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I have only just started my journey with this and I was told ZERO information about any of this, absolutely NOTHING. They signed me up on a plan, threw some random head mask at me and sent me home with no follow up or anything. I have no idea what I am doing and if I need my machine regularly looked it to see if it is running fine? No clue. Your videos are soooo informative this has helped me a tonne! It's just disgusting that they don't even explain any of this to you or help you at all. Thanks for the information
Had the same experience. A very fast explanation by a poor tech who has to say the same thing every day. No idea what I’m doing, so I stopped using it altogether, like the rest of my friends. But the insurance companies got their money for the device, so they’re happy
I should've listened to you about uppp I miss my uvula, and the part of my soft pallet, I wanted my tonsils out for years but when I met a surgeon that was willing to do it more than the first one, she also added on the uppp just by looking in my mouth and said she could do the dise at the same time, I told her and her office a few times I wasn't comfortable with the pallet part, they said they've never had a problem, and people normally have to decrease pressure, I can't even use my CPAP now, I haven't had a new sleep study since the surgery but every time I wear my mask I wake up paralyzed, either by a dream that somethings choking me or idk, idk if it's the pallet shrinking or not, I feel like she ruined my life, my tonsils were huge they had to go, but they lightly kept encouraging me to do the rest, they said I can back out anytime I want and I said I just don't want to do the pallet part, they said we've never had a problem the surgeon will tell you you won't get the full benefit....I've lost weight before the surgery and my ahi went down but I've been having unstable breathing problems with the CPAP over the years called ",onset transition apnea", I thought the surgery would help, I was told not to use cpap during healing, i tried it on day 5 it wasnt that it hurt i woke up paralyzed, then I held off till the end and I'm still waking up paralyzed, why, and i can barely sleep without the mask cause I've had to for 2 weeks but even sleeping in recliner head turned my 02 drops and I have to keep waking up with headache and forcing myself to sleep in increments, I haven't tried closing my mouth I have noticed I wake up feeling better nasal breathing, I remember one time waking up with full faced mask breathing through nose, but what do I do about the soft pallet now... I know you said air will flow out on nasal mask after the surgery but I tried a nasal mask years ago briefly and air still flowing through even with full pallet
I just want to thank you. I have a F&P sleep style machine and have been explaining my problems that I have had and you you tube has helped me solve my problem that I have had for some many years.
Hey, Nicko, did you know you have a follower who is an ENT surgeon at a hospital in London? I just watched his most recent video, apologizing for his prior video warning against using mouth tape. He featured this video on his screen and said he values you content. His name is Vik Veer.
Oh thanks for the heads up, i'll have to check out the vid. Mouth taping has always been a controversial technique to promote nasal breathing but personally in my 20 years of doing this i've actually never heard from anyone who has had a horror story but heard from thousands who have had much success especially for cpap mouth leak so i'm an advocate but i can understand how it might be dangerous for a percentage of the population. Cheers
I have worn the nasal mask since the beginning with a Chin Strap. I have narrow nasal passages and even if i am fully clogged, after a few minutes, the nasal passage open up. Way to go.
Hey, thanks for sharing your experience, there are certainly times when it can be challenging but there's a few options for those occasions. There's plenty of nasal sprays that can be used short term that work wonders and also, you could just have a spare full-face if you need it from time to time. Cheers
Way to go! I would dare to say that all professional snorers are mouth breathers. I know I was. Once I started the CPAP journey I became aware of the fact that I was mouth breathing regularly through the day too!! The term "mouth breather" is not a compliment here in Canada. Open mouth breathing is not compatible with successful CPAP therapy. You will be getting huge leakage numbers. I tried a chinstrap. Your jaw will drop down and back while you sleep, eliminating the promised advantage of the strap. I tried a cervical collar. Looking for taller and firmer models to force my mouth closed. Who wants to sleep with an Elizabethan collar. I am not Henry 8th. Beyond messing with weird hardware I was also cranking face mask straps so tight that it would take till well after lunch for the lines to disappear. Co-workers would question the lines on my face. I told them I flew high altitude reconaissance aircraft overnight. Eventually I tried a P10 nasal pillows mask with mouth tape. Success at last. I was amazed by how small and light the mask was. No face lines. NO HUGE LEAKAGE!!! It took about 3 months for the new habit placing my tongue against the roof of my mouth and keeping the stupid thing closed to become permanent. I could now sleep all night without a collar or strap or tape. Just my nasal pillows mask. I traded up to the P30I. Success is sweet. Now when I travel my Airmini with the P10 mask is all I need. A funny fact. If you breathe through your open mouth long enough your mucus production goes way up and you do end up clogging your nose. Colds, allergies, COVID and anything you might imagine have never stopped me from sleeping every night for 8.75 hours with my pillows mask.
