Today am giving up ...

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 4:22 pm

Today am giving up using my very nice ResMed Activa.

Just can't stop mouth leaking even with tape & for the 2nd time damaged my lip while removing the tape.

Wife got up and went to sleep in the spare room. She has been asking me to swap back to full face & I have agreed.

I did like the Activa but also last night for the second time had the experience of going to the bathroom then when I tried to hook up and restart, found my nose had become so congested I couldn't breath (same happened on my fitout sleepover).

In order to get breathing properly I had to use a nasal spray & start the unit at full 15cm pressure.

Full face mask seems to be the only useful way for me at the moment.

Cheers

DSM

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 4:30 pm

Will the full face masks work if you have a goatee? Or would I need to shave it off?

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 4:42 pm

It really depends on the position of the goatee but I would guess a yes.

Cheers

Doug

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 4:53 pm

OK, thanks dsm....

SnoreNoMore2005 · Post by **SnoreNoMore2005** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:22 pm

DMS, I hate to hear you're giving up on a nasal mask. I've got the same problem you do and the same masks. The activa is so much more comfortable than the FF mask.

People here recommended that I turn up the heat on my humidifier to help withy my clogged nose. It really did help a lot, although did not completely solve the problem.

I haven't tried the tape over the mouth, but will do so soon.

If anyone has any other suggestions about how mouth-breathers can adapt to nasal masks, I'd love to hear them.

SnoreNoMore2005

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:30 pm

SnoreNoMore2005 wrote:DSM, I hate to hear you're giving up on a nasal mask. I've got the same problem you do and the same masks. The activa is so much more comfortable than the FF mask.

SnoreNoMore2005

I would have tried more options but concern for my wife's sleep has again taken priority.

I do find I had to increase the humidity with the ACTIVA, that was ok. I was very surprised when the 2 occassions arose of having to go to the bathroom for no more than a couple of mins only to find my nose congesting - it happened so durned quickly.

By running without Ramp I got around it eventually but it was such a struggle to breathe *out* against my own nose.

I do rely on my wife's input - she has been hearing leaks from the ACTIVA that I can't (but I do have hi freq hearing loss).

Cheers

DSM

twistedcherokee · Post by **twistedcherokee** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:15 pm

I have a full beard and use a FF. I do keep it trimed around 1/2" or so.

Toby

rpalmer · Post by **rpalmer** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 12:04 am

Nitro Dan wrote:Will the full face masks work if you have a goatee? Or would I need to shave it off?

Oh, no, Dan! Don't shave yet! I have a full beard right up to my lower lip & have had absolutely no problems with a F/F mask.

Well, that's not quite true, but all the leak issues seem to be on the side of my nose (which thankfully I don't have to shave!) & the bridge of my nose.

Like so many other posters on this forum, I'm a mouth breather, even when I'm awake, so nasal masks - & I assume nasal "pillows" - just aren't an option for me. Been there, done that. The beard & moustache also preclude trying to tape my mouth closed, although my wife thought that was a great idea & then I could just leave the tape on all day! I can't imagine I could tape my mouth without also getting lots of hair under the tape, & then getting it off would be....Ouch!

At any rate, don't shave until you at least try the F/F mask & hopefully you'll be fine with it like both Toby & me. If not you can always shave it later. Years ago, in another lifetime, I was up for a position at Walt Disney World & one of the pre-interview HR guys asked if I would be ok if I had to shave my beard - "facial hair isn't allowed in WDW, you know." I told him "Hey, it's just a beard, not a political statement, so if it becomes an issue, it'll be gone in a New York minute!"

Let us know if it works, or you have to change your screenname to OldBaldFace!

Rol

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 12:46 am

I'm a mouth breather, even when I'm awake, so nasal masks - & I assume nasal "pillows" - just aren't an option for me. Been there, done that. The beard & moustache also preclude trying to tape my mouth closed

I wouldn't be able to wear the more comfortable pillows interfaces without using one of several methods that stop mouth air leaks for me. Tape is the simplest, but there are other ways, too.

A no-tape way you might try....frequenseeker's "DYI" homemade mouthguard device. Forces the tongue to make the airtight seal within the mouth. Takes some crafting, but I finally got it to work well for me at stopping mouth air leaks. Others have gotten it to work for them, too.

Read all about it at the link below. Plus, on page 3 of that long topic, I posted links to other methods people have used to stop mouth air leaks. Some of them (including some I've tried!) are rather funny. What desperate lab rats will do!!

Topic started by frequenseeker Dec 01 2004 subject: mouth leak solution, cheap DIY oral appliance

SnoreNoMore2005 · Post by **SnoreNoMore2005** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 8:39 am

Dan, if that photo under your name is a picture of you. I think you're going to have to shave a lot to get a FF to work properly.

SnoreNoMore2005

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 8:46 am

Thanks guys! I'll hold off on the shears....

capt · Post by **capt** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:07 am

DSM, what my wife many times thinks is my Activa leaking, is actually the exhaust blowing against my pillow, blanket or sometimes even my arm. I wish ResMed had engineered the Activa's exhaust system more like the Ultra Mirage's. It would also be great if ResMed would produce a full face mask using the Activa's sealing principle. I would really like to have one when I have a cold, as I have real problems when I have to use my full faced Mirage. I wish you luck in solving your mouth breathing problem.

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 3:23 pm

Definitely try RG's suggestion of the DIY tongue guide for stopping mouth leaks. I don't even use a chin strap anymore. Its definitely worth a couple of bucks for a couple of boilable shapeable mouthguards and a saturday of playing around with the concept.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 3:58 pm

[quote="capt"]DSM, what my wife many times thinks is my Activa leaking, is actually the exhaust blowing against my pillow, blanket or sometimes even my arm. I wish ResMed had engineered the Activa's exhaust system more like the Ultra Mirage's. It would also be great if ResMed would produce a full face mask using the Activa's sealing principle. I would really like to have one when I have a cold, as I have real problems when I have to use my full faced Mirage. I wish you luck in solving your mouth breathing problem.

/quote]

Last night was another nice night's sleep using a brand new Ultra Mirage.
I could hardly hear any noise, wife couldn't hear any noise. I was aware of breathing thru both nose & mouth at different times.

As has happened previously, got up in middle of night to visit bathroom (had excess red wine from dinner at brother-in-law's place ) and as before within 3 mins nose was congested & became useless, so was able to use mouth. Very good.

BUT, I do like the Activa & consider it a delightful mask. The Ultra Mirage has to be strapped tighter - the Activa almost floats on your face.

If I were a nose breather it would be the Activa.

Some other observations.
- Activa-: I run c-flex at 2 & h/h at 3 (more humidity)
- Ultra M: I run c-flex at 2or3 & h/h at 2 (less humidity)
- I wash my face before using mask (using pure soap)
- I quickly wash the mask (body contact bits) each morning with same pure soap.
- Shaving at night allows for even better seal (but face tends to be too sensitive after next morning's shave)

Cheers

DSM

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 3:59 pm

snork1 wrote:Definitely try RG's suggestion of the DIY tongue guide for stopping mouth leaks. I don't even use a chin strap anymore. Its definitely worth a couple of bucks for a couple of boilable shapeable mouthguards and a saturday of playing around with the concept.

As per usual RG (my angel) has the ideas. I plan to explore the use of these moulded teeth guards. Just hope we can get em locally.

Cheers

DSM

Today am giving up ...

Today am giving up ...

I think it would be ok

Try try again

Re: Try try again

F/F Mask with a Beard (Goatee)

Might have to shave