Hybrid or full face? UPPP. Please Help!

Hi.

So, I'm a mouth leaker. I was told to get a hybrid mask, which is not as uncomfortable as a full face mask, specially because it doesn't make you swallow air (aerophagia), which has happened to me several times (I tape my mouth shut with my nasal mask to solve my air leaks). But I went to my sleep doctor today and she told me that because I had a radiofrequency surgery done on my soft palate/uvula/tonge base earlier this year, that's why now I'm a mouth leaker and I should get a full face mask (nose, mouth). Could someone give me some opinion on this? Are there people out there who have this problem without having had this surgery done? I need to get a different mask (either hybrid or ful face) mask to solve the mouth air leak problem. Thanks.

John.

After many years (also a mouth leaker) I have come to the conclusion that their is no such thing as a perfect mask. Sometimes I will use as many as 3 masks in a week. I have a Hybrid, a "no mask", a Comfort Full and a Comfort Full 2. Different nights abd diffferent masks.
Don't ask me why. It's just that way.

Yep! Sounds like you may need to control your leaks. Some do that with a FF mask as you are aware ... others use a nasal interface along with lip taping (or Polydent gluing) or chinstraps (not always successful) or some combination of those methods.

I'm sure others will chime in and give you their experience with these alternative leak prevention mehtods and additional links.

Best of luck!

I too am a mouth leaker. I tried the mouth taping, but I found it very uncomfortable and even a little distressing. I also tried chin straps which kept my chin up, but did nothing to keep my lips closed.

I have tried most of the full-face masks avaiable and I currently use the Hybrid. There are some good FFM out there - the FF431 and the Ultra Mirage were my favs. The Hybrid, however, is so much better - IMO. It seems to have fewer leaks, stays in place better with less tighening of the straps and I love the smaller profile.

Not sure how the Hybrid vs. FFM thing affects your surgery situation, though.

I'm a mouth leaker too. I haven't had the surgery you describe, however.

I just started using the hybrid and i prefer it to the other ff masks I've tried. I couldn't get the others to stop leaking--the respironics comfortful and the resmed ultra mirage--they simply don't fit my face (I'm of German descent with a prominant nose-bridge).

However, even with the hybrid and no leaks I am still swallowing air.

A lot of people report struggling with the hybrid and fit yet I had no prob. Chose a mask size and pillow size and they work with little fiddling or trouble.

I will be interested to also try the resmed liberty once I hear more about it.

And I am looking into a dental appliance to stop mouth leaks/put my tongue in a good position to keep it out of the airway so that I can try nasal-only interfaces.

Last night I wore the hybrid and remember taking it off but don't remember WHY I took it off. I have a habit of taking off the masks after about an hour or two. So far, it has been mostly due to leaking, but since the hybrid doesn't really leak for me I'm not sure why I took it off last night. Habit?

Jen

John 32 wrote:Hi.

So, I'm a mouth leaker. I was told to get a hybrid mask, which is not as uncomfortable as a full face mask, specially because it doesn't make you swallow air (aerophagia), which has happened to me several times (I tape my mouth shut with my nasal mask to solve my air leaks). But I went to my sleep doctor today and she told me that because I had a radiofrequency surgery done on my soft palate/uvula/tonge base earlier this year, that's why now I'm a mouth leaker and I should get a full face mask (nose, mouth). Could someone give me some opinion on this? Are there people out there who have this problem without having had this surgery done? I need to get a different mask (either hybrid or ful face) mask to solve the mouth air leak problem. Thanks.

John.

Hello John,

About 40% of obstructive sleep apnea patients leak or breathe through their mouth and most of these have not had surgery on soft palate/uvula/tongue/. If you breathe or leak through you mouth, you need to use a Full Face mask or a nasal mask with your lips sealed by tape or other methods in order to maintain the prescribed pressure in your airway.

The Hybrid mask is considered a Full Face mask because it covers the mouth and the nostrils.

I use the Hybrid mask and still have aerophagia due to cpap. I don't have an answer to this problem yet.

rooster

Hello rooster.

OK so the hybrid mask is a full face mask. But does air come into your mouth as well? 'Cause I heard it doesn't, being this the difference from the other full face masks. I mean I thought the purpose of the mouth cushion in the hybrid was to prevent you from mouth leaks, not to breath. Am I wrong? 'Cause if not, then I guess the only difference is the nasal pillows, I mean the way air comes into your nostrils. I'm sorry, I'm just a newbe. I just wanna make sure that the next mask that I get doesn't make me have aerophagia again, but I guess apparently there are no warranties...

John.

John 32 wrote:Hello rooster.

OK so the hybrid mask is a full face mask. But does air come into your mouth as well? 'Cause I heard it doesn't, being this the difference from the other full face masks. I mean I thought the purpose of the mouth cushion in the hybrid was to prevent you from mouth leaks, not to breath. Am I wrong?

No, the "mouth cushion" is just what creates the seal around your mouth. The air can come into your mouth if you breathe through your mouth. Or not if you don't, as the case may be. (I don't, but I get mouth leaks, which is why I got it.) You're not *supposed* to breathe through your mouth with the Hybrid, and it does sort of hold your mouth shut because it has a chin support, but you *can*. (I assume that's why many people remove the chin support, so that they can breathe more easily through their mouths if they need to.)

The difference is, as you said, primarily how the air comes into your nostrils. It's also smaller than a normal FF mask, of course.

Hello tillymarigold.

Thanks so much for your help. I think I finally got it. I'll get a hybrid.

John.

Hello again John,

Very logical questions and good that you are asking them.

The mouth piece delivers air pressure into your mouth anytime your mouth is open. I am a mouth breather so a major portion of my therapy is delivered through that passage. I always go to sleep with my mouth closed so there is no air entering my mouth while I am lying waiting to fall asleep. After I fall asleep my mouth reflexively falls open and there you go, I am breathing through my mouth.

Another word about aerophagia, I get little to none when I am sleeping on my back. When I roll to either side my stomach fills with air very quickly. So I try to sleep on my back all night and have been fairly successful with this. Occasionally I will roll to one side while sleeping and then when I wake up -> whoopie-cushion-Rooster.

I have rolled to my side while awake and made sure my mouth was closed tightly. Within a very few minutes my stomach will fill with air which has to be entering via my nostrils via the nasal pillows.

So the only solution I have found so far to aerophagia is to sleep exclusively on my back - bummer! I would also add that breathing through the mouth causes bad dry mouth - I have no solution to this either.

Well I hope I gave you some accurate information but unfortunately I have no solutions. Since you stated you "mouth leak", I predict you will breathe through the mouth with any FF mask.

I just have to use the Hybrid mask to get good therapy and aerophagia and dry mouth are my side effects to bear. Given the options available, the Hybrid mask is well appreciated by me.

Good luck,

Rooster