I'm definitely a mouth breather and have been having pretty good results with my Flexifit mask. I was thinking about trying the Oracle though I keep hearing that most people don't like it. Any recommendations?

JeffS wrote:

I'm definitely a mouth breather and have been having pretty good results with my Flexifit mask. I was thinking about trying the Oracle though I keep hearing that most people don't like it. Any recommendations?

Jeff,

I don't have an answer to your question because I was just diagnosed this week with sleep apnea, but I am also definitely a mouth-breather, awake or asleep.

My question for you:  Did your doctor every try to have you use a nasal mask?  My sleep doctor thinks I should start out trying a nasal mask, but I'm such a habitual mouth-breather, I think it would never work.  What kind of mask did you start with - full face?

Breathless

Jeffs,  It was suggested that I begin therapy with a nasal mask.  I started with the ResMed Activa and a chin strap.  I tried everything and anything suggested to stop the mouth breathing...literally.  I'm now using the F&P 431 which works for me.  I tried the 432 and had all the leaks and blow outs everyone relates.  Good luck in your choices.  You probably know that half the battle is correct mask.  Welcome.   JuJu

Jeff-I am a former flexifit user. You're right 99% people HATE the oracle but I've been faithfully using it for past 15 months and the Oracle is my DREAM mask!!! PM me if you have specific questions and I'll be glad to answer if I can.  Barb


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I tried using a nasal mask on the night of my sleep study and quickly realized that I would never be able to get used to breathiing in and out through my nose all night  
long so I then switched to a full face mask. I think I will at least give the Oracle a try. I may be able to find a cheap one on ebay or another site.  I've read that
the Oracle can make you feel like you're hooked up to a scuba tank.

You might want to consider the Hybrid mask from Teleflex/Hudson (who is sometimes referred to as Innomed who, I believe, merged with Teleflex on certain product lines).

The Hybrid mask covers the mouth, and has two nasal pillows coming up out of the mask that go into the nostrils.  I've been using it for a couple weeks with success.  The biggest problem I had was the pillows tend to slip out.  I started covering them with tape, half on the pillows, half on my nose: problem solved.

The good things about the Hybrid that I personally have found are:

Nothing on the bridge of your nose
Seemingly easier for side sleeping
Unobstructed vision

But it aint cheap, goes for about $150 if your insurance doesn't cover it.  I've read mixed reviews, but mostly good ones.

Good luck.

Jeff

I breath through my nose some of the time and thru my mouth the rest of the time.  I tried the mirage liberty and found that the mouth part fit fine with no leaks.  I had nothing but problems with the nasal pillows which led to little sleep.  What I loved about the liberty was
side sleeping easy with no leaks,
nothing over the eyes - could wear glasses and did not bother my claustrophobia
similar to hybrid but insurance friendly

unfortunately the nasal pillow issues made me return it and I now am using the mirage quattro.  I can breath well and had my first good night of sleep.  I will be bringing this back to the respitory therapist to exchange for an extra small.  It seems I was correct and the therapist wrong about the edge of mask being on edge of chin. He said it would not slip off edge and leak.  It does.  Resmed says there is a special sizing chart for the quattro.  So if you try one watch out for the sizing.  On most masks I seem to use a small but this one it is an extra-small which should arrive soon.
What I like about this mask:
side sleeping easy
adjustability of forhead piece to reduce pressure on nose
I can breath easily through either nose or mouth.
Allows room to open and close mouth without leaks.

What I do not like about this mask:
Bad for people who wear glasses and like to read before falling asleep or watch TV (mask goes up to forehead)
Bad for people with claustrophobia, If awake I try to get it off my face the instant I awake! I just hope I do not fall asleep too often before I stop to take off my glasses and put on the mask
Can not put it on and relax before going to sleep.
Forehead piece gives me a headache and I get a rough spot on the bridge of my nose.

I also contacted the company Resmed to ask that they provide a mask similar to the liberty but with a piece that covers nose without nasal pillows for those of us who are mouthbreathers and are claustrophobic or wear glasses and cannot breath through nasal pillows.

JeffS wrote:

I'm definitely a mouth breather and have been having pretty good results with my Flexifit mask. I was thinking about trying the Oracle though I keep hearing that most people don't like it. Any recommendations?

I use the Resmed Mirage Quattro FFM. I have leak rates in the .04-.08 range consistently. Very rarely does my leak rate go over .8. That being said, I have to cinch that sucker down tight to get leak rates that low. I doubt most people could tolerate the tightness of my straps. I have strap marks on the back of my neck and a mark on the bridge of my nose right now. But, I have a high pain tolerance, am not claustrophobic  and hell to be honest I am just glad to be treated for OSA. Ive been in a haze since I started CPAP treatment anyway, adjusting to CPAP while at the same time tapering off the benzo klonopin.  So I might be different, I dont know. I know Resmed says to not cinch the straps down tight like that but I am sorry, I just cant get low leak rates without doing so.

 I read mostly negative stuff about any full face mask. If someone knows of another FFM that doesnt leak without cinching it down tight, post it here I am interested. But Resmed Mirage Quattro, if you cinch the thing down good, seams to work.

Fred


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Resmed S8 Autoset Vantage, HumidAire 3i, Resmed Quattro ffmask

I think some of the problems people have with leaks may be because people chose the size mask they usually wear and resmed has a special measuring tool for quattro that is different from their other measuring tools. Sizes are a little different for quattro.  Also, some leakage may be attributed to the overwide width of the mask.  For me with small facial features the mask goes all the way to the side of my face well past my nose and mouth.   I sure wish I could have a custom made and sized ff mask.

clk

HyBrid is the best solution that I have found.


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I love my Hybrid, but find I have to cinch it so tight to keep the nasal pillows in place that, my nares ARE getting larger and it is also putting wrinkles under my eyes. Ok, so I am a bit vain, but really don't want to look old before my time    I may try taping them in place or else looking for a full face mask, I started with a FF and hated it, so I am still looking for solutions to this CPAP therapy.

i have both the Quattro and the Liberty..I went back to the DME after using the Quattro and asked for the Liberty (pretty much exactly like the Hybrid) and have been using it for a couple of days now..i think i like it better than the Quattro..although I have been having headaches pretty much constantly since starting my CPAP treatment almost 3 weeks ago.  Hopefully it is just a temporary problem and my body will adjust to the change..but i couple sleep equally as well with either one of those masks.  I prefer the Liberty because of the pressure that the Quattro puts on the bridge of my nose and the vision blockage.

Herbboy

Eventually, I figured out that "too tight" was a bigger problem. The more I tightened, the worse it got. Now, the mask is relatively loose, and I get a better seal. It's a trial and error kind of thing.

Good luck.


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As a Christian, you may be the only bible someone ever reads.

The full face quattro has worked pretty well for me. I have finally started to get a hang of using it and not getting leaks on /off during the night. Other than that month-long learning curve, I like this mask.


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TedG954 wrote:

Eventually, I figured out that "too tight" was a bigger problem. The more I tightened, the worse it got. Now, the mask is relatively loose, and I get a better seal. It's a trial and error kind of thing.

Good luck.

I will try loosening it up and taping the pillows up to my nose, because I really love this Hybrid, I tried my Comfortful FF last night, and had it off within a few hours, very miserable for me, hurts my nose terrible, not the bridge but the sides. And it makes me feel claustrophobic..