F&P Solo Nasal mask is fantastic. I was a mouth breather but mostly from habit. You need to remember/remind yourself to breathe via your nose in everyday situations.
OMG! I tried your advice towards the end of the video to switch the cpap machine to full face mask even though I'm using the nasal pillow and hurrah! I'm not sure why, but the breathing WAS much easier. I'm new to cpap, so trying anything to help. Thanks to your videos, I'm learning a lot.
I was so convinced that I am a mouth breather and I will never be able to use nasal mask. Also I was struggling with full face mask for over a year, wasn't feeling any benefits with cpap. So I was more comfortable without cpap and was doing cpap on and off. One finde day after watching some video I ordered dreamware nasal mask and then no going back. CPAP became my go to thing every night my energy levels went up. So overall I would say nasal mask is the best thing. Initially I had some reservations that since i have frequent stuffy nose what if i am unable to breath. But there were two additional things which I did for few months and eventually stopped those 2 things also. 1) using humidifier although wheather in my country doesnt really need it but going by theory it helps to comfort the mucus so i did use humidifier for few months. 2) Another thing i did was to use nasal spray (saline for less stuffy days) (otrivin for more stuffy days) and those also stopped to 1/10 days now. So if anyone struggling to switch to nasal mask must try these 2 workarounds temproarily untill adapt to nasal mask. I am still having worries what would I do if i get sever cold and then how to use nasal mask. My backup plan for days with severe cold is to use old full face mask :P. Moreover the episodes of cold is reduced after using CPAP regularly, may be immunity is working better. Thanks to a good nasal mask. And big thanks to this channel who puts lots of effort in giving detailed review and study on how to keep improving cpap therapy. Also I made 2 more Relatives to switch to Nasal mask In last 1 year and they are happier.
I use both an P30i and N30i. P30i with the nostril pillows fits best, doesn't leak when I sleep on my side, and is the one I use the most. N30i is a nasal pillow, but without the individual nostril pillows, and I find it the most comfortable, but can leak if I sleep on my side. Could never go back to using anything else, so much more comfortable. And when awake, I tend to be a mouth breather, but no issues when sleeping.
Thanks, I had my eyes on the P30i. I was having the same issue with the N30i leaking when sleeping on my side also nose would get a little stuffy when using it even with extra humidity. Switched to the F30i and seems to work pretty well, but I miss the ability to use my mouth without taking off the mask. So far insurance has been pretty chill with me switching up masks.
I suppose maybe its possible its very bad… but for me the nasal pillow actually keeps my nose from being congested. When I had covid it kept my nose open all night. Just need to take some sudafed so you start the night not totally blocked solid, and then the flow keeps it open. Also I am on a constant pressure so that helps.
Absolute game changer! After a year plus of self managed therapy on Resmed F20&/F30 (full face) I could feel I was gradually rebalancing to nasal breathing and had been meaning to give nasal a try though made a tactical error by trialling the F40 first. I had sucessfully titrated to a point where I had negible 'events' but still a lot of what I call "below the line" flow distrubance, micro arousals and O2 dips which increased pressure didnt seem to mitigate - at least comfortably. I used the info in the video to make the switch to the F&P Solo with nasal pillows and mouth tape. Started with full face setting, 1cm less of pressure and Hypafix mouth tape. Also I ditched the Kensington chin strap I had been using recently as my therapy outcomes had shifted a little (a great product to have in your toolkit though). Mind blowing!!! woke up after one night with a clarity of mind and freshness have not had for years. Could stay up till 11 too! (and thats PM). 4 nights in same result. so yeah, Nicko a big "thaaanks budddddy" - oh wait thats the other guy (big shout out to him too). p.s. mouth taping suprisingly comfortable and very effective though have lost ability to command my smart speaker
Thank you so much! I've been using the AirCurve 10 for 4-5 years now. I did well with the N30i until they changed the design and eliminated the hard plastic back side of the mask. The new soft ones just roll right up my face at night. So I tried the P30i on the Pillows settings but it would blow my mouth open and Id have super dry mouth. All my fillings have fallen out!! So I tried the F30I but even with a chin strap, my jaw would fall back and I'd end up with the bottom part of the mask in my mouth and the top part blasting my eyeballs. I watched this video yesterday, used the P30i on full face setting and zero leaks, zero AHI, no dry mouth, no blasted eyeballs, it was glorious! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Edit: I now use a soft cervical collar instead of the chin strap, works much better.
