Mask Models

[Goofproof]

Maybe our maker should have put our nose on the top of out head, masking up would have been easier, just a chin strap to hold the mask on. For some no restriction at all from the brain blocking the airway. (Too Small) For some the added pressure might make the skull become bigger giving the appearance of more smarts. (I know False Advertising!)

Wouldn't work for me, I'd keep breaking the mask on the headboard! Jim

[MaxINTJ]

I'm trying to picture how you are sleeping. If the front of your head is on the pillow, where is your face? Do you have a whole cut out of the pillow?
I sleep on my stomach and in fact it was my almost exclucsive position prior to CPAP (probably due to apnea), but now I sleep comfortably in any position.
I believe most people who sleep on their stomach turn their face to one side and the mask rests on the edge of the pillow.
Also many people use nasal pillows and masks at high pressures. My IPAP is 15 and many are higher. If mouth opening is a problem they work on that or use a FF mask. As far as the hose some people use management systems. My P10 has a very flexible short hose and I just place my hand on the connection. That way when I want to turn, I already know where the hose is and hardly wake at all. Getting any mask to fit without leaks can be a challenge but it can be done.

You know the availability of masks with top of head hoses and have voiced your need to the manufacturer. You just have to find what will work from what is available. So now take a look at other masks that might fit your wants and when you find a close match or possible "might do" ask users here about that mask.

I tend to sleep with most of my face on the pillow - just my nose tends to be off the pillow. Usually I'm between 90 degrees to the side to 0 degrees down with most of my face still on the pillow. I can't even do that with the Amara View without causing leaks, so anything bigger is just going to be worse.

I know the Dreamwear is leak free even at 25 pressure and my desire is to keep my damn mouth shut at night, but that is a huge issue with my wife because of all the noise when my mouth opens.

I wish I could tell her "my mouth will learn to stay shut in x amount of time", but I don't know if it will even ever happen.

[MaxINTJ]

Maybe our maker should have put our nose on the top of out head, masking up would have been easier, just a chin strap to hold the mask on. For some no restriction at all from the brain blocking the airway. (Too Small) For some the added pressure might make the skull become bigger giving the appearance of more smarts. (I know False Advertising!)

Wouldn't work for me, I'd keep breaking the mask on the headboard! Jim

Have you used the Dreamwear? It's just the logical place to mount all the stuff - unless you're going to be the first person I ever heard of who sleeps standing on their head.

[OkyDoky]

I know the Dreamwear is leak free even at 25 pressure and my desire is to keep my damn mouth shut at night, but that is a huge issue with my wife because of all the noise when my mouth opens.

I wish I could tell her "my mouth will learn to stay shut in x amount of time", but I don't know if it will even ever happen.

Can you breathe freely through your nose? If so during the day consciously place your tongue on the roof of your mouth with the tip just behind the top teeth. With your tongue placed this way it blocks air escaping from your mouth. This may or may not be transferred to your night time breathing. Doesn't hurt to try and some have learned to keep the air going in the right direction this way when using a nasal mask.

You probably know the other options are mechanical ways; Chin up strips, taping, soft cervical collar, or headband/chinstrap. Until you give something a good try you won't know what works.

[MaxINTJ]

I know the Dreamwear is leak free even at 25 pressure and my desire is to keep my damn mouth shut at night, but that is a huge issue with my wife because of all the noise when my mouth opens.

I wish I could tell her "my mouth will learn to stay shut in x amount of time", but I don't know if it will even ever happen.

Can you breathe freely through your nose? If so during the day consciously place your tongue on the roof of your mouth with the tip just behind the top teeth. With your tongue placed this way it blocks air escaping from your mouth. This may or may not be transferred to your night time breathing. Doesn't hurt to try and some have learned to keep the air going in the right direction this way when using a nasal mask.

You probably know the other options are mechanical ways; Chin up strips, taping, soft cervical collar, or headband/chinstrap. Until you give something a good try you won't know what works.

Funny thing is, I can breathe in and out through either my mouth or nose, or in one and out the other, with the CPAP on. I can also even yawn with the nasal mask on and it's no trouble keeping the wind tunnel away.

