HOW TO KNOW IF FULL FACE MASK IS NEEDED?

damac wrote:I go to sleep on my sides, I usually wake up on my sides

Breeze should be fine, then.

I sure hope I do not offend anyone here, but here I go.

I have had a deviated septum repair (I could only breathe out of one side of my nose), had major buck teeth pulled back (I have very large teeth), have just had my wisdom teeth pulled (I'm 46), and I still have trouble breathing through my nose when I am asleep.

I have used nasal steroids such as Flonase, Rhinocort Aqua, and nasalcort, antihistimes, etc. off and on for many years. Currently, I'm even on allergy shots. As far as the nasal steroids are concerned, they work well for a while, then they don't work as well as they did when I 1st started them. I try to stay as medicine free as I can. (I also have a bi-lateral inner disease which I won't go into right now, and am on meds for that.)

I only had a 1 month trial for my cpap and use a chin strap to keep my mouth shut, resmed 7, and a mirage activa nasal mask. Once I got the chin strap placed where it does not loosen at all during the night, I was set. It does indeed keep my mouth shut and so I'm not worried about being a mouth breather anymore. I've taken it off as a trial and that mouth of mine just won't stay shut (my hubby says that I talk too much and that's the problem - tee hee!). Numerous dentists have told me that I just have big teeth and not enough room for them and they have done what they can. Just how I'm made.

So my advice for newbies is to just try to get used to a cpap - use whatever it takes to keep you mouth shut if you are using a nasal mask and not a full face mask. I had a 5 night trial from my doctor and they gave me a full face mask and my mouth kept opening all night long. Once the cpap is yours, you can try re-training yourself or whatever else you need to do.

I was convinced that I could not use a nasal mask and with the help of my $14.00 chin strap, I'm doin' just fine. Sleep is so precious to me now that as the old saying goes "if it ain't broken, don't fix it", I will not worry about re-training myself to just breathe out of my nose. One less thing to worry about in this cpap hose head world!

also - thanks to all of you who have graciously listened to my many questions and have taken you time to answer! This is a wonderful board and I thank you all!