Full Mask

I am thinking about getting a full mask. Right now I have the nasal pillows and I am having no problems just a few air leaks. I have spells of waking up with dry mouth and was told the full mask would help that. I have tried the chin strap but to uncomforable. I am not sure about the full mask any opions of someone that has went from the pillows to the mask

I started out using the nasal pillows but found it difficult to breathe because of year round allergies. After reading various posts on here I went with Resmed Mirage Series 2 Full Face Mask. Checkit out on https://www.cpap.com.

I'm about to get another full face mask too, Still not sure which to get...

I'm really looking for one that goes over the entire face,

I've been told about the resmed FF before too, might get that one.

I was told that last night I had my mask off a few times wich doesn't usually happen, I feel like a big o'l bag of useless right now

Personally, I like my UltraMirage FF. I used one for my sleep study, got one from the DME when I got my equiment, then bought another one from cpap.com. Guess you could say that I'm a confirmed FF user, couldn't you?

Ok - I'm going to order a new mask this week because I'm having leaks with the respironics FF mask - This is the one I have now



I am seriosly considering the Respironics Total Mask >Link<



The Resmed ultra Mirage has bee suggested to me >Link<


I can't see the difference between this mask and the mask that I am already using, So really - What is it???

Hi Clownshow,

I used the mask you pictured at the top (Respironics ComfortFull full face mask) for about 5 months as my primary mask. I fought mask leaks with it a lot. The stiff cushion dug into my face - luckily no raw places or sores, but marks on the face every morning. You can imagine that during 5 months I tried every adjustment trick from tight to loose. My guess is that I had a lot of sleep disruptions from the multiple leaks that would wake me up, as well as the from the discomfort of a rather hard cushion. I'm a side sleeper, by the way.

Then I switched to the mask you pictured at the bottom (ResMed Ultra Mirage FF full face mask.) What a difference! The ResMed cushion is much "cushier" and much less likely to leak. Much, much better designed and constructed mask, imho. I've found that to be true of any ResMed mask I've tried... as nearly leakproof as a mask can be (with the exception of their "Vista" - constant tiny leaks up around the eyes for me.)

Sure, any mask can spring a leak from time to time as we toss and turn at night, and no mask is as comfortable as not having to wear a mask at all! But ResMed flat out has their cushion design together in my book.

The ResMed Mirage Activa nasal mask is an absolute wonder. If ResMed ever gets around to bringing out a full face version of the Activa, that will be the cadillac of FF masks. (No, I don't work for them...if I did, we'd already have a full face Activa... LOL!)

I love my Respironics autopap machine. I think that company makes fine machines. But in the mask department, they are woefully behind, in my opinion. Something about their cushion designs - they just haven't "gotten it" yet. They put the word "Comfort" in the names of their masks, but that's the only place I've personally seen it. The ones I've tried have all landed in the discard drawer for one reason or another. Usually for leaking or just being out and out uncomfortable on my face. Everyone's mileage varies though, and there are people who use Respironics masks that suit them fine.

Never have tried a "total face mask" like the one you pictured in the middle. My experiences with the leakiness of the masks I've tried by Respironics would be enough to keep me from ever trying it, not that I need that type of mask. I doubt that a person would want to open their eyes much when the machine was going. Rainout might take on a whole new meaning too - dunno.

The ResMed Ultra Mirage FF does a fine job for me when I want a mask that covers just my mouth and nose - allowing me to mouth-breathe comfortably on congested nights. I'll stick with it.

As usual rested gal you are ALL OVER IT

Thanks alot

Has anyone used the TOTAL Mask here?

I have two comments.

One, my experience (though much less than hers) pretty much mimics Rested Gals, and generally I find she knows what she's talking about.

Two, if after a few nights with it, I end up looking like this guy:



...I think I'd rather have untreated apnea.

Liam, who (on reflection) probably looks a lot more like that guy than he'd like to admit.

I love ResMed products but I don't love their customer service. I have written several times asking if they are working on a full face version and if so if they can tell me if it will be out relatively soon as I and many would love one. They never answer, Period, has anyone else tried? Mr. Goodman?

liam wrote:...I think I'd rather have untreated apnea.

Haha, I'm just tired of having 3 out of 7 night s a week where I don't get air leaks, Iv'e tried the Oracle and felt like I was suffocating, I've used the Resperonics nasal mask and would open my mouth and breath. The Resperonics FF that I'm using now blows into my eyes and I get pink eye or it doesn't maintai a seal and I get apneas through the night whenever this happens I'm SOL for a day or two with Flu like symptoms. I'm so sick of being sick I wish it would go away and I could go back to feeling normal

rock and roll wrote:I love ResMed products but I don't love their customer service. I have written several times asking if they are working on a full face version and if so if they can tell me if it will be out relatively soon as I and many would love one. They never answer, Period, has anyone else tried? Mr. Goodman?

I tried. Also no answer. Not even an acknowledgement that they GOT the e-mail.

Then again, the only e-mail address they list starts with "receptionist@", so I wasn't really expecting an answer from anyone who knew anything, anyway.

(No offense to the receptionists out there, but I'd feel much better if it were "productinfo@").

Liam, who's now going to have to look over his shoulder whenever there are receptionists about.

Do any of the companie make a mask like a firefighters mask??

You know, that existing technology thats proven in the field?

I wish I could find something like this

Why stop there? I'm envisioning something like that big huge metal monstrosity that they had on the very earliest deep sea diving suits.

Which actually begs another question that I've wondered for a while:

Is it just the pressure that helps with a CPAP, or is it (as would seem to make more sense) the pressure DIFFERENTIAL? In other words, would you magically stop snoring and sleep better if you slept in a pressurized chamber? Or does there have to be a greater pressure at mouth/nose than there is pressing in on your chest, so that there is a net pressure into your lungs?

For anyone who doesn't quite get the question, consider this:

Blowing up a balloon requires a pressure DIFFERENTIAL. You either blow in one end, creating higher pressure inside than outside (which the balloon then inflates to try to equalize), or alternately you can lower the pressure OUTSIDE of the balloon, while keeping the pressure constant at the mouth of it. (A lot less efficient, but it would still work). Throwing an uninflated, open balloon into a pressure chamber will never have any inflatory (inflationary?) effect, no matter HOW high the pressure you set it to.

I understand the answer which seems to make the most logical sense, but I've been surprised by how medical procedures and aparati work before, so it's worth asking.

Liam, who still has time to cancel his $10,000 bid for a hyperbaric chamber on E-bay.

It's the differential, a cpap blows yer lungs and airways up like a balloon so there won't be obstructions.

I'd wear Darth Vaders helmet (That would be da coolest) if it would mean I'd get a good sleep, I've tried a mask similar to the one in the above picture years ago(Not for cpap), It was alot more comfy than the crappy cpap masks

I would think it is the flow of the air, if the air were to sit still in your throat it wouldn't work the same..?