BUT, I have noticed many times, just as I drift off and everything relaxes, my cheeks puff out and I wake up just in time to have the wind tunnel start.

With a chin strap - and even without - my jaw stays closed when I sleep, but the air comes out my lips anyway. Tape does not work on me, none of the normal tapes will stick, and I don't want to cover my mouth in anything industrial.

[Goofproof]

Maybe our maker should have put our nose on the top of out head, masking up would have been easier, just a chin strap to hold the mask on. For some no restriction at all from the brain blocking the airway. (Too Small) For some the added pressure might make the skull become bigger giving the appearance of more smarts. (I know False Advertising!)

Wouldn't work for me, I'd keep breaking the mask on the headboard! Jim

Have you used the Dreamwear? It's just the logical place to mount all the stuff - unless you're going to be the first person I ever heard of who sleeps standing on their head.

NO, I have not, I learned long ago how to adapt to my needs. in 12 years used just four masks, all worked well enough for good treatment, 8 years using FF Masks, First F&P 401, Farted badly but cool running, second Comfort Gel, my go to FF mask now, 3. Den's (Wolfmans) favorite Ff Mask, Ok but Gel Beat it out, and after I mastered my mouthbreathing My Comfort Gel Nasal my current 95% of the time mask, have trouble with all masks staying where I want them. Headgear on all them sucks. My solution. sip drink of water, move straps, sleep. many times I don't open my eyes, I know where thing are.

It can be done if you don't all CAN'T run your life. Jim

[Pugsy]

The DreamWear with a true top mounted hose instead of just routing the hose overhead was and is a brand new idea. I am surprised that ResMed hasn't copied it in some fashion or other.
But no one has yet and that's too bad. I personally think it is a helluva idea and that the manufacturers are missing a great market opportunity there.
Unfortunately what we have to work with is what has been done for ages...since time began in the cpap world and those old dogs don't seem to really want to learn new tricks very fast.

It one way things have progressed by leaps and bounds and in another way they just can't seem to get out of the "old" way of doing things in favor of trying something new.
They (the manufacturers) thought women would/should be happy with the "for Her" stuff just being a different color...never mind that most women's facial structure doesn't come close to being like a man's facial structure.
The pink stuff...irritate me more than anything. I don't care what color something is...I want something to fit MY face and suits MY needs.

So I hear you on the "YOUR" needs part...but unfortunately you don't have many choices based on your personal wants and needs and preferences.
We have had this discussion before...it sucks but it's the cold hard fact of life that we have to deal with.

You actually have a mask that will work except your mouth won't cooperate at the higher pressures. That happens to a lot of people at higher pressures and some at lower pressures. The usual way of fixing things when the mouth won't cooperate don't/won't work well for you.
So that leaves you with less options and they pretty much suck anyway.

The upcoming sleep study with ASV (if they will even do it and do it properly) and IF you/they can find a pressure that your mouth will cooperate with AND have you finally get some semblance of decent sleep that they can measure and actually see first hand if the breathing part of your arousals are reduced...that's a really tall order there. And there's still the potential issue of the spontaneous arousals that could be a problem...those can't be fixed by any cpap machine because they aren't related to breathing issues. Even if every single breathing issue was effectively "fixed"...those pesky spontaneous arousals might still be numerous enough that you wouldn't really feel any differently despite the breathing issues being resolved.

A big mountain needing to be climbed with ice all over it and trying to do it in slick soled boots with no ice picks.

[MaxINTJ]

Maybe our maker should have put our nose on the top of out head, masking up would have been easier, just a chin strap to hold the mask on. For some no restriction at all from the brain blocking the airway. (Too Small) For some the added pressure might make the skull become bigger giving the appearance of more smarts. (I know False Advertising!)

Wouldn't work for me, I'd keep breaking the mask on the headboard! Jim

Have you used the Dreamwear? It's just the logical place to mount all the stuff - unless you're going to be the first person I ever heard of who sleeps standing on their head.