I just started on CPAP a few days ago with a nasal pillow, but I noticed over the first few days that when I was falling asleep, my tongue would slip back, breaking the seal in my mouth. When this happens, the air from the CPAP starts flowing through my lips, which wakes me up. I ordered a full-face mask, so I'm going to try that for a while to see how it goes, but I'm happy to hear any other advice people have for this particular issue.
This happens to me (and all humans) I’ve found that sleeping on my side while holding a pillow between my arms with one end pushed up against my jaw to hold it closed helps. Over time I think my mouth is being retrained to stay out of the breathing equation and let my nose handle it. Like Niko says: your apnea has made you into a mouth breather. So it’ll take a bit of time to relearn how to be a nose breather.
Thanks so much for the Tips. The doctors sure don't spend the time to adjust my machines. I have struggled for years so I hope this helps. Thanks again
Hypertonic saline before bed (I use approx 2% saline) though a Neti pot or navage can shrink nasal membranes and allow easier nose breathing, always use distilled water
I got my first nasal mask today and I'm excited to try it. I've never been able to breathe through my nose while sleeping but I'm 2 months post-op septoplasty/turbinate reduction/internal valve repair. i've got an internal breathe right strip now 😎
@@larryperchick5399 it's funny you say that, I did think it was tougher than I was led to believe. still though, it wasn't terrible and it was probably easier compared to other surgeries. staying on top of the pain by taking pain meds on a schedule helped. I found the internal splints to be uncomfortable and was thrilled to get those removed
OK, as a new pro member to SleepHQ, I certainly do appreciate all the info and knowledge I have gained from the vids and chat in the community. I have a F&P Evora, the most comfortable full face I have found in my 13 years of CPAP. I don't like the full face, discomfortable on a number of planes, but I do sleep notably better on the CPAP than not, so I have forced myself to tolorate it. My experience with the providers has been poor at best, and I have gained and used the knowledge, far more than all my providers combined, on SleepHQ vids, and community to make some adjustments, over the past two weeks, I have had better sleep than the past 14 years of using CPAP. I do have a problem breathing through my nose. Having watched this vid closely several times< I have come to some conclusions. I may be a mouth breather by bad habit. The tips Nicko gave may very well make using a nasal possible. The prior nasal I was given does not work for me as I was NEVER fitted, given any use instructions or told about pressure and or temp and humidity changes. Thanks Nicko for this and all the other important vids that give us great info we can use for better sleep. Keep them coming!!
G'day James, thanks for your membership mate! Your comment made my day. I'll keep making them if you keep watching them and it's great to hear they are making a difference. Cheers
Same here I keep my face mask for colds. But if you max out the humidity it clears sinuses in most cases. Loogies always flow and block the nostril facing the pillow. So turn over couple of times. When it flows one side to another it is the best time to drain. Blowing can be cumbersome.
I'm new to CPAP and along with my Resmed 11 unit, I got an Airfit F30 full face mask which I didn't like . Since I was entitled to on switch in the first 30 days, I moved up to the F40 which is considerably better but on my own I bought an Airfit P10 nasal pillows mask and after trying the medium cushion, put the large one on which was more effective. I've been using the P10 for around a week and while I still have some problems falling asleep, when I do the numbers look very good. I'll still keep the F40 as a backup since I have a history of sinus problems and nasal congestion.
After watching this video, decided no more procrastination and got the nasal resmed one. Its way more comfortable, only had one night, and sleep was terrible, so looks like I have some work to do to get settings right. I left the settings the same as my full face mask, with a bit more pressure added as I wasnt getting the same pressure feeling. Watching video again as i might have missed something
Mouth breather here. Full face dries my mouth out really badly. Nasal all the way. After using a chin strap for years. After a recent surgery I was sleeping with a basic cervical collar. Turns out this is an amazing, comfortable easy, highly recommended 🎉
I had a really hard time being compliant with the full mask and the smaller full mask. At first, the nasal was hard because I knew if I opened my mouth, it would be uncomfortable. Once I was able to mentally get past that, I've become 100% compliant, so definitely give nasal a try if you have been on the fence!
I really enjoy your channel. I really haven’t much choice but to use the full face mask due to chronic nasal congestion. And there’s also that weird thing nasal CPAPs do where if you mouth opens while wearing it, it gives you a feeling similar to releasing one’s grip on the neck of a balloon while inflating it with the mouth - that sudden rush of air. Very of\dd feeling.
