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Is my mask too big?
The sleep technician that fitted me and then the supplier rep that came to my home to show me how to use it didn't tell me it was too large for my face. It does look huge on the photos. It's the Comfort Full II Mask. The reason I chose the full mask over the smaller nasal mask is because my mouth opens when I sleep, so the air would just escape from my mouth. I wonder if the nasal mask or nasal pillows would work for me at all, maybe if I used a good chin strap to keep my mouth close?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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Sonia -- it does look too big. i'll let others chime in on what they think too. By the way, you're making excellent use of the forum posing your pix in a question like this. It's a great way to ask this kind of question. i would recommend others do the same.
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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on
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Sonia,
It s hard to tell from the photo but the mask does look Large. I wore that same mask for 6 months or so and loved it.
You should try some of the nasal mask as well with Chin strap in place. The cannula styles are also great IF the chin strap helps to keep mouth closed. Talk to your REP about maybe a smaller full-face mask.
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Permalink Reply by Amy on
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Yup it does not fit right. Maybe a Resmed would fit better. It has a different profile that might fit your face better. As to a chin strap to be truthful they really do not help a lot. To be honest very few people fit a large full face mask.
REmember during the first month is when you are allowed to change masks so I would not wait to get refitted
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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Conn I have to ask. If you loved that mask so much why did you switch? Personally I have no luck with that one in particular. It felt like I had a 15 ilb weight on my face.
D. W. Conn said:Sonia,
It s hard to tell from the photo but the mask does look Large. I wore that same mask for 6 months or so and loved it.
You should try some of the nasal mask as well with Chin strap in place. The cannula styles are also great IF the chin strap helps to keep mouth closed. Talk to your REP about maybe a smaller full-face mask.
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Rock I try many mask each year. I want to beable to be informed when talking to patients about mask.
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Permalink Reply by Melinda Hertel on
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The mask is definitely too big for you! I can see that the inner seal is sitting too low on your chin--it should be closer to your lip. There are a lot of choices in full face masks so I wouldn't give up. You could definitely try a nasal mask with chin strap, but in my experience, if you can find a full face that fits properly, it works better. A lot of people can still open their mouths with a chin strap on, and some people have air escape through their lips even though their mouths are closed.
What size did they give you? The Mirage Quattro comes in a small and extra small. Every full face style comes in a small. The Comfort Full II could very well work for you if you got a smaller size. Again, in my experience though, the Quattro is a better mask.
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Permalink Reply by Saz RPSGT on
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Full face mask cushions should be about 1/2 inch below the lip. Based on what I can see from the picture, it is way too big.
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Permalink Reply by Sonia S. on
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Thanks to everyone that replied. When I went to the sleep clinic for the sleep study, I tried on a small and a medium and was given a medium, maybe because at the time I weighed about 130 lbs more than I do now, so the small one was may have been too snug. My face is a lot smaller than it was 2 years ago.
That's what I feared about the chin strap, that it might not be too effective in really keeping my mouth and or lips closed. But wasn't really looking forward to wearing more straps on my head.
I don't know if I had a Titration study. What is that? But I am sure that my mouth opens every night when I relax enough to sleep. Even with my CPAP's humidifier I still need to drink water at least a couple of times during the night to relieve my dry mouth and throat. I think one reason my mouth opens is that my lower jaw is not aligned with my upper jaw, it's more pushed back, causing my mouth to open when I'm laying down and relaxed.
Will continue my search for a better, more comfortable mask.
Thanks again to all that replied with their answers and suggestions.
Sonia
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Here's a picture taken the day after my weight loss surgery. My weigh was 266 lbs. there, but I was 291 lbs. when I got the mask fitted by the sleep tech. It explains why my mask it's now too big on me.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Judy on
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Hi Sonia
Wow, you did have a significant weight loss. Congrats on that!
I have to agree with everyone else... your mask is way too big. And I think they set you up with the wrong size to begin with, even if you were 290 lbs at the time. Most full face masks are measured from between the eyes on the bridge of the nose to the crease below you bottom lip. I'm just speculating here, but I don't think that distance is going to change much, if any, with weight loss. But regardless, when it comes to CPAP masks, size is everything and you definately need to try a smaller sized mask.
I've had best luck with the Resmed Quattro - for me, it seems to fit most people the best. But everyones face is shaped a little different so maybe another manufacturers mask would work better for you.
Good luck in your quest for the holy grail of masks.
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