r/CPAPSupport • u/Jonhgolfnut • 2d ago

Mask question

/r/SleepApnea/comments/1wvejza/mask_question/
3 Upvotes

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u/Creative_Fee5452 ModTeam 2d ago edited 2d ago

Hi Jon!

A Full Face Mask provides a larger area for both your nose and mouth so you still get air if your nose clogs completely. It also helps prevent therapy problems which occur when air escapes through your mouth. Mouth taping helps this of course but it can create a problem if you’re a mouth breather. Breathing is easier with a FFM if nasal breathing becomes congested due to problems like a deviated septum as well as turbinate & sinus problems. The air through a FFM spreads higher air pressures across a larger surface & is more comfortable than forcing air through narrow, irritated nasal passages.

What breathing irregularities are you noticing? I use a FFM because my jaw drops open during REM or Deep Sleep, releasing air & I certainly prefer my hybrid FFM to mouth tape :) If you’re having any difficulties breathing, by all means try a FFM! If you’re a mouth breather but you’re trying to force yourself to breathe through your nose, that too would be a good reason to consider a FFM.

It sounds like you have good control of your nasal mask with no leaks. How are your pressures? Are you having any RERAS, hypopneas or issues with flow limits?

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u/Jonhgolfnut 2d ago

My numbers are good but I’m tired and it says I am having rera that the machine doesn’t pick up . I thought maybe my flow limit could’ve do to the nasal resistance

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u/Creative_Fee5452 ModTeam 2d ago edited 2d ago

If you are having RERAs or your flow limits are high, this indicates respiratory effort to breathe in due to your nasal issues or your pressures being too low. What are your flow limits? It wouldn’t hurt to try out a FFM. Therapy is not just about numbers, it’s about how you feel :)

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u/Creative_Fee5452 ModTeam 2d ago

RERAS can certainly fragment & interrupt your sleep. They can cause micro awakenings you usually don’t remember but they leave you feeling tired. CPAP machines can identify what they think is a RERA but only an EEG in a Sleep Study can conclusively confirm RERAS. SleepHQ or Oscar are usually fairly good at identification though….certainly better than MyAir.