Kenny's CPAP Thread

[goose]

Hey Kenny,
I had a thought about the FF mask issue.
Even though I don't mouth breathe, I have horrendous allergies so there are a few nights during the year (very few actually) when my nose is so plugged that I can't use it at all!!!!
I have a FF mask that I use on those nights, so if the opportunity to get one arises it might be a good idea to have it in your arsenal.
Size is important!!!
Mine doesn't work all that well due to facial hair (I have an HC431). I have heard that the Quattro or the UMFF work well with hair, so.....But even though it leaks like a sieve it's better than no mask at all, and it works well enough to provide adequate treatment.
good luck
cheers
goose

[DoriC]

Then maybe you can teach me how to do it. The good folks here have tried to help me with Photobucket but I just don't get it. Maybe you'll find an easier way for me, looking forward to it.

[tattooyu]

Goose, I also have facial hair, but not much. I was thinking of the Quattro anyway. My DME rep said that if my mask is not working, he will make sure I get one that works for me. My doctor wanted me to get an Activa on my 3-month, but that would just put me in the same situation.

DoriC, once I'm up and running, I'll see if I can talk you through it.

[SharkBait]

ozij,

I guess I could try a Quattro FF mask, since that's what a lot of people on here use and seem to like. It was rated the highest on CPAP.com.

I was pretty pleased with the Mirage Liberty. It's a mask over the mouth with nasal pillows like the Swift LT. I'm sold on those nasal pillows and that dual wall thingy. I tried the Hybrid and could not get it to stop leaking (but admittedly only tried a couple of hours over different "awake" sessions).

Anyway, I found with a mask over the mouth with those same nasal pillows there was less mask to tolerate. I bought it in case I get a cold and can't use the LT some night. I was going to try it one night, but as you might guess there's a big difference between nasal pillows and full face and I'm just not gonna mess with it unless I got to. I wore it for an hour with no leaks to make sure it felt good and didn't leak...

[tattooyu]

Thanks SharkBait. I'll look into the Liberty.

Last night I got my leak rate down to 0.44 L/s, which is still too high, but better than the enormous leaks I was getting.

Strange thing: my AI said 0.0, but my HI was something around 24!

Then, today, I came across the following thread. I'm going to take a little Maalox before I go to bed tonight to see if that improves things any...

viewtopic/t5551/SUCCESS-AT-LASTGERD420E ... tml#p49920

[SharkBait]

Last night I got my leak rate down to 0.44 L/s, which is still too high, but better than the enormous leaks I was getting.

That is still way, way too high -- 26.4 lpm, I'd say still falls under the "enormous leaks" category.

Another poster tried the Hybrid, Liberty, and Zzz-Mask full face and was very high on the Zzz. Of course I'm sure you know everyone's mileage varies...

You really, really need to hook up with a ffm with a good seal and see where your numbers can be... I'm betting you're headed for sub 2 AHI's once you do that.

[tattooyu]

I'm going to stick this out at least toward the end of this week. Haven't other people gone through periods like this when adjusting only to succeed later with the same mask? Obviously, I don't want my therapy to be compromised for too long. My numbers are beginning to inch down, which is a good sign that I might be getting a handle on the mouth breathing.

If things don't shape up by the end of this or next week, I'll call my DME about getting a FF mask.

I do feel better, though. My heart rate and blood pressure have been steadily coming down during the day, and I don't feel nearly as much anxiety or fatigue.

EDIT: Also, while I understand the need for low leak rates (believe me, it's on my mind constantly), one thing I feel very happy about is that I've been 100% compliant from day one. Full nights, every night--no ripping off my mask ever!

[SharkBait]

I do feel better, though. My heart rate and blood pressure have been steadily coming down during the day, and I don't feel nearly as much anxiety or fatigue.

Sounds like you're on top of it.

EDIT: Also, while I understand the need for low leak rates (believe me, it's on my mind constantly), one thing I feel very happy about is that I've been 100% compliant from day one. Full nights, every night--no ripping off my mask ever!

