Is having a beard required?

That is not hair on my face. It is the brain roots, growing very deep. So deep, in fact, that they're popping out through the container bottom.

I've had the beard and moustache almost continuously since 1979. I did remove all face hair twice for about a month each time. Mine is close-trimmed and shaped daily -- not stubble, but short.

I have no problem getting a very good seal with the Hybrid mask, without using anything to aid in sealing. Nope, I don’t even need to use axle grease. LOLOL...

Nodzy

FuzzyGuest wrote:I've never posted here before, but this thread is the perfect place to start! I have a goatee that I've worn for years...I or no one else remembers what I look like without it. It's not going anywhere. That being said, I cannot find a mask that works for me. I got a CL2 with pillows and like it a lot, but I lose the "lip seal". Taping (ouch!) and a chin strap didn't help. I've tried several FF masks, and most recently the Hybrid, which I'm returning today. I got my machine in May, 2006, and I've been basically untreated since then. Other than shaving, any suggestions?

Failure should NOT be an option with this therapy.
It's so easy, a caveman could do it.

My suggestions are:
Polident adhesive strips (lip sealing)
The Quattro full face mask.
Shaving.

I've had a mustache continuously since 1974 (and many times before that), but if it came to the point of affecting my therapy.....it WOULD come off.

Den

Wulfman... wrote:
Failure should NOT be an option with this therapy.
It's so easy, a caveman could do it.

My suggestions are:
Polident adhesive strips (lip sealing)
The Quattro full face mask.
Shaving.

I've had a mustache continuously since 1974 (and many times before that), but if it came to the point of affecting my therapy.....it WOULD come off.

My symptoms are going to have to get a LOT worse before I'll consider shaving. Daytime sleepiness, general fatigue, and lately some memory problems are all I have so far, and yeah, I know what's coming. What I can't figure out is why this works for other bearded men and not for me...maybe I have a "caveman" shaped head or something...

FuzzyGuest wrote:

Wulfman... wrote:
Failure should NOT be an option with this therapy.
It's so easy, a caveman could do it.

My suggestions are:
Polident adhesive strips (lip sealing)
The Quattro full face mask.
Shaving.

I've had a mustache continuously since 1974 (and many times before that), but if it came to the point of affecting my therapy.....it WOULD come off.

My symptoms are going to have to get a LOT worse before I'll consider shaving. Daytime sleepiness, general fatigue, and lately some memory problems are all I have so far, and yeah, I know what's coming. What I can't figure out is why this works for other bearded men and not for me...maybe I have a "caveman" shaped head or something...

Well, The last symptom some have is Death. We never know when that one could come up on the list, maybe iyou will be lucky and instead it will only be the stroke that makes you a invilid for others to take care of for years, a vane idea. Jim

FuzzyGuest wrote:I've never posted here before, but this thread is the perfect place to start! I have a goatee that I've worn for years...I or no one else remembers what I look like without it. It's not going anywhere. That being said, I cannot find a mask that works for me. I got a CL2 with pillows and like it a lot, but I lose the "lip seal". Taping (ouch!) and a chin strap didn't help. I've tried several FF masks, and most recently the Hybrid, which I'm returning today. I got my machine in May, 2006, and I've been basically untreated since then. Other than shaving, any suggestions?

Everyone's facial contours are different. Amongst that group, there are those who can have a beard with no problems, and there are those who have tried having a beard and failed, who will tell you it's a bad idea to have a beard.
Like many aspects of apnea therapy, what's important is what works for you. The only important question in regard to having a beard is does it, or does it not impair effective therapy?

Vader wrote:
Everyone's facial contours are different. Amongst that group, there are those who can have a beard with no problems, and there are those who have tried having a beard and failed, who will tell you it's a bad idea to have a beard.
Like many aspects of apnea therapy, what's important is what works for you. The only important question in regard to having a beard is does it, or does it not impair effective therapy?

Thanks, Vader (especially for the lack of sarcasm). I guess I won't know for sure until I've tried every mask out there. I need help with that, but the RT at my DME isn't very helpful. My head is normally shaped (I think), so if other guys can wear beards, I should be able to as well.

And to Wulfman...it might be easy for cavemen, but I'm coming up on three years since I was diagnosed, and nothing about this process has been easy so far.

Anonymous wrote:

Vader wrote:
Everyone's facial contours are different. Amongst that group, there are those who can have a beard with no problems, and there are those who have tried having a beard and failed, who will tell you it's a bad idea to have a beard.
Like many aspects of apnea therapy, what's important is what works for you. The only important question in regard to having a beard is does it, or does it not impair effective therapy?

Thanks, Vader (especially for the lack of sarcasm). I guess I won't know for sure until I've tried every mask out there. I need help with that, but the RT at my DME isn't very helpful. My head is normally shaped (I think), so if other guys can wear beards, I should be able to as well.

