Newbie - Oscar uploads

[Muse-Inc]

...I have a little nose and a big mouth...

Suggest trying my mask (click on it in my signature to view on our host's website). FFM that comes with 3 sizes of pillows & 3 sizes of oral cushions, so you could do small pillows and med or lg oral cushion. It has an over the head strap that helps stabilize the mask and some of us who wear it create an elastic strap that goes from side strap to side strap in front of the pillows to stabilize them IF we are active sleepers. I sleep on my side with my head on the very edge of my bed-pillow so my mask is not pushed out of place.

Might try Xclear nasal spray. It contains Xylitol that starves the pathogens that can cause congestion, It also breaksup biofilms that prevent drugs from reaching nasal tissue,,,nasty stuff. I live in the humid South and turn my humidifier off when the temp gets up above 50 but when I was a newbie, I needed more humidity unless it was rainy.

Good luck with getting this dialed in just right, it can be a big challenge and in the beginning patience is not in our repertoire

[ericob]

I've been using a CPAP machine for 5 years. I constantly have problems with my nose closing up. I do use Flonase (which may, or may not, actually make a difference).

My problem with a stuffed nose caused me, early, to switch to a full face mask. I'm currently using a ResMed AirFit F20. Not perfect, but pretty good. If my nose is plugged, I can breath through my nose. If my nose is clear, I can close my mouth and breath through my nose.

As far as feeling like a dog with its head out the car window while driving on the highway... I found that using a full face mask eliminated this feeling. With a nasal only mask, the pressure difference between your mouth and your nose can get pretty large. If you open your mouth (and throat), there is no back pressure and the machine with ramp up flow to leaf-blower levels. In your nose and right out your open mouth. Even if you open your mouth but keep your through close, the pressure differential is very noticeable.

With a mask that covers both your nose and mouth, neither is there a possible free exit for air, nor is the pressure at the mask nearly as obvious.

[Bednbones]

I've been using a CPAP machine for 5 years. I constantly have problems with my nose closing up. I do use Flonase (which may, or may not, actually make a difference).

My problem with a stuffed nose caused me, early, to switch to a full face mask. I'm currently using a ResMed AirFit F20. Not perfect, but pretty good. If my nose is plugged, I can breath through my nose. If my nose is clear, I can close my mouth and breath through my nose.

As far as feeling like a dog with its head out the car window while driving on the highway... I found that using a full face mask eliminated this feeling. With a nasal only mask, the pressure difference between your mouth and your nose can get pretty large. If you open your mouth (and throat), there is no back pressure and the machine with ramp up flow to leaf-blower levels. In your nose and right out your open mouth. Even if you open your mouth but keep your through close, the pressure differential is very noticeable.

With a mask that covers both your nose and mouth, neither is there a possible free exit for air, nor is the pressure at the mask nearly as obvious.

Great news!

[Bednbones]

The big think to be careful about: don't block the mask venting.

So I constantly am going back to reread advice because it was too much at once and I know I missed things.

So today I see the “don’t block the mask venting”

I wear FFM dreamwear. The hose is at the top of my head. Is that where you mean not to block. Or are you saying that if I sleep on my side (which I do), and it pushes down on the tubing that comes along my cheek- I can no longer sleep on my side with this mask?

Clarification please.

[Jas_williams]

The big think to be careful about: don't block the mask venting.

So I constantly am going back to reread advice because it was too much at once and I know I missed things.

So today I see the “don’t block the mask venting”

I wear FFM dreamwear. The hose is at the top of my head. Is that where you mean not to block. Or are you saying that if I sleep on my side (which I do), and it pushes down on the tubing that comes along my cheek- I can no longer sleep on my side with this mask?

Clarification please.

No issue with side sleeping with the dreamwear one side will give plenty of air. The discussion is not to block the vents at the hose as these vent co2