Struggling with Seal

[IRSIV]

Hi -

I’ve been on CPAP for a couple of months, and am struggling with mask seal. I’m a solidly built 6 foot 200# man. Don’t smoke, rare drinker, and take an antidepressant in the morning.I’m a side sleeper and have a deviated septum (mouth breather) and a beard and mustache. I fall asleep quickly with or without the mask.

I started with an AirSense 10 machine and AirTouch F20 with memory foam which would seal great maybe 1 day out of 7.

I went to a local CPAP store and tried a dozen masks there, all of which were leaky according to the assistant, especially around the bridge of my nose and apparently deep eye sockets.

I ordered a Respironics FitLife Total Face mask to avoid that problem area, and it seals well if I lie still only on my back, but unseats as soon as I end up on my side. And even the XL size tries to ride up my chin over my mouth.

In general CPAP has been ruining my sleep, waking me up relentlessly for two to four hours before I chuck it off, and I feel more tired than I ever did before, even though I have what is severe apnea with 47 events per hour in my at home sleep test. The CPAP does get that down under 9 when it is working (or maybe because I'm NOT sleeping), so I do want to try to push through. The machine averages 9 and peaks at 14 psi according to the monitor, and I’m using the ramp, exhale relief, and heated humidity.

I feel that without an "in-person" sleep doctor I'm really just shooting in the dark. Shoulc I push for that? Any ideas on what to try next?

Thanks.

[LSAT]

Take a good look at this....https://www.cpap.com/productpage/bleep- ... -cpap-mask

[IRSIV]

Take a good look at this....https://www.cpap.com/productpage/bleep- ... -cpap-mask

Thanks - but I can really only breathe through one nostril.

[ChicagoGranny]

struggling with mask seal

For the masks you own, have you watched three or four fitting and adjusting videos on youtube?

I feel that without an "in-person" sleep doctor I'm really just shooting in the dark.

The best sleep doctors shoot in the dark when it comes to masks. The others don't bother to load the gun. Finding, fitting and adjusting the right mask is pretty much a DIY process. Go to cpap.com, find the full face mask section, and look at some masks and read the reviews. Stick with the most popular masks.

I can really only breathe through one nostril.

Have a consultation with an ENT and get this corrected. It will make using CPAP easier, and you also will breathe healthier during the day.

Struggling with Seal

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[poppi2]

Struggling with Seal

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Exactly my initial thought.

[ChicagoGranny]

Struggling with Seal

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Exactly my initial thought.

Was this your second thought?

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[chunkyfrog]

Heidi Klum knows karate?

[Miss Emerita]

IRSIV, is it possible you'd do better with a hybrid-type mask, like the Mirage Liberty? It's expensive, but if you buy it from cpap.com, they'll give you a refund if it doesn't work and you send it back to them.

You may already know this, but it's healthier to breathe through the nose, because the nose filters out lots of stuff before it delivers the air to your lungs. The nasal sinuses also produce nitric oxide, which we inhale when we breathe through the nose. The NO in turn helps us fight bacterial infections, improves arterial oxygenation, and decreases blood pressure in the lungs. Some more information here:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8971255/

So these would all be additional reasons to see whether an ENT could correct your deviated septum and make it possible for you to breathe through your nose.

[klm49]

Hi -

I’ve been on CPAP for a couple of months, and am struggling with mask seal. I’m a solidly built 6 foot 200# man. Don’t smoke, rare drinker, and take an antidepressant in the morning.I’m a side sleeper and have a deviated septum (mouth breather) and a beard and mustache. I fall asleep quickly with or without the mask.

I started with an AirSense 10 machine and AirTouch F20 with memory foam which would seal great maybe 1 day out of 7.

I went to a local CPAP store and tried a dozen masks there, all of which were leaky according to the assistant, especially around the bridge of my nose and apparently deep eye sockets.

I ordered a Respironics FitLife Total Face mask to avoid that problem area, and it seals well if I lie still only on my back, but unseats as soon as I end up on my side. And even the XL size tries to ride up my chin over my mouth.

In general CPAP has been ruining my sleep, waking me up relentlessly for two to four hours before I chuck it off, and I feel more tired than I ever did before, even though I have what is severe apnea with 47 events per hour in my at home sleep test. The CPAP does get that down under 9 when it is working (or maybe because I'm NOT sleeping), so I do want to try to push through. The machine averages 9 and peaks at 14 psi according to the monitor, and I’m using the ramp, exhale relief, and heated humidity.

I feel that without an "in-person" sleep doctor I'm really just shooting in the dark. Shoulc I push for that? Any ideas on what to try next?

Thanks.

Have you considered shaving? If I don't shave for 3 or 4 days I start having seal problems. I don't see how anyone with a beard could get a seal, even though some claim to.






You'll have to ignore the clown posts, they can't help it.

[zonker]

You'll have to ignore the clown posts, they can't help it.

and we'll ignore your concern troll comments as well.

you can't help it.

[Pugsy]

Is that you in your avatar?

If it is....you might want to rethink nasal pillow mask of some sort. If you can move enough air to be comfortable through one nostril...they still will work. You are going to have major issues with any mask that has to come in contact with that much facial hair.
Now it can be done but it's going to require a lot of work.

[Pugsy]

Enough with the snarky comments.

Stay on topic please. This is a newbie and a helping thread....please don't derail it any further.

Thank you in advance for your help in this matter.

[chunkyfrog]

Back on topic: the Respironics FitLife Total Face mask would fit a whole lot better
with an inflatable cushion or even a memory foam gasket.
I have considered cutting the silicone off an old one and gluing in something better--or custom.
Let's face it--the factory seals leave much to be desired.
Of course, this from the ultimate diy frogs.
My pandemic PPE mask of choice is LEATHER--kind of a road warrior vibe.

[Okie bipap]

Due to a mistake on the part of my first doctor, I had to have four sleep tests. During the first two I had a full beard and they had a very hard time getting a mask to seal. They tried a mask liner and that helped enough to finish the tessts. Prior to my last two tests, the sleep clinic suggested I shave my beard prior to testing. That was over five years ago and I have been clean shaven ever since. After having a beard for over thirty years, it was hard to give it up, but I have been clean shaven ever since. Apparently, some people are able to get a good seal with a beard. I think it depends on how long the beard is and how thick it is.

[zonker]

Enough with the snarky comments.

Stay on topic please. This is a newbie and a helping thread....please don't derail it any further.

Thank you in advance for your help in this matter.

yes, m'am.