And to Wulfman...it might be easy for cavemen, but I'm coming up on three years since I was diagnosed, and nothing about this process has been easy so far.

Sorry to hear that. Anything WE can suggest, to help?
It'll be three years for me next May and I've always felt that I took to it like a duck to water. Learning curve?.....Yes. Peaks and valleys?......Yes. Did I immediately feel like I was 25 years younger?.....HELL NO! I'm still recovering physically from the effects......but when I started this "journey", I told myself to take it one day/night at a time.....and that's what I'm doing.

Cavemen? Well, I guess if we had to go back to those times, we'd have more learning curves.....or if they were to come to these times.....same thing. I wonder who'd adapt faster and still survive?

Hang in there.

Den

Wulfman... wrote:
Sorry to hear that. Anything WE can suggest, to help?
It'll be three years for me next May and I've always felt that I took to it like a duck to water. Learning curve?.....Yes. Peaks and valleys?......Yes. Did I immediately feel like I was 25 years younger?.....HELL NO! I'm still recovering physically from the effects......but when I started this "journey", I told myself to take it one day/night at a time.....and that's what I'm doing.

Cavemen? Well, I guess if we had to go back to those times, we'd have more learning curves.....or if they were to come to these times.....same thing. I wonder who'd adapt faster and still survive?

Hang in there.

Den

They would...we'd whine, freak out, then get eaten by a dinosaur.

Speaking of whining... I could write a book here on everything that's gone wrong/been difficult with this process. Now, on top of my problems with this, my wife has been diagnosed, too. We seriously need to find a good sleep doctor for a new study for me and a titration for her. They're proving to be as difficult to find as a workable mask.

No doubt, Fuzzy!

My MD was so dumb she ordered my pressure to be set at a min. of 3.
I wondered, if it wasn't for this forum, and my research I might have been dead by morning!!!
Not to mention before that, I called her office for 6 weeks, twice a week to see why I hadn't been contacted about getting my sleep study...the nurse couldn't figure it out. I finally demanded another appt. to see what was going on and as she opened up my file in front of me, there was the request that she hadn't even filled out yet!!!!!!!!

Needless to say, I'm out on my own now.

Best of luck to you both. Don't give up, please! We've made it this far!

I don't know about dinosaurs, but I'm sure the lions and tigers and bears ate mighty well back then.
Reminds me of a Yellowstone cartoon.....a bear holding a sign that says:
Please send more tourists......the last ones were delicious.

If you're going to have a two hosehead family, you'll be in good company.....there are a number of them on this forum.

Sometimes finding a good sleep doctor in your area is LIKE trying to find a sabertooth tiger......or maybe a Dodo bird.

Best wishes,

Den

Oh absolutely not. No beard required. I prefer men to be clean shaven on the face, but with voluminous back hair.

Did you know that Bed Bath & Beyond is now selling a personal grooming device specifically for men to shave their backs?

MANGROOMER™ Electric Back Hair Shaver
www DOT bedbathandbeyond DOT com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=14399593&BTSmode=true

LOL,
B.

[quote="FuzzyGuest"]I've never posted here before, but this thread is the perfect place to start! I have a goatee that I've worn for years...I or no one else remembers what I look like without it. It's not going anywhere. That being said, I cannot find a mask that works for me. I got a CL2 with pillows and like it a lot, but I lose the "lip seal". Taping (ouch!) and a chin strap didn't help. I've tried several FF masks, and most recently the Hybrid, which I'm returning today. I got my machine in May, 2006, and I've been basically untreated since then. Other than shaving, any suggestions?

I guess they hide mask and strap marks.

Here's my thinking on the shaving...everybody feel free to jump on me for this About a year ago, on another forum, a very nice lady who was new to cpap was having trouble with her headgear...she had long, fine, silky hair and the straps just wouldn't stay in place. What to do? Everyone was full of suggestions about ponytails, padding straps, etc. Not ONE suggested she shave her head! Don't tell me it's different...everybody knows that hair is just about vanity...it makes you look better, and that's all. I'm as vain as the next guy, but no more so.

Call me crazy, I probably am at this point, but shaving would seem like giving up...giving in to this. Everytime I walked by a mirror, or someone asked why, after all these years, did I shave, I'd be reminded. I'd love to wear the mask at night, and never think about it during the day. I'm sure that's not gonna happen, but I'm not ready to admit defeat yet either.

FuzzyGuest wrote: but I'm not ready to admit defeat yet either.

That's exactly the attitude you need for xpap therapy.

As I said previously, I've had no problems having a beard. I don't keep it trimmed short either.
If you're in need of a FF mask, I would strongly recommend that you check out the Mirage Quattro.
I am able to wear that mask the most loosely of all FF masks that I've tried.