Mouth taping vs. FF mask?????

Hi, I wonder what you-all think: My ComfortLite2 sort of works, but the single
strap slips off my hair. And now i seem to be a mouth breather--i wake up with
mouth all dry and stuck inside (but sometimes that happens even when i tape now).
So sometimes i swap out with my old Activa with 20 yards of Velcro to keep it
from falling off my head, plus corner nose mouth leaks.
Thanks to this Board, i use the blue Gumby tape every night, but don't know how it works (ResMed ProVantage.) So, tomorrow i go to DME to get card read re
mouth taping, or...would i do better with a FF mask or a Hybrid at least in terms
of mouth breathing?? I guess i don't mind taping; i just wonder if a REAL mask
would be more effective? At any rate, i need to find a mask with non slip-off
straps.
Any opinions, help will be appreciated.
Leonbergergirl

I tape every night. I have used a Full Face mask, but my numbers were bad and I felt like crap after using it. I think it was leaking, but anyway, I do better with the nasal mask and the tape.
I use the Full Face for nights when I have a cold, but I don't get a better night's sleep.
Sometimes, I wish I could use one, because the taping has caused wrinkles on my top lip. Really looks awful.
Try the full face, maybe you'll like it. Won't know til you try.
As far as the straps, most masks seem to be made for big men with big heads!

Leonbergergirl wrote:Hi, I wonder what you-all think: My ComfortLite2 sort of works, but the single
strap slips off my hair. And now i seem to be a mouth breather--i wake up with
mouth all dry and stuck inside (but sometimes that happens even when i tape now).
So sometimes i swap out with my old Activa with 20 yards of Velcro to keep it
from falling off my head, plus corner nose mouth leaks.
Thanks to this Board, i use the blue Gumby tape every night, but don't know how it works (ResMed ProVantage.) So, tomorrow i go to DME to get card read re
mouth taping, or...would i do better with a FF mask or a Hybrid at least in terms
of mouth breathing?? I guess i don't mind taping; i just wonder if a REAL mask
would be more effective? At any rate, i need to find a mask with non slip-off
straps.
Any opinions, help will be appreciated.
Leonbergergirl

If it is between mouth taping and a FF mask, I'd vote for the FF. It has an emergency valve.

Leonbergergirl wrote:Hi, I wonder what you-all think:
Any opinions, help will be appreciated.
Leonbergergirl

Lgirl, in my vast and extensive, 7wks on the hose, here are my experiences?
I started w/Optilife pillows, because I was sure I would never tolerate a FFM.
I am a trained mouth breather. It suddenly dawned on me last week as I was
chugging up dumphill on my after work ride, in 20yrs of cycling I have
trained myself to mouth breath. ....so, I am not going to change that...

I made the standard progression through cheap chinstrap from DME,
Papcap w/chinstrap and Polident strips.
I had very good success w/the Papcap and strips, but I hated that feeling
of having my mouth glued shut.
So, following the accepted evolutionary path of the cpap journey,
I got a Quattro FFM two weeks ago. It was strange the first few nights.
....BUT, I didn't feel the claustrophobia that I thought I would. It has taken
alot of trial and error and adjusting to get it comfortable and deal w/leaks,
each night. Every night has been alittle better, both leak/comfort wise and
decreaseing AHI numbers.
The Quattro is a large. I think it is too big.
Once again, following the evolutionary path, yesterday I received my new
Ultra Mirage FFM, medium. I used it last night. On one nights experience,
I believe the size is better. It is more comfortable than the large Quattro.
Leaks about the same and AHI went down .1......so, I'm going in the right direction.
Both of the FFM I have tried are very quiet. Much more quiet than the Optilife,
and I really like that.

I have a hybrid here on a trial basis.
For me, it is a total disaster.
I could never get comfortable w/it.
I couldn't keep the pillows sealed and it sounds like a jet taking off.
I don't think I will be going down the hybrid path.

Conclusion to this point in time:
I think the FFM is going to work for me.
I'm getting it figured out and the feelings of claustrophobia were never really there.
......AND, I do NOT miss the glued lips.
When I have the FFM on and get my breathing into rhythm w/the machine,
it sounds and feels like Dave, in 2001 a Space Odyssey, during the final sceens.
He is aging in the white room and the predominate sound is his breathing.