Such an incredible video. I watched this a month ago after struggling for the last few months with my CPAP therapy, and the biggest driver was leaks. If I nailed my leak control, a full mask would have been good. The problem is, something changed for me this year, I don't know what and sleeping started to suck again. I tried Vcom, I tried the Knightsbridge, and I tried a cervical color, but there was no joy. I remember my sleep study in 2013. They originally tried a nasal mask the first time they interrupted my sleep during the night, eventually switching to Full Face. Since then, it's been 100% Full Face and doing a Nasal option just terrified me. But something about this video stuck with me. It niggled with me, and I decided to give it a go. I moved over to the Nasal gradually. First, I started with some mouth tape before I went to bed (I watched some TV - scared my wife, ha, and just got used to nasal breathing), then I did some naps with it and then full nights. The last week has been amazing. My CPAP machine reports 0 or very low fractional AHI numbers, and my leaks are either non-existent or very low. This week I've moved from the ResMed 10 to ResMed 11 and my CPAP partner is adjusting settings from APAP to CPAP but happy to share historical data with people
I switched to nasal about 3 months ago and everything is so much better. Less leak, lower AHI, better sleep. I use a chin strap and mouth tape together.
For those struggling with congestion - I am very allergic to cats and have 2. I use Flonase daily in the morning, and cycle back and forth every 30 days with Claritin and Zyrtec (NON-D version) at night. You can take Flonase daily and layer it with a pill in the same day (they work differently, so you are not doubling the same type of medication). Most Dr's say I can stick to one allergy pill, but switching doesn't hurt, and possibly could be better. This works very well for me and I live a normal life. Do keep in mind it takes about a week for pills to build up in your system, so you won't notice relief for a few days, so keep up with it.
They started me off with a hybrid mask, & as soon as my apnea was being treated, I was almost instantly able to switch to a nasal cradle mask (not nasal pillows--nasal "cradle")...simple & soft piece of silicone that just rests against your nostrils. Granted, I do not move much when I sleep. I sleep propped up at an incline on my back, and once I get comfortable, I dont move. So I realize a single strap, nasal cradle mask wont work for everyone. But for me, it's perfect and I sleep so very well with it.
Great video. I've been thinking about it for months and even have the nasal pillow mask ready after watching your previous videos but was too scared to try it. You've convinced me enough to switch and am going to give it a go tonight .
That's great Sue! Not sure if you made it to the end of the vid but there's a few tips near the end that can help with the transition. Please report back and let everyone know how you go. Can certainly take a little bit of time and effort so don't be discouraged if the first night is a challenge. Try and go for an hour or two and have the full-face on stand by. Cheers
I started using nose pillows (dreamwear nasal pillow) and was struggling for 6 months. Used Oscar and the community, tried all settings, pressures, epr, humidity etc but could never get past the feeling of breathing through a straw. Pressure of 7 cm or 16 cm didnt matter, always like breathing through a straw. The pressure and velocity of the air was there, but not the volume. Im tall and have large lungs. Finally i caved in and tried F20 full face mask. Sure its a hassle being big, leaky, bottom strap pulls jaw backwards, casuing itches on the skin inside the mask etc but my god what a difference! Finally i can breathe effortless. No more breathing through a straw. I did need to raise my pressure about 3 cm though. So now im battling leaks and aerophagia. Everyone has one or more videos on switching from full face to nose mask and all the benefits but no one does nose mask to full face and the possible benefits there...
Thanks for sharing your experience. I will say there is a huge difference from one mask to the next and if you have that Dreamwear pillow still, pick up the dreamwear UTN (Under the nose) and i bet you will notice a big difference. You could also trial a standard nasal which can also help. Last of all, switch on the AB filter setting if you need a turbo boost. Cheers
@@CPAPReviews Thanks for the reply! Oh thats right, i seem to remember that the DreamWear nasal cushion, just the cushion, will fit my nasal pillow frame. So i could order just the cushion and try that. Also, are you saying that there is a setting (resmed airsense 11) for ab filter (which i dont use) that will give a bit more umpf so to speak to the air delivery?
I feel so lucky because when they came to deliver my CPAP machine, the gentleman said they were all out of full-face masks and presented me with a nasal mask. When I originally called to place the order, they asked me which kind of mask I wanted, and I said full face because that is the mask I wore during my sleep study (and the only one offered to me). I wasn't even aware nasal-style masks existed. Anyway, I took the nasal mask and was game for trying it. I thought I would still be needing to sleep with my mouth open, silly me! As soon as I put the nasal mask on, I realized I had to close my mouth and breathe only through my nose. Hallelujah! I had known for years that sleeping with your mouth open had negative health effects, so I was so happy to be able to sleep with my mouth closed for an entire night. I had the best first night experience with my CPAP and the nasal-style mask! The gentleman told me he would be returning to deliver a full-face mask once they have it back in stock, but there's no turning back for me. Nasal-style masks for the win!
