Why is the FFM so scary???

[carbonman]

I started my cpap journey w/an Optilife nasal pillow mask,
because I was sure it would be much easier than a ffm,
and I have claustrophobia.
I guess there is no easy mask those first few weeks of cpap.
The Optilife lasted about 6wks. Discovered I'm a trained mouth breather.
I went through the chinstrap,
Papcap original, and Polident strip gluing.
Gluing my mouth shut....talk about claustrophobia.....
Jaw strapped closed w/chinstrap.....talk about claustrophobia...
Time consuming ritual to get ready for bed....yikes.
Couldn't get a drink in the night because you would have to
re-glue. Nasty morning ritual to peel the strips off and
remove residue from lips. Nasty pressure sores in my nasals....yikes.
Let's not even revive the Lansinoh debate.....yikes.
I never even tried taping....mustache.
Never even considered panty hose fixes.....yikes.

Finally, convert to a ffm.
Yes, an odyssey to find the correct mask and size.

Now, nightly ritual is:
fill HH,
remove mask and PapcapII from towel rack,
install Papcap/mask on head,
attach lower straps,
attach hose,
set auto-pilot for deep abyss.......
enjoy!

Need for drink in the night.....detatch lower straps,
get drink,
attach lower straps....resume journey.

Glad to see, I'm not the only one....

I finally got a FFM I must say, it was wonderful!!!

It was so nice to sleep and not worry about the tape coming off, lip fluttering, etc.
It was nice to sleep with my mouth wide open, breathing so much better than through my nose --
It was very comfortable too -- can you tell I am happy?? Skittles

How are you nasal people sleeping w/all that stuff???

I think it's time for a different mask.

Newbies, the ffm can be your friend.

.....just remember, once you go full, you may never come back.

.....flame on!

[deerhound]

Being a neanderthal and a registered mouth breather, when I went for my sleep test I told them I was a confirmed mouth breather and that my mouth was always dry when I got up. They started me on a FF and I have never looked back. The congestion in my nose scares me from ever trying a nasal mask. I like breathing through my nose but I love the freedom to open my mouth and breathe.
Dale

[Wulfman]

Why is the FFM so scary???

I've never understood that either. When I went for my sleep study, when I was asked about a mask to use, I told them that I wanted (more like "needed") to use a full face mask. After I found out what I needed to know, I reviewed the available masks and selected the UMFF. Although I have tried a few others, it's been my "main breeze".

(I could have written basically the same thing that Dale/deerhound wrote, but had to think of something different since he had already said it.)

Den

[OldLincoln]

The norm seems to be to try the nasal pillows, then the nasal mask before the ffm. I kept trying to wipe my nose with the pillows on and the nasal mask felt like it "should" be a ffm. Maybe it was my time in the Air force wearing a "full face mask" for many hours at a time. But I immediately felt at home with a ffm.

[boston]

at my sleep study i was asked which mask i wanted, nasal or full face mask, wasnt shown either just asked to pick. i asked how big the FFM was and was told it covered the entire face (the total face mask) and was hard to keep from leaking. THAT DIDNT SOUND EASY TO SLEEP IN AT ALL, so I opted for the nasal mask and have since switched to a swift LT.

I do have a FFM if the need arises due to a cold, etc.

Maybe I'll give it a try sometime soon, just to see if I like it.

[elader]

What I really like about the FFM mask is that there is no crazy pressure differential between my nose and mouth - it's hard to tell there is any pressure at all. I have Carbonman to thank for the 'ff chant' while I was trying painters tape and surgical tape. I think it's gonna work out.

I had my first really vivid dream last night that I can honestly remember for years and years. My 10 year old had killed her older sister and was on trial for murder and got the death penalty. I didnt seem too upset my teenager was dead, just that her sister was gonna fry for it.

My wife found the whole thing odd. Maybe I had better not tell my 18 year old about it.

[skittles]

Ok -- I see your point, albeit it is from a man's point of view.

Look at the Comfort lite II - no face contact, kind of cute (if you can call any CPAP thing cute). No strap marks in the moning, and no need to use any kind of strap cover -- less is in now, you know.

Now look at a FFM -- from a woman's point of view, it is not even close to being attractive, and we women like to look good from every angle, awake or asleep. Not even the most expensive nightie is going to make you look good with that thing coverning your face.

It is scary looking, and looks very uncomfortable. Having tried one, I find that I CAN turn from side to side, and breath like God intended me to - not just from my nose, but use my mouth also, which we all know you can take much deeper breaths through your mouth.

My husband did laugh at me, and give me a strange look, like "you think this is better" but he likes the fact that I no longer snore, have more energy, so I guess after seeing me bald from chemo, waking up to see this is a piece of cake for him.

So, I hope I explained to you, at least from my little point of view, why a FFM is so scary.


Take Care

Skittles

[carbonman]

Ok -- I see your point, albeit it is from a man's point of view.

Thank you! I'm glad someone can see my point.

Now look at a FFM -- from a woman's point of view, it is not even close to being attractive, and we women like to look good from every angle, awake or asleep. Not even the most expensive nightie is going to make you look good with that thing coverning your face.