You da man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DreamStalker]

I'm going to stick this out at least toward the end of this week. Haven't other people gone through periods like this when adjusting only to succeed later with the same mask? Obviously, I don't want my therapy to be compromised for too long. My numbers are beginning to inch down, which is a good sign that I might be getting a handle on the mouth breathing.

If things don't shape up by the end of this or next week, I'll call my DME about getting a FF mask.

I do feel better, though. My heart rate and blood pressure have been steadily coming down during the day, and I don't feel nearly as much anxiety or fatigue.

EDIT: Also, while I understand the need for low leak rates (believe me, it's on my mind constantly), one thing I feel very happy about is that I've been 100% compliant from day one. Full nights, every night--no ripping off my mask ever!

Yep. I started with the Breeze mask and ditched it after first three days due to raw nares. Went through several nasal and FF masks and finally tried the Breeze again. It became my fave for about 6 months until the Opus came out. Then the Swift LT came out a few months later and I finally settled on it. I have a backup Swift LT and also a Liberty for when I get an upper respiratory infection.

Well last month, I got my first upper repiratory infection in almost three years. Nasal congestion was mild and short-lived so I never had to use my Liberty (did lots of nasal saline rinses and hypersaline gargling). The infection then moved down into my chest and I have dealt with coughing for a couple of weeks (pretty much over now) but again no use for the Liberty in that situation either. So the Liberty was never needed or used.

I have not read through the whole thread ... way to long but maybe you are mouth leaking? Or maybe that nose ring is the cause of your leaks?

[tattooyu]

I've been lucky in that compliance, sore nares (except the first night) and aerophagia (the first few days) have really been a non-issue.

Yep. I started with the Breeze mask and ditched it after first three days due to raw nares. Went through several nasal and FF masks and finally tried the Breeze again. It became my fave for about 6 months until the Opus came out. Then the Swift LT came out a few months later and I finally settled on it. I have a backup Swift LT and also a Liberty for when I get an upper respiratory infection. Weel last month I got my first upper repiratory infection in almost three years. It was mild and short-lived so I never had to use my Liberty (did lots of nasal saline rinses and hypersaline gargling). The infection then moved down into my chest and I have dealt with coughing for a couple of weeks but again no use for the Liberty in that situation either. So the Liberty was never needed or used.

I have not read through the whole thread ... way to long but maybe you are mouth leaking? Or maybe that nose ring is the cause of your leaks?

Did you get all those masks at the intervals set by your insurance, or did you buy them outright? I might be able to afford one mask on my own, but I'll check with my DME to see if my insurance will approve another mask due to it affecting my therapy.

You know, I actually take my nose ring out every night just to be sure. I know it was causing some issues when I turned to that side. No longer. It's just me and my big mouth that's the problem!


SharkBait, I really, really want my therapy to succeed. The fact that the mouth leaks came around week 2-3 are really unnerving, but I guess it means I'm getting used to xPAP--TOO relaxed!

[DreamStalker]

I've been lucky in that compliance, sore nares (except the first night) and aerophagia (the first few days) have really been a non-issue.

Yep. I started with the Breeze mask and ditched it after first three days due to raw nares. Went through several nasal and FF masks and finally tried the Breeze again. It became my fave for about 6 months until the Opus came out. Then the Swift LT came out a few months later and I finally settled on it. I have a backup Swift LT and also a Liberty for when I get an upper respiratory infection. Weel last month I got my first upper repiratory infection in almost three years. It was mild and short-lived so I never had to use my Liberty (did lots of nasal saline rinses and hypersaline gargling). The infection then moved down into my chest and I have dealt with coughing for a couple of weeks but again no use for the Liberty in that situation either. So the Liberty was never needed or used.

I have not read through the whole thread ... way to long but maybe you are mouth leaking? Or maybe that nose ring is the cause of your leaks?