You haven’t taken into account those who have various nasal blockages, or when you have a cold. I’ve had trouble breathing through my nose since a child. I have very narrow nasal passages. I had surgery a few years ago to fix a deviated septum and turbinates were reduced, was fine for a while but has collapsed. I started with a nasal mask, mainly because of fear of having my face covered, but had to switch to full face mask. I was finding I was waking with a very dry mouth, so realised I was mouth breathing. I often wake up not being able to get enough air through my nose. Time to see ENT specialist again! My husband also can’t breathe through his nose, been a mouth breather forever. He does have a deviated septum, but won’t get it fixed!
I did mention this in the vid. I said around 70% of you using full face can switch. Obviously there are some that have no choice but you send me 100 full face users i'll convert 70 to nasal no problem.
My sinuses and nasal passages are whack too but I'm still trying to switch my from full face to nasal pillows. What I've found is that if I turn the humidity ALL the way up on my Airsense 10 and stay with it then my nose starts to open up after awhile. One reason nasal passages narrow is because of atrophy from disuse by breathing through the mouth. I have read that nasal passages can naturally expand on their own if you persist because the body always tries to adapt. I actually find a full face mask comfortable enough but it is really aging my face by putting deep lines down my cheeks from the outline of the mask.
@@gosman949 Try using Dymista nasal spray before you go to bed. My ENT specialist recommended it works a treat. I've had the turbinate reduction and my septum done 11 years ago. This has been a game changer for me. Use nasal pillow mask.
I've been using a nasal mask and taping my mouth for 17 months and I love it. Chinatraps are the worst & never worked for me, besides being uncomfortable & hot. I love the taping method and have never had any issue with this method. Thanks for the info you provide!
I could never use full face, and now have converted the wife to nasal as well. No more face rash. And yes. I suffer nose being blocked a lot, but it's still better to use nasal.
Been a mouth breather my whole life even before I had sleep apnea. I tried a nasal pillow in a sleep study, it was hard to breath because of my allergies and it's always hard to breath through my nose.
Hey buddy, imagine this: You've been scribbling with your left hand for a decade, and then suddenly, someone slaps a pen in your right hand and demands a Shakespearean sonnet. That's a bit of a head-scratcher, right? Well, that's what it's like for folks stepping into the clinic for the first time. They walk in clueless, and bam-a nasal mask is strapped on their face. Of course, it feels like blowing up a balloon with a straw. It's their very first rodeo exhaling against something that fights back! I bet you can do it if you give yourself 2 weeks. Cheers
I had to switch from P30I nasal to F40 due to mouth leaks. I never had a mouth leak problem with the P30i until I lost 70 pounds. If I tape my mouth the leaks went away of course but its a mess and most of the tapes I've tried leave adhesive residue The F40 leak rate was 0 last night and runs about 4-9 on average. I much prefer the P30i Its way more comfortable.
I was a full nose mask when I started, not over the mouth. Then tried the nasal pillows, and it took just fine. Never turned back. Not a huge change compared to a full face one mind you, but it stays sealed a lot better, due to less places for it to leak
When I started CPAP, I couldn't use a nasal pillow mask because anything in my nostrils made me sneeze. Things change, and now I wear a nasal pillow mask. It's sometimes good to experiment a little, even after years of CPAP use. Sometimes, it can get better.
I much, much prefer a full face mask. I have tried two different nasal masks and find them very uncomfortable--put simply, I have a large nose and I can't get a nasal mask that fits; the mask closes off part of my nasal passages, making it difficult to breathe. Nasal pillow masks are even more uncomfortable--I cannot sleep with something up my nose. Once I got past the first month of therapy and figured out how to adjust my mask properly (it did take some experimentation), I have never has major problems with leaks. Been doing therapy for two years wirh no problems.
I was on CPAP therapy for 10 years with a nasal mask and no problems keeping my mouth shut, then all of a sudden it would continually drop open at night. After struggling with full face mask leaks for a long time, I finally tried taping and it has been a revelation for me. I just picked up the Solo mask, love the headgear and my leak rates are consistently below 10L/min. The noise is a non-issue for me as I usually turn away from my wife at night and use a white noise machine. I just wish the fit pack came with the wide cushion, or that the sizing tool at least included it. I don't have a big nose at all (I'm a medium in most nasal masks), but I've been needing to use the large cushion because medium is far too narrow and closes off one of my nostrils. My nose isn't quite long enough for the large, so I think I'm going to end up needing the wide one.
