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I'm so confused! I use the mirage activa nasal mask - but have to use a chin strap. I am "getting used to" shutting my mouth, but still need a chin strap as a "reminder".

When I use my Quattro (with Teflon fixed elbow) my mouth opens (obvious reason, I guess) to use a FF mask. However, my AHI rises - I've heard to use a FF mask and it will not matter if you open your mouth or not, but if so, is this at the expense of a higher AHI, not to mention blow fish cheeks, and an extremely dry mouth in the morning?

Confused minds would love to know your opinions!

Sleepyred

I love my activa, but the quattro is much more comfortable!

The FF mask may be pushing your jaw back ... possibly increasing potential for AHIs (it is just my guess based on my experience w/ FF masks ... everybody is different).

I have the same issue with the FF. I've been playing around with mask placement and have found that the lower down on the chin I can get the mask, the less the tendency for my jaw to be pulled back. It's a balancing act between mask/headgear position and a good seal, though.

IMHO ... you need to keep the lower back strap off of the neck and higher up on the skull ... else the tension of that strap changes as you move your head around.

I've been playing around with mask placement and have found that the lower down on the chin I can get the mask, the less the tendency for my jaw to be pulled back.

This is where the Fischer and Paykel HC431 and 432 really shine. The under-chin design is excellent for this, putting far less backward pressure on the jaw than the other FF masks do (the ones that seal just underneath the lower lip).

Somebody also mentioned strap tensions changing as the head moves. The F&P 431/432 address that too, with the "glider strap", which minimizes the changes in strap tension caused by side-to-side head movements.

Truly they're outstanding FF masks. I highly recommend trying one, it might fix your FF mask problems.

I have and I sweated so much - it leaked like a sieve after a couple of hours - but I know it works for a lot of folks!

Anonymous wrote:

I've been playing around with mask placement and have found that the lower down on the chin I can get the mask, the less the tendency for my jaw to be pulled back.

This is where the Fischer and Paykel HC431 and 432 really shine. The under-chin design is excellent for this, putting far less backward pressure on the jaw than the other FF masks do (the ones that seal just underneath the lower lip).

Somebody also mentioned strap tensions changing as the head moves. The F&P 431/432 address that too, with the "glider strap", which minimizes the changes in strap tension caused by side-to-side head movements.

Truly they're outstanding FF masks. I highly recommend trying one, it might fix your FF mask problems.

I have and I sweated so much - it leaked like a sieve after a couple of hours - but I know it works for a lot of folks!

Really? Very odd. I've never had this problem, nor even any hint of a tiny bit of it. But then, I use air conditioning... if I didn't, maybe it'd be a problem.

Sorry to hear you had problems with it... I hadn't heard of that problem before, most people get along fine with these masks.

With the Hybrid you have the chinflap and because there's so much less of the face covered, less sweat. This mask have healped me keep my mouth shut when I want and still allows me to open it when I want. It is truly a fantastic mask.

I liked my 431, the headgear fit well, but the last half of the night the mask started leaking and moving, I had to adjust it over and over. As long as your face is oil free and dry it holds. I also had a problem that didn't make sense, my AHI would be way more than my other FF Masks, no reason for this that I could see.

I also couldn't live with the built in leak rate of the Hybrid, I might as well not use a mask. Any time my leak rate is over 38 LPM treatment goes downhill. Jim

during these warm months, I have to use cold water or no water in my humidifier and have a fan blowing on me. I have one of those vertical fans from Costco with the remote control, it works pretty good and is very quiet. I also have a Casablanca fan over the bed running on #2 speed.

I also have to take a shower before bed and wash my mask or it will irritate me all night long. Prefer sleeping in winter over summer anytime.

The new shell hybrid came out with 8 months ago reduced it to nothing. It's called active something..., I forget. the first shell would set off my alarms with my resmed machine but the new shell is much better and adjusts to all the machines.