Full face mask - cheeks inflating

jrgood27 · Post by **jrgood27** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 6:50 am

I tried a full face mask for the first time last night (ultra mirage) and when my lips fall open my mouth inflates and I imagine I look a bit like a chipmunk.

Is this what's supposed to happen or do I need to adjust something? I don't think I'm having leaks, but I'm wondering if this is a sign that I'm not getting a good seal.

Jenny

OwlCreekObserver · Post by **OwlCreekObserver** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 7:30 am

jrgood27 wrote:I tried a full face mask for the first time last night (ultra mirage) and when my lips fall open my mouth inflates and I imagine I look a bit like a chipmunk.

Is this what's supposed to happen or do I need to adjust something? I don't think I'm having leaks, but I'm wondering if this is a sign that I'm not getting a good seal.

Jenny

That's what happened to me also. I felt a bit like a St. Bernard with its head out the window of a fast moving car .

Handgunner45 · Post by **Handgunner45** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 9:17 am

Same thing happens to me. It is much worse when I am laying on my back, so I just use it as a signal to roll over to my side.

maskjkie · Post by **maskjkie** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 9:54 am

Handgunner45 wrote:Same thing happens to me. It is much worse when I am laying on my back, so I just use it as a signal to roll over to my side.

Handgunner45, you need to give the new Hybrid mask I try. None of these issues with that.........

tooly125 · Post by **tooly125** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:16 am

I have been on cpap for six months now and always have used a FF mask.
at first I was experiancing the chipmunk cheeks but now it dosent seem to be a problem at least when I'M awake who knows whats going on while I'm asleep.
When I first go to bed I do try to breath only through my nose but even if I open my mouth my cheeks don't blow up like they used to.
Guess my body is just getting used to it.

Handgunner45 · Post by **Handgunner45** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:46 am

mj,

I am thinking about the Hybrid, however I don't see how going from my UMFF to the Hybrid will have any effect on this.

maskjkie · Post by **maskjkie** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:48 am

Handgunner45 wrote:mj,

I am thinking about the Hybrid, however I don't see how going from my UMFF to the Hybrid will have any effect on this.

The chin flap of the Hybrid encourages you to keep the mouth shut...

Handgunner45 · Post by **Handgunner45** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:56 am

maskjkie wrote:The chin flap of the Hybrid encourages you to keep the mouth shut...

That is part of the reason I am looking at the Hybrid. I am hoping that it will minimize my mouth breathing by helping to keep my lips closed. However, I get "chipmunk cheeks" on my back, even with my mouth closed. This is not really a problem for me, like I said, it just reminds me to roll over to my side.

Handgunner45 · Post by **Handgunner45** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 11:57 am

booty1996 wrote:Clamp your cheeks with a vice grip to stop them from inflating.

Tried that. but my jaw muscles are just to strong. I keep breaking the vice grips.

jrgood27 · Post by **jrgood27** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:42 am

i'm trying a full face mask because i can't keep my lips closed with the swift, but in order to stop the chipmunk effect with the umff, i have to keep my lips closed?

hm.

jenny

Issac · Post by **Issac** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:56 am

if you are buying a full face mask, the ultra mirage full face is not your only choice. I was able to try a fisher Paycal mask during my test and it was much more comfortable, but you don't truly know until you get home and try to sleep night after night. My problem with these masks is that I have be careful to get the right size because the leak is always into my eyes. I did not get the F&P mask in the end, and next month I'll have the Hybrid, but my second choice would be F&P. If that didn't work, I saw a mask that went all over the entire face I would try.

dornback · Post by **dornback** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 8:26 am

My experience is just like tooly. When I started, it was an issue, but over time, It is no longer an issue. As a benefit of keeping my mouth closed, the dentist noticed that my teeth were easier to clean, go figure...

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oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Sun Jul 02, 2006 10:03 am

When its tightened enough to stop the leaks, the UMFF puts a lot of pressure on the lower teeth, pushing the jaw to the rear. As we know
this is the wrong direction to stop 'The Blowfish'. I switched to the HC431 and didn't encounter that problem any more...

Full face mask - cheeks inflating

Full face mask - cheeks inflating

Re: Full face mask - cheeks inflating

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