Need help with deciding to buy and oracle oral mask??

Hey guys,

You guys seem to be the best at helping people, and so I was hoping that I could ask you guys about something.

I need help deciding if a Oracle oral mask would be right for me. I've been having a problem with not feeling well even though I'm on APAP. I know its sleep apnea related because of the symptoms. I've tried many differnt settings and still can't seem to get good results. The issue seems to be constantly the air is simply not going in because my nose is always stuffy. I've tried just about everything to allevate it but I think the only thing that would help it is surgery and that's not a option at this current time, perhaps later down the road.

My AHI with the setting of 9 min to 18 max is a high 10 AHI and I wake up not so good. If I start the lower number up higher I get a better AHI, usually around 5 AHI and a few times slightly under.

I could really use some input on this one. As the oracle is an expensive mask, but if I could use it to bypass my nose effectively for APAP treatment then I think it would be worth it. Does anyone have any good stories of success with the Oracle? or advice? I would appreciate any and all input.

My setup is currently the Remstar Auto w/ Cflex, remstar humidifier, Ultra mirage FF mask.


Thanks,

Tread carefully, so many people buying the mouth only masks seem to give them up after a short while.

Have you tried a good f/f mask ?

The Resmed Ultra Mirage works for me and I am sure there are at least 3 other brands that are rated good.

A good mask and a good fit is a big issue for xPAP therapy.

I repeatedly have a stuffy nose & when it is troublesome I mouth breathe - the Mirage allows me do do this. Often I will go to bed with a stuffy nose & struggle on nose breathing & if I wake can often find nose is working ok.

Am sure you will get a lot more good suggestions.

Cheers

DSM

DSM have you tried the Hans Rudolph?

I cannot believe my leakage readings the last few nights. I am not joking on this, 0.00L/S for the Hans Rudolph.


This is a very good full face mask, quiet and does well with my Auto Spirit.

The only issue I had with the oracle is the nose plugs kept being blown out my nose. It doesn't sound like this will be an issue for you. It is defintiely lighter and less obtrusive than a full face mask. However there have been reported a number of downsides. Such as swollen lips due to how it attaches and having to run the hose down the front instead of over your head.

For the money I would invest in a good FF mask first.

I appreciate you input for those that have responded so far. Sorry I didn't use a username I forgot, but I'm Stryker5777.

I do have a ultra Mirage full face mask.. I still get some leakage with it though. I was under the impression that its one of the best out there. I am interested in the Hans Rudolf just to maybe review the details on it and compare and contrast against my Ultra Mirage FF.


My theory is that:

If the the blockage is in my throat and I'm supposed to be on a inhale cycle and my mouth is closed and my nose won't let enough air pressure thorugh then wouldn't the blockage still happen? Instead of the pressure going into the mouth and the throat then it just gets pushed out the ventilation holes I'm assuming. Then when I wake up and choke (apnea episode) then I start breathing through my mouth.

Granted it must help some time, which is probably when the APAP realizes that I'm apneaing and snoring thats when it increases pressure way high like %90 @ 18 cm, because it sometimes does get my AHI lower than it would be with out. However, most of the time my mouth is closed when I sleep (this is what I assume and is also what they told me at the sleep lab). So the higher pressure probably causes more apnea episodes which further increases the pressure. Hence my dilemma

I was titrated at 12.5 but still felt bad after I left the sleep lab, then they told me my readings said I needed 9.5 so because of my congestion they upped it a little past that to 10.5. Now that I have the software and card reader, I realize that almost every night it goes high if I don't set the max to 16. Even then it sits at the peak every night.


I swear what I wouldn't give for a good night's sleep again.

HI Stryker,
I tried an Oracle mask, thinking that if I could bypass my nose, life would be great. Well, I couldn't deal with it. My biggest problem was just massive amounts of saliva building up in my mouth, then, leaking out all over! Not pleasant. Also, the nasal plugs kept coming out.
For me an oral mask didn't work.
Gary

The worst interface I ever used. Lips that looked like a botched botox injection every morning, accompanied by pain from the swelling. Caused TMJ in the left side of my jaw. Nose plugs blew out. Without nose plugs, air leaks from the nose. With nose plugs, leaks from THE EARS. Pain from the piece inside my lips and gums irritating and causing sores. I couldn't use it at all. I posted quite a few threads on the Oracle, if you do a search, especially when one of the other posters started to use it and was havingi trouble with his. Might be worth a search for them if you haven't already decided not to buy one.

Look, I always say that what works for one person doesn't always for another and vice versa, but I don't really know of anyone that has tried it that still uses it except for a DME at my Apria that when I first started on therapy swore he'd been using it for six months and loved it. So there are always exceptions to the rule. But I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy. Sorry.

It really must be said that everybody experiences these masks differently. They work for some and don't work for others. I tried the Oracle and couldn't use it because whenever I began to fall asleep the air would begin blowing ferociously out my nose and wake me. Some people don't have this problem as the pressure is supposed to keep the nose out of the picture.

If you can afford to try the mask and fail it might be worthwhile for you to do so. Make sure you have a really good humidifier and possibly a heated hose to combat rainout. If not, your mouth will feel like the Gobi desert the next morning.

I din't find the Oracle unpleasant in my mouth or painful. The only problems I had were the dryness and the air blowing out my nose.

Good luck.

Hey Stryker, If you PM me your mailing address I'll send you my Oracle, I think it's a med. size. I'll never use it again and I'd be happy to give it to someone who will benefit from it. Of course it's been thoroughly cleaned and sanitised. You may have to buy the nasal plugs as I think I trashed them.
Gary