Mask types and numbers.... it's a fun ride

[yardbird]

Ok so I got a new machine and love the software. Easy to read. So I''m reading my numbers every morning again.

This is about MASKS though and my continuing adventure at being a socially acceptable bed partner while being a CPAP user. My wife complains that I blow dragon breath on her in the middle of the night. Air coming out of my mouth.

Machine is Intellipap Auto with heated humidifier and Smartlink module. Pressure set to range from 7 to 12. Titrated at 8.

Night 1
Mask : ComfortLite 2 with nasal cushion
90th percentile = 8.0 cmH2O (amazing.... that's my titrated pressure)
AHI 2.7
AI 0.1
HI 2.5
NRI (non responsive events) 0
Snores 20 events
Mask Leak Time 0% of total
EPI (how many times did you blow dragon breath at your partner) 15.7 per hour

"Yes, dear. Tonight I'll wear teh full face mask and that should eliminate the dragon breath"

Nigh 2
Mask : Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask
90th percentile = 12.0 cmH2O (that's the upper limit I set)
AHI 7.7
AI 1.1
HI 6.6
NRI (non responsive events) 3.7 per hour
Snores 68 events
Mask Leak Time 5.8% of total
EPI (how many times did you blow dragon breath at your partner) 3 per hour (the machine detected something it thought was exhale puffing through mouth. Full face mask. Not sure how to interpret this)

So... full face mask and leaks all over the place even though I feel it is fitting better than it ever has. It's quite comfortable. However the numbers really seem to suck out loud when using it. Clearly I have some work to do if I want to be able to use this mask effectively.

The ComfortLite 2 with nasal cushion shows a very flat pressure line. Leak line still a bit up and down. The numbers overall are reasonably decent, but there's that dragon breath thing going on. Mouth taping with a mustache sucks and my wife really doesn't want me to shave it off. Tried the denture strips. They were messy. They worked to a degree, but I'm looking for something easier. Too much ceremony applying the strips, and then rolling them off in the morning (assuming they made it through the night). When it's time for bed I just want to strap the squid onto my face and go to sleep. The ComfortLite2 is putting on a baseball cap and off to dreamland I go.

I'm thinking it might be time to try a chin strap or PapCap.

Tonight I'm going to try my Swift 2 or Swift LT and see what those number look like. Stay tuned.

[RipVW]

I tried SO MANY masks due to similar problems you describe. Finally settled on the UM Full Face Mask. No leak issues. But, I've learned on this forum that there's no "magic bullet" when it comes to mask types. What works well for some doesn't work at all for others. Good luck!

[Dpursi]

I too have notice that while the full face mask felt great (Quattro) and had very little leaks my numbers have been much higher. I will head back to the Nasal Mask (Somno Plus) but keep the Quattro close for nights where congestion makes the Somno unusable. I don't know why there is a difference in the numbers between the masks and it seems to me that the numbers should be better with the full face if mouth leaks were a problem but that is not the case. Your answer may be a chin strap! I would still like to here others experience with full face masks.