This entire experience is so personal and subjective to each person.
The only way, for me, to know for sure, is to try it.
I read all the experiences here and make my best guess, and give it a try.

I will probably be sending the large Quattro back.
I have a new medium in transit as we speak.
I have the optilife experience and mask ready if I should ever feel the need
to go down that path, again.

.....just more tales from
The Odyssey of the Mask

carbonman wrote:

Leonbergergirl wrote:Hi, I wonder what you-all think:
Any opinions, help will be appreciated.
Leonbergergirl

Lgirl, in my vast and extensive, 7wks on the hose, here are my experiences?
I started w/Optilife pillows, because I was sure I would never tolerate a FFM.
I am a trained mouth breather. It suddenly dawned on me last week as I was
chugging up dumphill on my after work ride, in 20yrs of cycling I have
trained myself to mouth breath. ....so, I am not going to change that...

I made the standard progression through cheap chinstrap from DME,
Papcap w/chinstrap and Polident strips.
I had very good success w/the Papcap and strips, but I hated that feeling
of having my mouth glued shut.
So, following the accepted evolutionary path of the cpap journey,
I got a Quattro FFM two weeks ago. It was strange the first few nights.
....BUT, I didn't feel the claustrophobia that I thought I would. It has taken
alot of trial and error and adjusting to get it comfortable and deal w/leaks,
each night. Every night has been alittle better, both leak/comfort wise and
decreaseing AHI numbers.
The Quattro is a large. I think it is too big.
Once again, following the evolutionary path, yesterday I received my new
Ultra Mirage FFM, medium. I used it last night. On one nights experience,
I believe the size is better. It is more comfortable than the large Quattro.
Leaks about the same and AHI went down .1......so, I'm going in the right direction.
Both of the FFM I have tried are very quiet. Much more quiet than the Optilife,
and I really like that.

I have a hybrid here on a trial basis.
For me, it is a total disaster.
I could never get comfortable w/it.
I couldn't keep the pillows sealed and it sounds like a jet taking off.
I don't think I will be going down the hybrid path.

Conclusion to this point in time:
I think the FFM is going to work for me.
I'm getting it figured out and the feelings of claustrophobia were never really there.
......AND, I do NOT miss the glued lips.
When I have the FFM on and get my breathing into rhythm w/the machine,
it sounds and feels like Dave, in 2001 a Space Odyssey, during the final sceens.
He is aging in the white room and the predominate sound is his breathing.

This entire experience is so personal and subjective to each person.
The only way, for me, to know for sure, is to try it.
I read all the experiences here and make my best guess, and give it a try.

I will probably be sending the large Quattro back.
I have a new medium in transit as we speak.
I have the optilife experience and mask ready if I should ever feel the need
to go down that path, again.

.....just more tales from
The Odyssey of the Mask

It is an odyssey isn't it? I began calling it my mask buffet. I could go to the drawer and choose from many : ) Anyway, glad you have the medium Quattro on the way and hope it works out. Do you have it yet and if so, how did it go?

Leonbergergirl,

I'm in the midst of this myself so here's my 2cents.

For years, I used various nasal masks but would wake myself up with my mouth open. I tried taping for a while but was feeling lousy, for various reasons but I thought it was due to the mouth breathing (probably due to various medical conditions). I didn't have a data capable xpap in those days so I didn't have any way to know better. So I went through various FF masks, the latest being the quattro. Still didn't feel particularly great but have had some improvements in the past few months, but I'm doing many things regarding those medical conditions.

A few weeks ago I finally was able to get a new xpap and I got a data capable apap with a card reader & software so I could actually know what was going on. Increased my pressure, probable one thing that helped. Got to an AHI of around 1.7. OK. Three days ago, decided to pull out an old nasal mask -- HC406 and mouth tape. AHI average 0.5. Hmmmm. Don't feel much differently from the FF with AHI of 1.7 but I'm giving it a bit of time to see.

So that's where I'm at for now. If there's any way you could get your own reader & software so you can see what's happening on a daily basis, it could perhaps help.

Good luck.
France

FWIW, I switched from an Opus nasal pillow mask to a Hybrid with very good results. It did take a couple of nights to get the adjustments right.

gasp wrote:Anyway, glad you have the medium Quattro on the way and hope it works out. Do you have it yet and if so, how did it go?

