Overflow air from mask

Is there a mask out there that doesn't blow the overflow air out right at the mask, but somewhere on the hose? I am unable to turn towards my spouse without the air blowing right into her face.

Fisher-Paykel masks have diffusers built in to the port where air exits the mask and that might help with your situation. Another poster has indicated some success with attaching the diffuser filter that comes with F-P masks to the exit port for non-F-P masks to reduce the effect of the exhaust air. If you choose to try this, it is important to be careful not to block any of the little air holes.

The problem with having the port farther away from the mask is that this reduces the masks ability to get rid of the excess CO2 from your exhalations. Masks are designed to allow the incoming air to help move your exhaled air out of the mask and prevent a condition called re-breathing. The total air volume contained within the mask is called dead space. This needs to be cleared out by the incoming air from the CPAP machine in order for the mask to work properly.

There is some literature on the subject of increasing the dead space in CPAP masks ( moving the air exit port farther away will do this ) in order to slightly increase the rebreathing of the CO2 enriched air and help control the issues that affect central and complex sleep apnea.

Link: Enhanced Expiratory Rebreathing Space (EERS)

Some couples just put a pillow between themselves... one of those tube type would work.

twallin wrote:Is there a mask out there that doesn't blow the overflow air out right at the mask, but somewhere on the hose? I am unable to turn towards my spouse without the air blowing right into her face.

I guess you will not be able to face each other while you sleep. We have all faced that problem and survived.

What nanwilson said. I always put a pillow between myself and my husband to deflect the air from blowing at him. It works great.

If you're happy with your mask, then keep it and try the pillow method. It's far easier to do that than jump into the frustrating search for another mask that might or might not work for you as well. And most masks have the same issue of blowing air at your partner when you face them. A few masks blow air downward, but then the air is blowing on you all the time, which is not fun at all and can keep you awake.

twallin, do you use a nasal mask or a FFM?

The only mask that I can think of that might be what you are thinking about in regards to where the vented air goes would be the Aeiomed Headrest and it is no longer available.
The vent was routed upwards and exited at the top of the forehead.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/aeiome ... rface.html
Sadly it was discontinued and I don't know anywhere that it can be found now. It actually was a nice little mask despite being so weird looking. I had a chance to try it last year and it worked out a lot better than I thought it would.

F & P has a couple of masks now with a little diffuser over the vent to disperse the air flow from the vent that might less it enough to not annoy your spouse.
This new one
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fp-pil ... -mask.html
and this one
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -mask.html

There may have been one other but I can't remember for sure.

My Sister in Law's mother wraps a lightweight scarf around her neck where her hubbys vented air seems to hit. The pillow is a good idea though