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Full Face Masks that do well at High Pressure?

I am a person who resumed CPAP after a hiatus of nine years. I have been back on CPAP for about 45 days now.

To my chagrin, my new titration came in at an eye-popping 19 over 15. I am using the ResMed Quatro Full Face Mask, (Large), The Resmed Autoset 25 VPAP on auto, their heated humidifier and a chin strap (otherwise I'm a persistent mouth-breather and I wake up with dry mouth). The Quatro is right at the edge of comfortable; this is not surprising given how tight the velcro straps need to be to withstand that pressure. Has anybody found another mask that works well for them at a comparable pressure? I am reluctant to try nasal pillows -- even with the chin strap I mouth breathe on occasion.

I am doing well if the machine's scoring is to be believed (not quite so well if I look at daytime fatigue)l. Most nights my AHI is under 5 (typically between 3.5 and 4.5) and my AI has been 0 more than half the time and no higher than 0.1 90% of the time so I don't want to tamper with success unless there is something out there screaming to be tried...

Thanks in advance.

Clueless (and/or sleepless) in Redwood Shores

Has anybody

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike Fritz on August 17, 2009 at 11:57am

To the op, the Quattro is pretty much the best out there. I bought one of the one pictured. I could never get it to stop leaking.Don't waste your time. http://www.directhomemedical.com/masks-cpap-bipap/fitlife-fullface-...
As far as what Rock says about not wearing a chin strap he is wrong in my case. If I don't wear one I will open my mouth so much when I am asleep that I get leaks at the chin. If I use the strap to make me keep my mouth only half shut it works fine.So in theory he is right but in the real world it don't work that way. That is for me. See Rock I can be nice.

Rock Hinkle said:

I have a couple of questions Clueless. How do you know that you are getting REM sleep? REm sleep does not always mean good o2. You need uneventful sleep to obtain good REM or stage 3 sleep. Why are you wearing a chin strap with a full face mask? Chinstraps are for people that breathe through their mouths while wearing a nasal mask. There is no need to wear one with a full face mask as they are made for mouth breathers.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Fritz on August 17, 2009 at 11:58am

Mike Fritz said:

To the op, the Quattro is pretty much the best out there. I bought one of the ones pictured below. I could never get it to stop leaking.Don't waste your time. http://www.directhomemedical.com/masks-cpap-bipap/fitlife-fullface-...
As far as what Rock says about not wearing a chin strap he is wrong in my case. If I don't wear one I will open my mouth so much when I am asleep that I get leaks at the chin. If I use the strap to make me keep my mouth half shut it works fine.So in theory he is right but in the real world it don't work that way. That is for me. See Rock I can be nice.

Rock Hinkle said:
I have a couple of questions Clueless. How do you know that you are getting REM sleep? REm sleep does not always mean good o2. You need uneventful sleep to obtain good REM or stage 3 sleep. Why are you wearing a chin strap with a full face mask? Chinstraps are for people that breathe through their mouths while wearing a nasal mask. There is no need to wear one with a full face mask as they are made for mouth breathers.

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Permalink Reply by Clueless in Redwood Shores on August 17, 2009 at 12:34pm

My assumption about lots of REM is as follows: On good nights I have lots of vivid dreams and no night sweats. I wake up refreshed. On bad nights I wake up sweat soaked and less refreshed. Last night was in the latter category. Although the machine reported AHI of 4 and AI 0f O, the leak rate was about double the prior nights.

I use the chin strap because mouth breathing leaves me with an unpleasant dry-mouth sensation and higher rates of both leaks and disturbances.

Rock Hinkle said:

I have a couple of questions Clueless. How do you know that you are getting REM sleep? REm sleep does not always mean good o2. You need uneventful sleep to obtain good REM or stage 3 sleep. Why are you wearing a chin strap with a full face mask? Chinstraps are for people that breathe through their mouths while wearing a nasal mask. There is no need to wear one with a full face mask as they are made for mouth breathers.

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Permalink Reply by Brett Berry on August 17, 2009 at 1:59pm

All good advice. In my opinion the RESMED Quattro is best hands down. Next would be the FP Flexi-Fit. Many of our mouthbreathers have preferred a hybrid over a true FF. The resmed Liberty is one we use alot of. In your case, sounds like you have good equipment. I would agree with Jason. A refit may be the ticket. Good luck. Brett

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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on August 17, 2009 at 7:32pm

My pressure is not nearly as high as yours -- with that being said the only full face mask that I have found that works the best is the F&P as they have a chin cup that helps keep the mask from riding up on my face. It helps support the chin and keeps it from gaping down so far, at least in my case.