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KimberlyM wrote:It kept my mouth clamped shut, which defeats the purpose of a FFM in my opinion. I called in for a refit today. It seemed pretty leaky near the lower quadrants of my face where it narrows. I have high cheek bones, so fitting me might be different than someone with flatter features. Also, the valve in the elbow blew air profusely, which seems to be a common complaint.

Was having your mouth kept shut by the mask annoying or discomforting in any way while falling asleep? Also was the blowing valve noisy?

bbmiller wrote:

KimberlyM wrote:It kept my mouth clamped shut, which defeats the purpose of a FFM in my opinion. I called in for a refit today. It seemed pretty leaky near the lower quadrants of my face where it narrows. I have high cheek bones, so fitting me might be different than someone with flatter features. Also, the valve in the elbow blew air profusely, which seems to be a common complaint.

Was having your mouth kept shut by the mask annoying or discomforting in any way while falling asleep? Also was the blowing valve noisy?

It was discomforting for me because I have TMJ and can't breathe through my nose easily. I have been experimenting just now with loosening the mask so my mouth could open up more inside the mask. If I have my mouth just slightly open it may work. If I open my mouth ever so slightly more, my cheeks blow out like a blowfish!

The blowing valve is noisy and puts out a lot of cold air. This is the noisiest mask I have tried, but I keep persisting because I have the TMJ issue and the other under the chin models are all by the same manufacturer and of similar design, other than the Rudolf mask. Please keep us posted when you try that one. I will be interested in your take on it. In terms of the Forma, I am going to try a mask liner and see if that helps with some of the leak issues. I can't see how this would be a good mask for a side sleeper though. My RT swears by this mask and has used it for more than 4 years. It probably all depends on your face structure. Maybe others who have used these masks routinely will chime in.

KimberlyM wrote: I have TMJ and can't breathe through my nose easily. I have been experimenting just now with loosening the mask so my mouth could open up more inside the mask. If I have my mouth just slightly open it may work. If I open my mouth ever so slightly more, my cheeks blow out like a blowfish!

I do not know if you are very well aware of this, but there are dental masks? I went to a sleep apnea support group the other night and the lecturer showed all sorts of masks including a dental mask. With a dental mask the patient put the mask-piece in his or her mouth. I think the speaker might have mentioned nose plugs, but the picture showed a patient with just the mask-piece in her mouth.