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[quote="risktaker99"]Thanks for your responses. I assume that the "dry mouth" issue can be resolved by just turning up the humidifier setting.

I have been trying to find out how much I would be responsible for out of pocket payment from my DME through insurance (my plan has a coinsurance of 20% for DME). They are telling me that since it is so new, they don't have a code for it yet and I will be billed as if it were a nasal pillows mask. Therefore, I told them to go ahead and order it. I should have it by next Monday. I'll keep you abreast of my experience.

Well, I guess I'll try it and see how much mouth breathing I do now. When I first began cpap a year ago without the chin strap, I was doing a lot of mouth breathing...my throat felt like I was in the Sahara Desert. Perhaps, I've trained myself to not mouth breath as much. Hopefully, that in combination with this new mask will not overburden the humidifier. Wishful thinking??

I also was wondering, did I read somewhere that this Hyrbid mask delviers either more volume of air or is it better quality of air since it removes the CO2, thereby giving better therapy than other masks?

risktaker99 wrote:I also was wondering, did I read somewhere that this Hyrbid mask delviers either more volume of air or is it better quality of air since it removes the CO2, thereby giving better therapy than other masks?

Yes it has a very high passive exhalation port flow rate ... means more fresh air ... means louder harder working CPAP machine too. Doesn't bother me though and also as Mike Moran has previously stated: "the airflow over your chin and mouth feels nice" ... I agree.

Hope it works out well for you as it has for many others.

- roberto

I have a chinstrap and don't use it because it slips and I can't seem to make it work well

I have been using a regular cheapo ace bandage. Seems to be rough enough to stay where it put it and not too rough for my face.

Can also be tightened or loostened easily without the RIPPPP of the velcro to wake up my husband (clothes with metal clip or just slap some tape on it (tape is already there for my mouth!)

I have a Respironics, Resmed, and a Ruby Red chin strap. They help me use my Nano FX nasal mask. Gradually over time my mouth breathing and jaw drop are lessening so I use all three straps depending on how I feel. The Resmed is the lightest control and the Ruby Red is the strongest. Last night I used the ResMed chinstrap but I noticed my lips were puffing out a bit in the morning. Tonight I will go back to the ruby red. I don't mind them as long as I haven't pulled it too tight. My leak numbers overall are much better with a nasal than a full face mask. My AHI goes way down with the Nano.

Hate it with a passion. I will not go to a full face mask. I am going to try the taping method. Mentioned in a earlier post. If that doesn't work I may order and try the style they used at my sleep study. It was almost like a gauze ace bandage style. My new mask is very comfortable until I use that dang chin strap! :/

Finally! a Jurassic poll that still has relevance!
The fact that chin straps are STILL being pushed by people who have no idea
---how utterly miserable they can be!
---how useless they often are!
---how harmful they can be--(TMJ, headaches, nerve damage, skin lesions, etc.)
Yes, some people wear them, and swear by them, but as one who is profoundly affected by their negative effects,
I do NOT endorse them for everyone; and am frustrated at the lack of effective, comfortable, safe solutions.

I used a strap for a while, but it always slipped. It helped me to train myself to keep my mouth closed, so it was good that I had it. I now can sleep without anything, but I usually tape, to keep leaks to a minimum.