G'day Jeff, great to hear you're having success with the Solo! It would cost F&P $1-2 to make a cushion so it boggles the mind why the don't include the wide!?
Mate, I probably am one of those people for whom this is a bad strategy, and I use a nasal mask CPAP. I tried this for a couple of weeks while wearing a chin strap because I tend to open my mouth a lot while sleeping or relaxing, and I usually have a lot of leaks. And even though mouth taping helped me some days with my dry mouth, I had many episodes in which I totally stopped breathing, I couldn't open my mouth, and I just wasn't able to wake up (I really struggle with this sleep paralysis thing). I almost drawn and I woke in total panic, without enough oxygen, and having a hard time sticking the tape off my face and taking the mask off. These were some absolutely horrible experiences and a couple of times I actually thought I was gonna die. I immediately remembered Dr Vik's video about why mouth taping may be (and indeed is) a bad strategy, or at least a dangerous one, for many people. I am actually considering moving from a nasal mask to a full face mask.
I find the full face mask very effective and comfortable, I was used to wearing full face breathing apparatus in the fire service so not an issue plus I am clean shaven so no leakage or build up of moisture (saliva) around the seal.
I have been hunting down this topic for YEARS! Seriously. 10 years ago when starting cpap I was given the in the nose mask, but couldn't deal with the sores (which looked like chemical burns) on my nose. I tried the elephant trunk mask - couldn't deal with that either. I've been using FF ever since. And I'm over it! Chatting with my cpap provider, I mentioned I wanted to switch. He laughed at me. Told me it's impossible to go from FF to anything else. I've been trying to convert to something smaller and lighter, on and off, for a few years now, but give up and switch back to FF after a few hours. I'm so hoping this video helps...
I have been using a CPAP since the mid 90's. I have tried almost every configuration of masks. They all were uncomfortable and leaked into my eyes until I went nasal pillow. I love the NuancePro Gel Frame.
@@CPAPReviews , never had that problem with my model of nasal pillow. The main problem I had was deciding between a medium size or a large size. I have a couple of NuancePro, send me an address and I will send you one. I'm in Texas
Hi im new to field of sleep Apnea which im yet to be diagnosed but i have no doubt that i have it as i snore like a freight train, every time i wake up my mouth is dry, and other people have told me that i sound like im choking when i sleep. You're not wrong that my first impressions have been negative before attempting to actually do some research on the topic. Thanks for the tips you give us on different masks and i watched an older video of yours for beginners which should be helpful in the future.
When I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, I knew I mostly breathed through my mouth but still thought the nasal masks sounded like the better option (for comfort as well as getting a good seal with a beard) if I could make them work. While I waited for my appointment to actually get my machine, I used mouth taping during the day to train my brain to breathe through my nose more. It worked great and I'm able to use a nasal mask with no mouth tape and minimal leaks. If you have any worries about taping your mouth while sleeping, this is a safe way to try to learn to nose breathe more since you're consciously able to recognize if you're having any trouble breathing and remove the tape at a moment's notice. It actually made a difference for me pretty quickly since I work from home and don't need to speak to coworkers or customers a ton so I was able to do it for 10-15 hours a day. Obviously it'd be tough to do all day if you need to be talking/interacting with other people at work/school, but I'm sure even doing it for just a couple hours between dinner and sleeping would help train your brain although it'd likely take a bit longer to show results.
This is a fantastic tip mate! It's also a great excuse not to have to speak with your better half haha. "Sorry babe, no talking today as i'm practicing my nasal breathing 😜. Or even better, put the tape on them to practice" Cheers
Deviated septum matters, in Phoenix my nose would clear like 6 minutes in Minnesota takes two hours to clear. I cannot wait that long to fall asleep. I use full face mask in MN.
One of your best videos Nicko -so much useful information and great tips. I have never felt comfortable taping my mouth (terrified actually) but I would try kineasology tape as I have used it for my knee and am comfortable with its properties.
Agree! I was a mouth breather, but now that my apnea is being treated i no longer open my mouth! I only use the nasal mask. The full face mask is too claustrophobic for me.
THE MAIN reason that the pressures are lower on a nasal mask has to do with the fact a FFM is strapped down around the chin area... so when someones goes to sleep and loses their Jaws ,muscle tone it pushes their whole anatomy in their mouth backwards and requires more pressure to compensate for this, same as a Chin strap thats strapped down and the angle is on the back of the head not the Top... Hope this helps...
