Nasal Mask vs. FFM Puzzle

When I suit up with my DreamWear nasal mask (and taped mouth) I usually have no leaking. When I use my Dreamwear FFM SleepyHead shows frequent leaks (about 22% last night). The puzzle is I feel better, more awake, on mornings when I've used the leaky FFM. Anyone with a possible answer to my puzzle?

MurrayNevada wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 05, 2019 5:18 pm

When I suit up with my DreamWear nasal mask (and taped mouth) I usually have no leaking. When I use my Dreamwear FFM SleepyHead shows frequent leaks (about 22% last night). The puzzle is I feel better, more awake, on mornings when I've used the leaky FFM. Anyone with a possible answer to my puzzle?

Is there a difference in your respiration? I.E Minute vent and tidal volumes?

Where are you seeing 22% on SleepyHead?

Can you post an image of that detailed report please?

I have the same experience where I feel awful with nasal mask and mouth taping, as compared to a full face mask. I believe maybe if you can't breathe efficiently through your nose during the day that it can cause issues forcing yourself to breathe through the nose at night. I also think somehow that you may be able to exhale through the mouth even while the lips are taped shut, and somehow this interrupts the positive airway pressure from being effective. This theory is probably completely false. Again I can't really explain why but the why doesn't matter all that much when in reality you feel how you feel.

Here it is Pugsy

Well at 22% you still get Mr Smiley for leak management.

Are you sleeping soundly through all those leaks?

I am wondering if you are feeling better with the leaky mask is just because maybe you are sleeping better with it despite the leaks.
I have taped my mouth in the past and while it was doable...it in itself was a bit disturbing to my sleep quality in general.
That's part of the reason I finally quit taping. The leaking or mouth breathing I ended up doing without the tape wasn't nearly as annoying as the taping was.

"Are you sleeping soundly through all those leaks?"

I am. I am always surprised to see the amount and duration of the leaks when I look at SleepyHead because I don't remember any leaks during the night.