Now there is a real female perspective.
From my male perspective, I wanted the Quattro to work, desperatly,
because I think it is engineeringly aesthetic. It is an engineering work of art.
Now, as far as the use w/an expensive nightie, there have been discussions about doing the
wild thing, w/the mask.....but I am NOT going there.

It is scary looking, and looks very uncomfortable. Having tried one, I find that I CAN turn from side to side, and breath like God intended me to - not just from my nose, but use my mouth also, which we all know you can take much deeper breaths through your mouth.

....well, there you go ....'nough said.

So, I hope I explained to you, at least from my little point of view, why a FFM is so scary. Skittles

...you did, and I appreciate it. Thanks!

[Babette]

Can't argue with you, Carbonman. I think a FFM is the way to go for most users. In my case, when I was initially offered one, I balked because I'm claustrophobic, and it looked hot and I just couldn't imagine being able to sleep with that. Plus I have very sensitive skin, and the thought of all that plastic touching my face just gave me hives. I don't even want to know what sort of horror my face would look like after some of those masks.

After nearly 2 years of fiddling and taping and strapping with nasal pillows and prongs, I see the value of a FFM in a different light these days.

However, I've yet to find a FFM I can actually wear all night.

So, for now, I'm fine with what I have, but I'm still open to the idea of the next great FFM that comes along.

Rock on, Carbonman! You tell 'em!
Babs

[NeurosurgeryNP]

Not scary at all for me! I routinely use the Activa nasal mask, but on those nights when I am congested, I use the Quattro FFM. It is a lifesaver.

[sleepyangler]

Scary? No not really. Just prefer the use of the swift LT and pap-cap over the quattro I have for those times when I am too congested. Yes I need to use the chin strap on the pap-cap in order to get good treatment with the LT but don't see it as too much gear and certainly doesn't hinder the ability to get a drink. Both work well; only one can be described as really comfortable. Different strokes for different folks and I wouldn't question anyone for choosing either way.

[san_fran_gal]

At first it looked like a gas mask to me. Scary! But nasal pillows and nasal comfort gels were giving me blowfish cheeks, and I hated that I couldn't even yawn without air rushing out of my mouth. I never knew how much I yawned and sighed (silently, like just deep breaths) before falling asleep until I started on my nasal CPAP stuff. I felt like some kind of evil demented dragon, hissing my way to sleep!

I got titrated with a FFM after that, and while it's been hard to get used to the dimensions, it's much more pleasant.

My husband calls me Darth Vader-ette. (And no, Rooster, I haven't told him to use the force. Yet.)

[track]

Standing on a tall bridge or on the edge of a tall building and looking down...now that's scary. Being locked in a coffin and buried alive..now that's reason to feel clausterphobic. Wearing a full face mask to bed....that's not a reason to be scared or clausterphobic.

[Kiralynx]

I tried a FFM when I went to try masks before my titration. The plastic all over my face was horrible. I couldn't touch my nose, couldn't touch my forehead, couldn't touch my chin or my lips.... I itched and itched and itched. Plus having all those wretched straps blinding me, cutting into my cheeks and the side of my head...

With a FFM, I'd be dripping in sweat within ten minutes, and my skin would break out in a rash, not to mention the way I'd be itching. I'd never sleep. And that's in WINTER. Ghu alone knows what it would be like in a N'Awlins summer!

I can't tolerate taping. I feel trapped. I can't handle a chin strap because it also sets off the claustrophobia, and besides that, it's too blasted HOT.

My CL2 with direct seals gives me enough air to breathe. It's too big on my forehead, but until I can design another headpiece for it, I'm stuck with that. The simple seal was too hot, and the nasal pillows didn't give me enough air.

My chin support is covered in soft fleece and keeps my jaw shut without wrapping my head up like a chin strap. I can reach for my water and grab a quick swig, and settle back down without having to undo everything.

In the morning, a quick tug releases the chin support, I lift my mask up and off, and I'm free to get slurped by dachshunds. The last being a very important part of my morning ritual.

I'm incredibly glad I learned about testing masks BEFORE the titration! Heaven knows what I'd have gotten stuck with!

[ozij]

The scary one for me was the Breeze in a picture, not the FFM.
I think it was scary because when you look at a picture you don't realize there's air coming in - and you're a person whose brain is acutely aware of the danger of choking.

So I started out with a nasal mask, and experienced what Kyralinx did:

The plastic all over my face was horrible. I couldn't touch my nose, couldn't touch my forehead, <snip> .... I itched and itched and itched. Plus having all those wretched straps blinding me, cutting into my cheeks and the side of my head... <snip>

And I was sweating despite its being winter.
So they suggested a Breeze, and I said "no way" - but they handed it to me with the air blowing - and I was OK.
It took me 8 months to decide taping wasn't as craze as it looked and sounded.

Nowadays, whenever I consider a full face mask - and I do now and again - I think of all those things, and prefer taping. I rarely need to drink at night, my deconstructed Headrest is light, I've gotten used to the touch on pantyhose on my face - soft non-cutting straps - so it's still nasal pillows for me.

O.