FFM with a beard

If you have successfully used a FFM with a full beard I would really appreciate hearing your experience. I have a beard and am considering trying a FFM, but need somewhere to start that others have found works.

A good friend used a Forma ... but I don't know the model #.

It will be a challenge depending on how 'full' your beard is. I had to trim my goatee back so much it was finally easier to just eliminate it altogether. My guess would be that it also depends on how diligently you keep it trimmed, and again, the 'fullness' you expect to maintain. The Grizzly Adams model (ZZ Top?) could be a tough one to pull off. OTH, several posts from last year mentioned it can be done. Search some of the posts written by NateS. Later note: I just checked, he's using a Wisp now.

No grizzly adams, but it is a full beard - not one of those stubble things the young fellers sport these days:) I may try Julie's suggestion with the Forma - thanks Julie! Anyone know of mask liners that help with leaks in general and with beards in particular? Shaving is an option way down the road if necessary, but even if shaved I am not so good at keeping it shaved daily and will almost always have a stubble problem. Convenience is what triggered me to grow one, now I am totally addicted to a weekly trim vs a daily shave...

I, too have a beard. Mine is a full beard, but I keep it trimmed fairly short. I started out using a ResMed Quattro™ Air, but I found that I could not control the leaks (for what it's worth, I do not believe that the beard was the issue; most of my leaks were at the top of the mask). I briefly tried a Forma but, while it provided a better seal, it caused jaw pain that I could not tolerate. Ultimately, as you can see, I decided to switch to a nasal pillow mask, and it has definitely been the right decision for me. My leaks are virtually eliminated.

You, of course, must decide for yourself what works best for you.

I'm interested in this as well, as an alternative to the Eson I'm using now for allergy and cold season, plus I occasionally mouth breath at night and a chin strap ain't doing it.

My hubby has a beard, trims once a week. He is currently using the AirFit F10 with very minimal to no leakage. He says he loves the fit of the mask better than any he's tried before. His previous mask, the FullLife mask by Respironics sealed well with the beard too.

Jen

I use a Quattro FX FFM, breathe thru my mouth all the time, and have a full beard. (Previously used the Mirage.) I have no trouble with leaks. I did have to learn to fit my mask right, looser than I would have thought would work. When I put the mask on, it hangs loose on my face. When the air starts, the mask blows up, and the silicone cushion snugs against my face and seals. I also have found the cpap pillow (with cut-outs on each end) to be essential for FFM use.

GL Arnold

Interested in suggestions here because I'm working on a solution for myself now. For the last 7 months I've been growing my beard, full blown ZZ Top style. It's not incredibly thick but still fairly puffy. I really like the Airfit P10 nasal pillows I've been using but my ASV blows my mouth open when it kicks in to ventilator mode. I'm using a chin strap that works fine and fixed the problem, but the strap is a little annoying with a full beard. I'm starting to wonder if a FFM would be more or less annoying, or if I could even get it to work. I'm already wearing ear plugs, chin strap, nasal pillow mask, and big thick padded eye mask that wraps around my head and covers my eyes and ears with memory foam. Even with all that I'm comfortable so maybe a FFM wouldn't be too annoying after all haha.

Quick update. I saw my dme and tried Quatro fx and the Airfit f10. Neither of them leaked very much, and they leaked a tad at bridge of nose, not at all around my beard. I thought the Quatro fx leaked the least and felt the best. Leaks were not much at all, and remzzz liners did help a bit with the leaks.