Airfit N30i for me! I use Ayre inside my nose and aloe gel around my nostrils, which I allow to dry for 2-3 minutes before putting on the cradle. This seems to seal it to my nose well. I am a restless sleeper & all my scores are 99-100 with less that 1 AHI, started with 51! I Love My Cpap! ❤️
Hi Nick, was that snot in the chamber in the nasal cleaning machine? Could you link to it please, I never knew they existed. As a confirmed mouth breather, and a user of an FF mask for the entire 20-odd years of using CPAP I would LOVE to try and make the change. I'm going to have to watch this brilliant video again as there was just so much information to take in. Love your enthusiasm Nick!
Hey buddy, yeah that's what a sinus rinse does, it clears all the snot out so you have a nice clean house before bed. It's great for congestion. That one is called 'Navage' - cpap.review/navage . I've done a few vids on it if you wanna search my channel. Cheers
Yeah i think that's probably the take home message from the video! Most people are making these assumptions without putting in the effort to trial nasal pap therapy. Please report back once you do. Cheers
I switched to a nasal pillow and have been using it for a week. I did really well, my leak rates went to zero. The only setback was when I got sick but I think that's to be expected. I tried to order the F&P solo but couldn't find my prescription to complete the order.
Very informative.. I use an amara view full mask with a chin strap and a "Anti-Leak Strap by PAD A CHEEK ". I am a mouth breather, with dry mouth and stomach bloating symptoms. After many years, a second sleep study showed I could lower my pressure from 15 to 11 cmH2O to better control my sleep apnea. Seems to have less leaks now
I actually use the Nasal mask. Covers the entire nose, without going up the nostrils. You are displaying the " nasal pillow" mask. I don't like the full version mask Idea, but I tried the "Nasal Pillows" and the problem I had was if you "side sleep" you might accidently compress the "nasal pillow" and block the airflow. Also, if you tighten the mask too tight....you can close the airway in the "nasal pillow". That is the problem I had. Have you tried the "nasal" mask...which is like a hybrid between the full mask and the "nose pillow" mask? I'm a fan of the hybrid "nasal" mask. No leaks and the air comes through one larger airway instead of two smaller holes. Just my two cents.
As a "mouth breather" I have used the nasal masks since I started therapy. I now no longer breath through my mouth to sleep, or even in my day to day life. One thing I did notice after therapy I ended up with a gap in my teeth not sure if this is as result of the type of mask but from what I have researched it can be a side effect of cpap therapy.. Small price to pay for an extension on my life
I think the most important thing is to consider both styles - as I personally found the Nasal Mask too hard to breath in, and as a stomach sleeper to start with having the tube out the front wasn't ideal, so at the point you have the strapping to the top of the head the advantage's of the nasal mask were redundant, even before considering the chin strap. I have spoken to others with a similar experience - and its obvious that there is the reverse too. I think the danger happens when someone is struggling with cpap and isn't offered the alternative.
Hi there, i agree however i'll add to that and say you should always start therapy with a nasal mask and use a full face as a last resort (ie you're about to quit). There's plenty of nasal masks that are great for stomach sleepers (N30i, Dreamwear etc) as the tube connects on top of the head and if it's a challenge to inhale then you can increase the pressure min to provide more airflow during inhalation. Best wishes Nicko
@@CPAPReviews I find the the F30i more comfortable than a N30i with a chinstrap, and we tried all of that for the flow. For whatever reason, I just find the flow from the N30i problematic, while the F30i (or dreamwear equivalent) is comfortable. I have no idea what determines if someone is better suited for a full face or a nasal, but offering a nasal first has made other family members of mine with it give up immediately, while I convinced one to try the F30i and managed to stay on the CPAP with it. I think last resort sounds dangerous to me, because if someone is already at that point, even if the full face is better they already have such a negative point of view of the treatment. Maybe if they started on the full face they'd have a much better view of it.
My dentist told me my jaw naturally falls open so thats why ive breathed through my mouth without thinking about it since i was young. Going to go with the full face for myself though
I got a CPAP last week and i wake up with air coming out of my mouth. I used the chin strap thing they provided but it still does it. I call my SLeep Center and told them what's going on and they act like they never herd of it before. Didn't want me to come in or anything. Said they would see me on my 8 week appointment. Now im trying to do research lol
I am very blessed to have my CPAP machine and the treatment, but my Airsense 10 also continues to cook the water chamber after the water runs dry......one never forgets that highly toxic taste and smell that lingers. Hopefully Resmed will design an auto shut off for the water heater plate when the chamber runs dry.
