Dreamwear Full Mask Breath Through Nose Or Mouth?

[Imsleepy]

Hi guys,
I'm new to all these apnea and PAP theraphy and have started using a respironics machine since over a month ago. I first started with the nasal pillow mask, I liked it it was great for me, only problem is that halfway through the night my mouth would drop open and I would wake up because of the air escaping my mouth. I tried the chin strap which was ok as well but I think rather don't put my chin on an awkward position for the rest of my life (my chinstrap pushes my jaw up and back). So I decided to try the FF mask, I went with philips again and their full mask which is a mix of the nose pillow and mouth mask, not really covering over the nose.

The problem have persisted as I am still mainly breath through my nose but when I start opening my mouth it gets all inflated by the air and I wake up, feels weird the air through my mouth. It also feels like higher pressure breathing through my mouth rather than through my nose.

What advice would you give me here? Should I stick to this nose breathing and get used to the air on my mouth at nights? Should I train myself to always breathe through my mouth? maybe try a cervical collar or other chin strap? is the pressure perhaps too high for mouth? I'm currently on Auto Therapy going from 6 to 16.5 cm/H2O

Thank you all

[raisedfist]

It's possible but not definite that a more effective min pressure would keep your mouth from opening while sleeping with a nasal mask, but we would need you to post your data to see what is going on. Some people do find success with a soft cervical collar. Some people tape their mouth shut (yes really). Chin Straps can be problematic for the reason you describe, plus air can still escape.

I didn't have much success with the dreamwear ffm. Assuming the fit is correct, it may just not be the mask for you. Other popular FFM's are the AirFit F20 and F30 lines, and also the Fisher & Paykel Simplus.

[Z06tracker]

I joined the forum yesterday. I am a 100% back sleeper. For about 9-10 years I have been using the VPAP Auto25 and Resmed Swift FX nose pillow mask. The entire time I have been applying a strip of tape over my mouth. I use J&J, 1 in, cloth tape. I fold the ends under about 1/4 in. to make it easy to remove. I am up about three times during the night and, more often than not, I will remove the first strip and apply a new one because the first one has gotten a little moist. My technique is to towel off my lips to remove any moisture or oils. Then apply the tape, with my lips just touching but with no gaps. I find that my jaw can drop as much as an inch and the tape keeps my lips sealed. During this 9-10 years I have had only a time or two when I felt a sneeze coming on and had to reach up and remove the tape. I believe that I could pop the tape loose by just forcefully opening my mouth if I needed to; I have never needed to do that, or tried to do it. The tape pulls a little when being removed, no big deal!

My machine begins with a low pressure, maybe 4# ?? and then at 45 mins ramps up to a 'constant' higher pressure (maybe 12-14# ??) The higher pressure remains until the machine is turned off and back on again, which I do every time I get up.

Don't get me wrong, I dislike this Rube Goldberg contraption we have to use. We just have to try everything available to make it work comfortably for us. What I have described works well for me. I just read about Somnifix, Scuncis, and Zylimelts; heading now to learn about those things.

[djams]

Breathing through your nose is healthier.
https://youtu.be/wgwxn9mRpAY

[LeonardoDR]

Yeah, opening the mouth and having the air suddenly come out from there will wake you up, defeating the whole purpose of CPAP. I'm a huge fan of the Knightsbridge Dual Band https://dualbandchinstrap.com chin strap ... you should try that. It's completely different from the standard neoprene ones in that the neoprene ones wrap around the tip of the chin and push the jaw into the jaw joint. The Knightsbridge lifts from under the chin and there are two bands (one elastic and one non-elastic) so it can be adjusted to be very unobtrusive feeling.

You also might want to try a cervical collar. As with anything in this field, you just have to try a bunch of different products until you find one that fits your physiognomy.

[Imsleepy]

Hi guys,
Thank you very much all for these awesome tips, they are really helpful. Like you've all mentioned we need to look for what is most comfortable for us and commit to the therapy. I will give it a try to suggestions made, keep an eye open for other FF models. I am also going to upload my data, but I want to give it a little more time. I've used the therapy probably 15-20 times but only 2-3 hrs each night... So I don't think data will be very useful/valid (disagree).

LeonardoDr, I found amazing the chinstrap you suggested, It's what i've always thought correct sleep apnea chinstraps should look like. I tried purchasing but unfortunately they don't ship to my location (Mexico), would you have another suggestion I can purchase on amazon? I will try to get the one you suggested but might take some time.

Z06tracker, I use a beard, I am not sure how the tape will work for me but I will give it a try.

thanks guys.

[IvanaZoloft]

I’m brand new here and also brand new to a CPAP as of 11/14. I’m on my 2nd mask already and this is my most recent. I’m having a great deal of problems with the nose pillow portion of the mask (and with the first mask I used as well). It seems I cannot get my nostrils lined up properly with the slit on the mask therefore feeling like I’m constantly suffocating. Is it the wrong mask for me or am I doing something wrong. I haven’t been able to wear the mask for more than an hour and I’m constantly fidgeting with it to line it up right. It’s very aggravating to say the least. I hate to call the medical supply company again tomorrow to tell them I cannot breathe with the mask on but If I cant get it to work tonight ai will have to.

[chunkyfrog]

Tape is very effective, but freaks out doctors/nurses, etc.
Check out chin up strips.
When applied properly ( your mug looks like a bulldog), it works beautifully--
--But looks hilarious!

[zonker]

I’m brand new here and also brand new to a CPAP as of 11/14. I

welcome to the zoo! if you would, please start your own thread. that way we can help you out without interfering with the current thread.

thanks and good luck!

also, please read the newbies thread a link for which is in my sig below.

[Imsleepy]

Hello everyone,
Thank you very much for your tips and replies! Here is my update. I switch back to my nasal pillow mask and the chin strip mean while I am sourcing the doubel chinsntrp and the eliminator sleep pillow, recommended in other forum

Today I was able to pass al night long with the therapy so its definitley and improvement. I woke up several times during the night but only for a few minutes, really better improvement for me.

So thank you all I will continue to be wary, wait a litle more and post my therapy results.