Need advice - mouth taping, asthma, hybrid masks, etc.

[OntarioKevin]

Need some help here.

Been wrestling with CPAP (autopap) for about six months now. Happy with my machine (too tired now to remember what I have), but can't find a mask.

I'm asthmatic, although it's under pretty good control. One side effect of one of my drugs, though (Accolade) is that I get a bit phlegmy.

I've breathed through my mouth my whole life, so I initially started using full face masks. After they shredded my nose, I discovered the Mirage Liberty and that worked for a while.

I cannot get the nasal pillows to seal for more than an hour or so, using any combination of elastic bands around them. Going to try boiling them this morning - I seem to recall someone saying that helped.

I'm going to try the Innomed/Respcare Hybrid mask, although I live in Canada so everything's twice as expensive, so I've been trying to time the ordering so that my wife can pick it up during a US trip. Of course, by the time I can get my sleep-deprived brain to order the product, I keep missing the window, so I think I'll have to suck it up and just pay double in our wonderful socialist healthcare system (OK, that's off-track).

My real question I guess is this: I'm thinking of trying a nasal pillow (Swift FX seems to get the most buzz here) and trying to keep my mouth closed. People here seem to prefer mouth taping to chin straps, but I have two fears with the mouth taping. First, my lips are kinda big, and folding them in actually produces a fair amount of pressure. But more importantly, I'm terrified that I just won't be able to breathe.

I haven't had a real asthma attack in years, so I'm not scared about that - just that I won't really be able to breathe through my nose all night.

My lung doctor told my nose is totally clear - he could "drive a truck through it". And I do a nasal rinse twice a day - it really is clear. He says I'm just not used to the feeling of breathing through my nose. Vasomotor rhinitis.

Thoughts?

Had a really good 9 hour AHI 1.5 hour night last week with the Liberty, but I was on a sleep drug.

[Mary Z]

The mask I like is the FitLife Total Face by respironics. It completey misses the bridge of the nose and I find it very comfortable. Depencing on your pressure nasal pillows my or my not work for you.

[nanwilson]

Hi Kevin
There is a place in Canada that you can order from and the prices are the same as U.S. Go to clinicalsleep.com. I just bought a mask and some filters there and the prices were really good (the same if not better than in U.S.). One of the other guys just bought a machine there, I'm sure he will chime in when he's sees this thread. You have to ask for a quote, they will get back to you within twenty-four hours. There are no shipping charges and you don't have to download your prescription, only if you are buying a machine.
I have a hybrid and I love it, I switch back and forth between it and my Ultra Mirage ffm.
Good luck
Nan

[BusyLyn]

Have you tried the ComfortGel FFM? I've found it to be a little wider and, because it's got a cushion, it's softer on the nose.

Lyn

[OntarioKevin]

I actually started with the ComfortGel FFM - it ripped my nose to shreds.

I've just recently been trying a different size nasal pillow with the Liberty, and that seems better.

Appreciate the tip on a Canadian source. I've been using SecondWindCPAP and they have good prices and great customer service, but only when you can find an actual person (there's really no way to order most of what they have online).

[bayourest]

there are gel nosepads available that make a huge difference in preventing shredded nose bridges.....and the liners from Padacheek are great. After I got my padacheek liner for my quattro mirage I never used the gel pad again. Right now I am using a quattro FX which I like a lot. it is seated at midbridge on your nose. I have a padacheek liner for that mask too and it's very comfortable. Check out padacheek.com as there are all sorts of innovative products which will increase your comfort.

[TalonNYC]

I have the exact same problem with the FFM, and I'm trying the gel pad now (just got it yesterday). I have a mild form of bronchial asthma and therefore also mouth-breathe a lot, so the nasal masks/pillows were out.

I'll keep everyone posted on how the gel cushion works over time.

[Drowsy Dancer]

If you think taping might help you, but you are leery of it, try taping your mouth while you are awake and reading or watching TV or something for an hour or two so that you can get some sense of how well you can breathe with the tape on. Mask optional (but if you use the mask too turn the machine on!! ).

DD

[BlackSpinner]

I'm going to try the Innomed/Respcare Hybrid mask, although I live in Canada so everything's twice as expensive, so I've been trying to time the ordering so that my wife can pick it up during a US trip.

Our host will ship anything except resmed to canada. the hybrid ends up costing the same as if you order from clinicalsleep site in Vancouver. I got mine from cpap.com in 4 days or less.