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which mask is best
i am scheduled to get a new mask next month and currently have a full mask , my question is as i am falling to sleep my mouth opens up and i get very bad dry mouth and keep waking up , should i try a nasal mask or stay with a full mask ? which mask would be good for a person that sleeps with their mouth open ? am 2 months into using a cpap so am kinda a newbie
thanks
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Little on
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I used to have a major problem with masks and went through six of them before I found the Respironics OptiLife Nasal CPAP Mask. Its a great mask with a chin strap, a double banded head band and uses nasal pillows that do not irritate my nose. I have gone from being able to use the mask for four hours to all night with no issues. My wife also got me a pillow from Brylane Home for CPAPs which is incredible. It is at http://www.brylanehome.com/decor/Contour-CPAP-Compliance-Pillow-and.... It is much easier to sleep with than a conventional pillow as it is contoured to the mask and helps greatly. I also got the accessory kit which allows for the hose to hang "up in the air" which takes all of the hose drag off your face. Hope all this helps.
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I started having a problem with my mouth opening up in the middle of the night and waking me up. I just got a cheap chin strap -- problem solved.
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Hi Ernestine,
I had the same problem when I first started wearing my full face mask. I am a mouth breather too and unfortunately a drooler as well. My doctor told me to set my humidifier on setting of 2 and that solved the problem for me. However I am no longer on a full face mask due to air constantly drying out my eyes. I am on a hybrid mask with nasal plugs. It works okay but it has leaks. I am still adjusting and on the search to find another good mask. I have noticed that I still drool in all of my masks I have tried. I hope you have great success with your next mask. I'll be interested to hear everyone's opinion.
Blessings, Corinne
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John, Thanks for sharing this information. I plan to look into this. I have issue with the a regular pillow too. I will have to check out the contour pillow. Will it matter if I am petite person? Corinne
John Little said:
I used to have a major problem with masks and went through six of them before I found the Respironics OptiLife Nasal CPAP Mask. Its a great mask with a chin strap, a double banded head band and uses nasal pillows that do not irritate my nose. I have gone from being able to use the mask for four hours to all night with no issues. My wife also got me a pillow from Brylane Home for CPAPs which is incredible. It is at http://www.brylanehome.com/decor/Contour-CPAP-Compliance-Pillow-and.... It is much easier to sleep with than a conventional pillow as it is contoured to the mask and helps greatly. I also got the accessory kit which allows for the hose to hang "up in the air" which takes all of the hose drag off your face. Hope all this helps.
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I also used to have the problem with mouth opening at night. But I bought a comfortable
chin strap ($13.00) and adjusted it to minimum pressure to put a gentle push on my chin and
have had no more problems with this.
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Wade, what mask do you wear? Where do you get the chin strap?
Wade Hampton said:
I also used to have the problem with mouth opening at night. But I bought a comfortable
chin strap ($13.00) and adjusted it to minimum pressure to put a gentle push on my chin and
have had no more problems with this.
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I have been a cpap wearer for 5 yrs and was told full mask is best for open mouth sleepers, I am an open mouth sleeper and I use a full mask. My machine has a humidifier on it so i can have moist warm air or cool dry air....i like the cool dry side but alittle moist so i set mine on 2 , but it can go up to as high as 5, but 2 seems to work best for me, hope this helps
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I have the same problem and all I can suggest is: 1) stay with full face mask, 2) turn your humidifier way up and 3) use the best chin strap you can get. I have had a couple of different chin straps and some are definitely better than others at holding my mouth closed.
John
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Wade, what mask do you wear? Where do you get the chin strap?
I purchased the strap at my CPAP equipment supplier. (Lamberts).
I use a Resmed Swift FX pillows mask. I tried the full face Quattro, but I have a full beard
and mustache and there was too much leakage. (too much hair.) If a chin strap does not work, still you will not have invested much money in the attempt. Good luck.
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It would be really helpful if you post your mask type and links to where you can buy chin straps for us newbies.
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Permalink Reply by Bob Schwartz on
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Hi Ernestine,
Welcome to the world of CPAP. I also made the journey from full to nasal mask. I found it difficult to control the rubber seal leaks and the general discomfort. I found my solution in the Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillow. I searched for a chin strap and found several to keep my mouth closed but while effective the straps touched my ears and left me in the morning with moderate pain. I’m not sure why. I eventually found a Medline Head Gear unit that has another purpose but is like a head cap with Velcro straps that I connected and let hang down under my chin. The straps are in front of my ears and this has worked. I also use a mouth guard for grinding my teeth but this is not a factor.
Good luck in finding something that works.
Regards,
Bob
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Permalink Reply by Heather Dent on
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Welcome to Sleep Guide Ernestine......you will find your best resources are this and other sleep/CPAP discussion forums......I have received immeasurable help since beginning treatment one year ago. All experienced people who have the same problems. I am also a mouth open sleeper who gets "jaw drop" after the muscles relax during sleep. I have tried a number of masks.....I NOW have a good DME (Durable Medical Equipment) provider with a co-operative Respiratory Therapist (who let me try many kinds on loan), but I went back to the Resmed Quattro Full Face Mask (designed specifically for mouth breathers with jaw drop). And this tiime I found that I don't get marks at bridge of nose and on cheeks down sides of the nose, simply because this good R.T. told me to put on the mask and then lie down and pull mask a little bit away from the nose for 5 to 10 seconds to allow the mask cushion time to inflate with the air turned on and it works.......so I don't need the mask strapped so tightly to my face now (hence no red marks). But that doesn't mean it's the only solution for you. The other responders have offered their solutions and they sound pretty successful too. I just had problems with the nasal pillows moving out of place that resulted in noisy air leaks that disrupted sleep. But noses are all different, so you may not experience that problem like I did. The dry mouth problem is solved by trial and error adjusting of your humidifier settings as suggested by the others. Hope this is helpful and hope you find your perfect solution. Good luck.
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