NO, I have not, I learned long ago how to adapt to my needs. in 12 years used just four masks, all worked well enough for good treatment, 8 years using FF Masks, First F&P 401, Farted badly but cool running, second Comfort Gel, my go to FF mask now, 3. Den's (Wolfmans) favorite Ff Mask, Ok but Gel Beat it out, and after I mastered my mouthbreathing My Comfort Gel Nasal my current 95% of the time mask, have trouble with all masks staying where I want them. Headgear on all them sucks. My solution. sip drink of water, move straps, sleep. many times I don't open my eyes, I know where thing are.

It can be done if you don't all CAN'T run your life. Jim

Honestly, as restless as I am, and as face down as I usually am, the Dreamwear seldom shifts AT ALL. I attribute that to the very unintrusive nature of the mask. It barely reaches past the end of my nose - at most - and the head gear is likewise very minimal. I can wake up with it on and always go back to sleep.

I tried for about a month with the smallest FFM out there, and it, and the hose, were always in the way, shifting around, leaking, and waking me up. Part of the problem is the UARS folks are extra sensitive to certain things - supposedly. That would explain why I can't go back to sleep with it on after I get a few hours of sleep.

[MaxINTJ]

Even if every single breathing issue was effectively "fixed"...those pesky spontaneous arousals might still be numerous enough that you wouldn't really feel any differently despite the breathing issues being resolved.

A big mountain needing to be climbed with ice all over it and trying to do it in slick soled boots with no ice picks.

Funny thing is though, I had ZERO SWJ when on the ASV - which to me means I wasn't being aroused spontaneously either.

And yes, I know it's going to be a nearly impossible climb. I probably have something that most doctors have little to no experience in, I need a machine that is technically off label for me, and it's the VA.

Even if I do climb the mountain, it's 2 steps forward and one back because I will still have the FFM crappy sleep versus the wind tunnel crappy sleep. >.<

[nanwilson]

What you are going through is a viscious circle Max, you drink gallons of coffee to stay awake during the day, and it adds to crappy sleep during the night.

[MaxINTJ]

What you are going through is a viscious circle Max, you drink gallons of coffee to stay awake during the day, and it adds to crappy sleep during the night.

I honestly don't think the coffee is effecting my sleep. That doesn't mean it isn't, but caffeine is usually associated with insomnia variations, which I do not have. I normally fall asleep easily and if I do wake up, go right back to sleep - unless I'm wearing the FFM.

I ended up sleeping almost a normal night some times with the ASV and FFM, but I know I woke up a lot more with that combination. Wake ups that I remember, which is rare with the Dreamwear. I dread to think how many times I'm really waking up with that combo - I know according to the EEG on my sleep study I was fully awake 22 times and only remembered 2. With the FFM, I remember waking up 4-6 times every night. Does that translate to 44-66 full awakenings? I don't know, maybe this next study will get good data. I know they told me to bring both masks to my titration, so wearing the uncomfortable mask plus the 20 or so electrodes is not going to be a fun night - and I have to leave there and go straight to work.

[TedVPAP]

... Tape does not work on me, none of the normal tapes will stick, and I don't want to cover my mouth in anything industrial.

Wow - even normal tape won't stick to you. The saga continues..................

[Goofproof]

... Tape does not work on me, none of the normal tapes will stick, and I don't want to cover my mouth in anything industrial.

Wow - even normal tape won't stick to you. The saga continues..................

Nothing sticks to CAN'T! It's slicker that teflon. Jim

[MaxINTJ]

... Tape does not work on me, none of the normal tapes will stick, and I don't want to cover my mouth in anything industrial.

Wow - even normal tape won't stick to you. The saga continues..................

I'm not the only one btw, so I really don't need insults on top of the failing therapy.

[TedVPAP]

... Tape does not work on me, none of the normal tapes will stick, and I don't want to cover my mouth in anything industrial.

Wow - even normal tape won't stick to you. The saga continues..................

I'm not the only one btw, so I really don't need insults on top of the failing therapy.

Sorry but I have never heard of human skin immune from tape. I would need to see proof before believing such a malady exists.