falling open was perhaps old habits relating to when I used to have a lot of episodes. Somewhere along the line I quit messing with mouth and tape and chin straps and my leak rates have been quite acceptable.

If you aren't really a serious mouth breather then you have lots of options. The nasal pillows aren't really all that bad and I believe that Optilife nasal mask system also offers "Cradle cushions" which work sort of like the pillows except nothing actually goes up in the nostrils. I have no idea how effective they are but if it is the "inside the nose" thing that scares you off, you might consider the cradle cushions. Cpap.com has them.
Personally, I don't mind the "inside the nose" thing. It is a lot better for me than the pressure over the nose and cheek thing...... Everyone has their own thing. I have woke up in the middle of the night and felt my face to make sure the Swift LT was on and working.

[JimIllinois]

Hi, Millich -

Regarding full-face masks, I can tell you that with my vast experience (7 whole months) I have come to believe that the right mask choice is a very personal thing. It's very hard to give advice.

I will say that my first mask, the Resmed Ultra Mirage, didn't leak much even when I wore the straps at a comfortable tension. I had to buy a replacement seal (they make one for people with shallow nose bridges), and at that point it was a nice mask.

In my infinite wisdom, I changed to a Resmed MIrage Quattro at 6 months (when insurance allows a new mask), wanting to experiment. The Quattro is very comfortable, with a very compliant seal and cushion, but at higher pressures (about 12+), it wants to leak loudly. I have to tighten the straps much tighter than with the Ultra, and then it's not so comfortable anymore.

A month into the new mask, my machine stats have changed considerably, and I figure it's about time to go back to the original. I bought a new seal for the Ultra, so it's basically "like new." I wanted it to be my travel mask, but I guess it's back to being my main mask.

Of course, in a few more months I'll probably be trying a third brand, in my journey toward the perfect mask.