I'm a dentist treating myself! CPAP Results... Advice please?

Dreaming1 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 7:26 pm

Do you care so much about the facial hair to avoid a full face mask? If not, shave it all off and get the mouth under control. OTHERWISE, try a full full face for a couple days and see what happens. You're a dentist, you can afford it.

I do not think OP has a beard. Mustache?
I mentioned that I did just to illustrate how well the F30i seals.

Just thought I would bring up the newly available mask (F30i) to check out. Fits below the nose like the pillow mask and under the bottom lip like a FF mask, but without the nipples to the nares to deal with.

JPB

Dreaming1 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 7:26 pm

Do you care so much about the facial hair to avoid a full face mask? If not, shave it all off and get the mouth under control. OTHERWISE, try a full full face for a couple days and see what happens. You're a dentist, you can afford it.

Yes, I do care so much about my facial hair.

I'm not sure why you had to bring up my profession and finances. Very strange comment.

jimbud wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 7:54 pm

Just thought I would bring up the newly available mask (F30i) to check out. Fits below the nose like the pillow mask and under the bottom lip like a FF mask, but without the nipples to the nares to deal with.

JPB

Thanks Jimbud! I'll look into it. Seems like we're in similar situations so it's worth checking out. After all, I can afford anything and definitely don't have any student loans to worry about

Edit: How does breathing work with FFM? Breathe in through nose, and out through mouth? In and out through nose? In and out through mouth? Switch combinations throughout the night while sleeping with no problem?

The thread refers to the fact you’re a dentist. Me bringing it up is a statement of fact that everyone is aware of. One could assume you can afford to pop for a full face mask or two to try and not worry about the cost, if it doesn’t work out. You also made the comment you were tired of shaving under your nose and went back to pillows. I asked if you were attached to the hair or not, because if the hair is impacting your tape success, maybe shave it off and see if the smooth skin gives you better results with taping. There’s nothing to read into. If I thought it would help solve the problem you’re having, I’d shave the facial hair and truly see if taping is the issue for a week. Not like it won’t grow back if it turns out to not be a factor.

nee wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:12 pm

Edit: How does breathing work with FFM? Breathe in through nose, and out through mouth? In and out through nose? In and out through mouth? Switch combinations throughout the night while sleeping with no problem?

I've been wearing a full face mask for years and I breathe through my nose, my mouth stays shut. If I use nose pillows my mouth will open up. Weird but true.

squid13 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 10:35 pm

nee wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:12 pm

Edit: How does breathing work with FFM? Breathe in through nose, and out through mouth? In and out through nose? In and out through mouth? Switch combinations throughout the night while sleeping with no problem?

I've been wearing a full face mask for years and I breathe through my nose, my mouth stays shut. If I use nose pillows my mouth will open up. Weird but true.

Interesting. Just ordered the F30i, let's see how it works out. I'm about to go to the mailbox to pick up my buckwheat hull pillow

nee wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:12 pm

Edit: How does breathing work with FFM? Breathe in through nose, and out through mouth? In and out through nose? In and out through mouth? Switch combinations throughout the night while sleeping with no problem?

The idea behind the full face mask is you can breathe in any combination of nose, mouth or whatever and no therapy pressure is lost.
So you can do nose only or mouth only or a combination and change it during the night.

Full face masks present their own challenges with seal and facial hair though. It can be done but it has some extra challenges.
I know a guy with a Santa Claus beard and he uses a full face mask and has no real leak issues. I think a lot will depend on just how soft the beard is. That guy's beard was really conditioned and ultra soft and almost like the hair on our head. He didn't have a porcupine beard.

For some people not having to tape or use anything special to keep the mouth shut by using a FFM is worth it. For others they hate FFM so much that anything they have to do is worth it to avoid using a FFM. You get to decide where your preferences are.
Full face masks come with their own baggage...there's not a mask out there that doesn't have some sort of baggage tacked on...doesn't matter what mask it is. We just have to decided which baggage is more palatable to us.

Am I correct in that your Bleep leaks are mouth opening tape failure of the tape over your lips? I got a bit confused.
Tape come loose over the lips because of the hair? The Bleep itself isn't coming loose or leaking at the attachment points???

BTW...I have used a buckwheat hull pillow since I started cpap.....I would use it even if I didn't have apnea ....I love it for my poor old arthritic neck with a plate in it so my neck doesn't move so good and has to be perfectly lined up with my spine.
I sometimes make a little "nest" for my mask in the hulls when I am on my side.

nee wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:09 pm

Dreaming1 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 7:26 pm

Do you care so much about the facial hair to avoid a full face mask? If not, shave it all off and get the mouth under control. OTHERWISE, try a full full face for a couple days and see what happens. You're a dentist, you can afford it.

Yes, I do care so much about my facial hair.

I'm not sure why you had to bring up my profession and finances. Very strange comment.