Still waiting on the med. Quattro. Slow seller, but the price was right......so.....
it should be here today. The UMFF med. has been ok, and I am really getting used to it.

The FFM experience has been ok. I'm going to stick w/it because I find it so much
more comfortable than gluing my mouth shut.

.....Nobody is forcing me to wear this FFM....ah.......

I have a Comfort Full2 but really dislike it. In any mask, I don't like the forehead piece or anything that goes on the the bridge of my nose. I have a Hybrid, for times when I am congested. With it I don't have to deal with a forehead piece or the "bridge of the nose" thing.
I use nasal pillows (OptiLife) and, my current favourite, the Snapp (nasal prongs) mostly and tape my mouth.
I have the software and reader and am getting an AHI almost always below 1. In the last 2 weeks I had 5 nights with AHI 0.0.
I am fortunate though. I seem to just need a slight "reminder" not to breathe through my mouth so use a short piece of tape (1 inch), vertically, across the centre of my lips. The sides of my mouth can open ( a big help when I make a nightime bathroom trip). I can breathe through my mouth and not take off my mask.
I do have a couple of nasal masks in my "collection" but rarely wear them now.

Hawthorne wrote:I have a Comfort Full2 but really dislike it. In any mask, I don't like the forehead piece or anything that goes on the the bridge of my nose. I have a Hybrid, for times when I am congested. With it I don't have to deal with a forehead piece or the "bridge of the nose" thing.
I use nasal pillows (OptiLife) and, my current favourite, the Snapp (nasal prongs) mostly and tape my mouth.
I have the software and reader and am getting an AHI almost always below 1. In the last 2 weeks I had 5 nights with AHI 0.0.
I am fortunate though. I seem to just need a slight "reminder" not to breathe through my mouth so use a short piece of tape (1 inch), vertically, across the centre of my lips. The sides of my mouth can open ( a big help when I make a nightime bathroom trip). I can breathe through my mouth and not take off my mask.
I do have a couple of nasal masks in my "collection" but rarely wear them now.

Wow 0.0!

I didn't like the ComfortFull2 either. It leaked on either side of my chin.

FWIW: To my greatest relief, and after creating my own mask buffet in the process, I have discovered the ResMed Mirage Liberty!! My DME (Apria) respiratory consultant actually listened to me better than my own doc did and Apria found me the "perfect" mask. And, for me, it really is perfect!!!! I tried the mouth taping, too, and it didn't work for me. The Liberty was a god-send for me!!!

It's funny how we're all so different. I absolutely hated the Liberty and much preferred the Quattro whereas I know others hate the Quattro.

I'm still divided on taping or FF since I honestly don't like either but I have to do something.

France

Hi
I have the full face Quattro, have tried many different masks, I have a nose with pressure sores I am constantly dealing with, and I am also a mouth breather. I got a splint from my dentist to stop me from grinding my teeth, but I have not been able to get my strenght back like I did when I first started in 2005. When I would feel sleep deprived we upped the pressure, however with my last sleep study, it showed mask leaks was why I am not progressing. Even with the splint, I wake up with the lower portion of the mask in my mouth. I tried taping my lips but got a flight response. I find myself very frustrated. Any suggestions? Thank you Barb

Similar problems here. I started with a large Quattro but could not get it to seal. Tried the Optilife nose pillows and cushion both but had nose pain (deviated septum). The Swift II seemed to work a little better but not much. Yesterday I changed my DME and got fitted for the right size Quattro (small) and the Liberty as well. I like the Liberty a lot but after about 2 hours on it I woke up with dry mouth so bad it was painful. Put on the new Quattro and fell right back to sleep only to wake up again about 2 hours later with bad dry mouth again. I tried upping the humidifier to 5 but still no help. I like the FFM/Liberty better than anything I have tried so far, but, how do you deal with the dry mouth? I can't tape since I have a mustache and goatee. There has to be a solution out there somewhere.

Phil

I definitely know what you're going though. I have my humidifier at the maximum too and that used to work fine with my old Respironics ResMed Pro because the humidifier tank was a decent size. I still had occasional dry mouth issues so I kept a bottle of water (to sip) and losenges on my nighttable but it wasn't too bad. I now have a brand new Respironics M Series apap with aflex but the humidifier tank on that is too small to last a full night with a FF mask on maximum humidity.

Good luck
France