Hi,
I have been using a C-PAP for seven weeks, initally I was using just the nose mask then about 10 days ago I went to a full mask.  The reason I changed to the full mask was that I noticed that air was inflating my mouth slightly and air was passing out between my lips.
My C-PAP is set at 7 and I was told at my sleep study that I stpped breathing about 39 times/hour.
At present I am still noticing some leaks around my chin from my mask, but they do not seem very large and sometimes they seal themselves if I move my head.  I have used a humidifier for about 6 weeks, but only for 10 days with the new full mask.  I have put the humidifier on the middle setting of 3, but still seem to get a dry mouth/funny taste.
I have a few question which I hope people can help me with.
With the full mask I find that I am getting to sleep quicker, but still wake up because of the dry mouth.  My feeling is that if I can get through the dry mouth/funny taste problem, I think the C-PAP will work alot better for me.
1.  Does slight leaks cause any problems or is there enough air from the C-PAP to cover for small amounts of air loss.
2.  Should I just keep putting up the level on my humidifier, and if so how long should I stay on one setting before I go upto the higher setting.  Does my body need time to adjust to one setting to see if it works.  With my old nose mask I got upto 4/5 on the humidifier
and it got to be to warm to use, so I am trying to keep the setting as low as possible.
3.  Could the funny taste in my mouth be anything else or is it just part of the dry mouth.
4.  The Ear, Nose and Throat doctor I saw said that my tonsils were a little on the large side, but would not give an opinion on removing them until I tried the C-PAP.  Does removing the tonsils really help, the information that I have found on the subject seems to differ on the need to have them removed.

Any advice would be helpful.

Dave Lord


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Dave Lord

Hi Dave,

If the leaks are very small, CPAPs can compensate for them.  But for most of us, the leak noice wake us up.  A new FF mask on the market that several of us on this forum use is the FlexiFit 431.  It is very comfortable and does not leak underneath the chin because the mask goes below the chin rather than directly below the lip.  You also might try increasing the humidity a little.

Vicki


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That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.