I fall asleep …I’m an instant mouth breather… the nasal mask will never be an option… I have 0 problems with the mask I chose …only 5 days in.. but 🤩 what a new life I have.
Not everyone can use a nasal mask no matter how much training they do. I had to have surgery on my nose before I started cpap therapy because my nasal passages were extremely narraow due to hypertrophy of the turbinates. If your struggling with breathing through your nose then you should see an ENT doctor and see if you need surgery or not. It changed my life for the better. Normally I sleep with a nasal mask but I keep a full face mask on back up for the rare occaision I have a really bad allergy flare or a sinus infection.
Great video Nicko, are there any criteria where you would say stick with the full face, I wear the Dreamwear full face, boy would I love to go back to the swift fx 😂.
Glad you enjoyed it mate. I would say stick with a full face mask if you've tried everything else and can't get it to work. FF is a last resort in my book and i would rarely fit them. Only if the patient was at the end of the rope would i offer them a FF
I would love to wear a nasal mask, as I prefer to breathe through my nose, however I get fairly chronic and also intimated complete nasal congestion during the evenings so it's unfortunately not possible.
Hey Nicko. Nice video. One thing I find disconcerting is how FEW masks have 'top-of-the-head' connection. I'm what you might call a 'spinner'...I change position constantly, and I just cannot deal with 'elephant trunk' hoses! There are so few 'top-of-the-head' connecting masks, whether full face , nasal, pillows...I really wish the companies would make more efforts in giving us choices. I will copy/paste this on SleepHq...
Hey mate, i agree! The big issue is patents (think ResMed has something like 9000!) This is a big reason why there's very little innovation in the cpap industry. ResMed just scribbles up anything they can imagine and then gets the patent lawyers to work effectively building a big mote around their business model. Cheers
Nice to know about nasal. Would be really helpful to have a presentation or links to what really works keeping the mouth closed. I've been through several chin straps, most of which have miserable fit and mostly mishape the head and do little to keep mouth closed. Some yourubers ballyhoo mouth tape or jaw lockers, but that seems very dangerous to me as you cannot cough or clear mouth with those.
I'm looking forward to trying out a nasal mask once my sinuses heal from septoplasty. I am a bit concerned though as I've got this other weird thing where smelling stuff causes my nerves to go apeshit and constrict, leading to sinus migraines. Well that and remembering the second I woke up from surgery wherein they'd forgotten to put an oxygen mask on me, despite mentioning CPAP use, and absolutely killing myself trying to take that first inhale after waking up from anesthesia with my nose completely stuffed with stitches, blood, gore and what I can only describe as a significant portion of an especially salty ocean.
I'm always down to try a new mask if it means better sleep. Will have to get OSCAR and figure it out first so I can track how I'm doing on a nasal pillow. Thanks for the advice uncle Nico!
I still wear a full face large Vitera for the last 2 years with Kino tape on mouth (Cheap ass hostage tape). Have tried N20 with foam and new solo but felt like I was suffocating with same settings as FF. (Maybe need to try EPR but using wrong machine to do it (Autoset doesn't have it). Have never been able to get used to nasal and don’t have no need for FF but feels good breathing wise. I run straight CPAP mode on 11cm and current setup works well and AHIs are very low. Only have to manage leaks.
Remember with the cold weather approaching to adjust your tube temp and humidity levels. I didn't and have a head cold due to blowing ice cold air up my nose all night. Also could you link the pre-cut kinesiology strips please?
Full face masks are harder to seal. I have been using the nasal pillows for years. I have an old machine. I need to get a new one. I didn't know they have a ring to track Blood 02. My apple watch tracks it. I only issue with the nasal masks is when I have nasal congestion.
I had crazy leakage with the nasal pillow mask I used, and virtually none with the dreamwear full face mask, so the exact opposite of what you showed. I also love having the hose connect on top of my head instead of the front.
I just started to use a full mask. Had to choose between mask to a nasal cradle. Don't like a the hose on top of head. Setting is 10 to start. However I ask to change to level 5. The full mask I like. Hope to feel better and have energy. And not fall a sleep at the stop light. 😢
Well, not ALL mouth breathers have a choice. I went around with a broken nose for a few years - one nostril completely blocked, the other one often also blocked. Mouth breathing was my only choice. I didn't like this situation so eventually I had corrective surgery and once they had dragged those metres of gauze out of my nose (along with some blood and, I swear, bits of my brain) I finally regained use of my nose! Ever since I have used my nose for breathing EXCEPT when heavily congested due to a head cold.