Yeah, and some people say *I* am a jerk.

nee wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:12 pm

Edit: How does breathing work with FFM? Breathe in through nose, and out through mouth? In and out through nose? In and out through mouth? Switch combinations throughout the night while sleeping with no problem?

Pretty much however you want to do it. it's one cavity, so preferably nasal breathing, but if you happen to open your mouth, you don't lose any therapy pressure, also handy if your nose is stuffed up and you haven't gotten it open (I've always managed to do that, with nasal rinse, saline spray, and occasional use of Afrin at night.

nee wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:12 pm

jimbud wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 7:54 pm

Just thought I would bring up the newly available mask (F30i) to check out. Fits below the nose like the pillow mask and under the bottom lip like a FF mask, but without the nipples to the nares to deal with.

JPB

Thanks Jimbud! I'll look into it. Seems like we're in similar situations so it's worth checking out. After all, I can afford anything and definitely don't have any student loans to worry about

Edit: How does breathing work with FFM? Breathe in through nose, and out through mouth? In and out through nose? In and out through mouth? Switch combinations throughout the night while sleeping with no problem?

Yeah, like Squid I breath through my nose with the FF mask. (mostly?) With the pillow masks I would only large leak when I was in deepest sleep. I guess I would go slack all over and my ability to keep mouth and nose isolated relaxed. Wasn't always that way, just developed and I could not get that ability back.

I have a full fairly soft beard (thickest at mustache and chin). Not gonna shave it. F30i seals better and is more comfortable than the pillow masks with gag. I had more arousals also.

Like Pugsy said every system has it's own drawbacks. So far the F30i has the fewest for me in my self imposed circumstances.

I also thought that was a "very strange comment".

Good luck.

JPB

By the way, my Buckwheat pillows were the best investment I have made so far.

nee wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:12 pm

Edit: How does breathing work with FFM? Breathe in through nose, and out through mouth? In and out through nose? In and out through mouth? Switch combinations throughout the night while sleeping with no problem?

I've used a FFM for about ten years. As recommended by many forum members, I practice keeping the tip of my tongue on the roof of my mouth. This helps reduce mouth-breathing.

Most of the night, I breathe exclusively through my nose. Some mornings, my lips part and I breathe through nose and mouth. The transition is not noticed.

I use a cervical collar to help prevent jaw drop, but the major advantage is keeping the neck in the best position for airway patency.

My FFM might be one size smaller than the recommended fit. This allows the bottom of the mask to fit near the bottom lip and helps keep the lips from parting.

I bet you'll eventually work out something that provides good treatment and allows you to sleep comfortably.

BTW, I wouldn't have brought it up, but since it is out there now, why did you say "dentist" in your subject line? Was that to indicate you can write prescriptions for whatever machines and supplies you need? I don't know the regulations. (Really, prescriptions shouldn't even be required for CPAP. A CPAoPiod crisis seems unlikely.)

nee wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 10:38 pm

squid13 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 10:35 pm

nee wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:12 pm

Edit: How does breathing work with FFM? Breathe in through nose, and out through mouth? In and out through nose? In and out through mouth? Switch combinations throughout the night while sleeping with no problem?

I've been wearing a full face mask for years and I breathe through my nose, my mouth stays shut. If I use nose pillows my mouth will open up. Weird but true.

Interesting. Just ordered the F30i, let's see how it works out. I'm about to go to the mailbox to pick up my buckwheat hull pillow

Hopefully you ordered it with the right size frame

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 20, 2020 2:59 pm

BTW, I wouldn't have brought it up, but since it is out there now, why did you say "dentist" in your subject line? Was that to indicate you can write prescriptions for whatever machines and supplies you need? I don't know the regulations. (Really, prescriptions shouldn't even be required for CPAP. A CPAoPiod crisis seems unlikely.)

To be honest, I just thought it'd be interesting and bring more attention to the post! Especially since I'm in a position to screen and refer my patients as well. And people could ask me questions.

I'm not sure about the regulations either, but I still don't have a prescription and don't know if I could write myself one. I bought myself a secondhand AirSense 10 Autoset and have been finding whatever masks I need on websites where prescriptions aren't required.

Question for you all... the dial/knob on my Airsense 10 Autoset broke and I have no way of switching through the settings. The "clicking" has gone away and it just feels like smooth turning. Anyone had this problem before? How did you fix it?

Edit: Just took the front panel off and took the knob off. Now I can just turn the metal bit to switch through everything. Crisis averted!

That used to happen a lot with the System One Respironics machines. So much that they sold a replacement knob.
If you look inside the knob where it attaches to the metal you will likely see a little break in the plastic. It just can't get a good grip on the metal thing that actually does the turning.
When I had it happen to a System One machine I just used needle nose pliers to turn the metal thing until I could order a new knob.

This is the first I have heard of it with the new ResMed models and I just did a quick search and didn't find any knobs sold by themselves but it was a quick search. You might search a little more.