Did you get all those masks at the intervals set by your insurance, or did you buy them outright? I might be able to afford one mask on my own, but I'll check with my DME to see if my insurance will approve another mask due to it affecting my therapy.

You know, I actually take my nose ring out every night just to be sure. I know it was causing some issues when I turned to that side. No longer. It's just me and my big mouth that's the problem!

Heck no. I got on the fast lane for my treatment and left the insurance and DME in the dust. It was before we even had the CPAPauction.com site too. Some were trades with forum members and some were new from CPAP.com.

What I did learn while experimenting with my Breeze is that it does not take a very big hole to change the leak characteristics. So even if you take out the nose ring, you still have a small hole left for air leaks. You may want to try and plug that hole up at night when you go to bed ... don't ask how cuz you may laugh (or cry) at my suggestions.

[tattooyu]

Heck no. I got on the fast lane for my treatment and left the insurance and DME in the dust. It was before we even had the CPAPauction.com site too. Some were trades with forum members and some were new from CPAP.com.

What I did learn while experimenting with my Breeze is that it does not take a very big hole to change the leak characteristics. So even if you take out the nose ring, you still have a small hole left for air leaks. You may want to try and plug that hole up at night when you go to bed ... don't ask how cuz you may laugh (or cry) at my suggestions.

A lot of people on here seem to go that route. I have really good insurance, and I don't know if I could afford a mask on my own right now. Maybe. We'll see.

You know, there could be something to that. However, I mostly wake up with a dry mouth, which is a big indicator of mouth breathing. Plus, my wife has confirmed it visually. Okay, now you GOTTA tell me your suggestions. Don't pique my curiosity then drop me like a bad habit!

[Gerryk]

Kenny, I use a quattro FF mask. I am a mouth breather that's why I have a FF mask. Until recently my nose was completely blocked because of allergies so I had to breath through my mouth. I started flushing my sinuses and the are now open much more than before.
Many nights I breath through my nose part time and many nights more through my mouth. I say part time because I don't wake up with severly dry mouth, but other nights like this am I wake up with my mouth so dry it feels as if my skin will crack if I move it.
I think the trick is trying to teach ourselved or train ourselves to breath through our noses the way our body is meant to and not through our mouths.

Gerry

[tattooyu]

GerryK,

You know, I'm primarily a nose breather. Throughout the day, I am almost always breathing through my nose, mostly IN=Nose/OUT=Mouth (I sound like Mr. Miyagi!). I think the latter combo is probably what I end up doing in my sleep, which is what is getting me into trouble. The Quattro is the one that seems to be most popular, then the Liberty. Don't know if I can use an F&P with my ResMed.

[Uncle_Bob]

GerryK,

You know, I'm primarily a nose breather. Throughout the day, I am almost always breathing through my nose, mostly IN=Nose/OUT=Mouth (I sound like Mr. Miyagi!). I think the latter combo is probably what I end up doing in my sleep, which is what is getting me into trouble. The Quattro is the one that seems to be most popular, then the Liberty. Don't know if I can use an F&P with my ResMed.

Kenny I seem to be stuck in around the same place as you. I'm on my second week, second mask and second machine
I am still getting leaks rates around 0.20 - 0.48 since my 7 days with the Swift Lt I I have woke up with jaw dropping twice, usually 2 hours before waking.
I went back to the sleep doctor (has DME in office) and he refused to let me try a hybrid mask out. He basically told me to chill out and not get too into this His argument against changing mask is that if you change to many variables at once you don't stand much chance of identifying the problem and solving it.

Furthermore I have read good things about other FF and hybrid masks but the ones that seem to be considered the best are not recommended for my face measurements on cpap.com.

My only recommendations are

UltraMirage FF (size medium)
ComfortFull 2 (size medium)
Flexfit HC431
Flexfit HC432 (size small)
Full Advantage (Tiara)
Mojo Gel Cushion (Sleepnet)
Soyala Full face (SommnoTech)

So I'm a bit reluctant to go out and buy my own hybrid mask now.