SeattleGrant

Thanks to TheresaS and DanM.

Very helpful information. I definitely plan on getting a full-face mask to have ready to go should I get congested. I like the idea of rotating them as well. Will look into how often my insurance covers replacements.

This forum is helpful.

Is there a downside to using a full-face mask?

From what I've read here it sounds like a full-face mask might be a nice option for those with a deviated septum -- or for anyone suffering a cold and nasal congestion.

I read somewhere that prolonged nightly use of a face mask could cause problems with the jaw. Have also read that they are harder to get a good seal.

What experiences have others had?

Sounds like I should at least have a spare one around for cold season.

What Chin Straps do people use?

From what I've read, there can be a downside to using a full-face mask, in that it places a constant pressure on the lower jaw which can over time become a problem.

The reason I mention this is that I have a deviated septum, and hence use my mouth a lot for breathing. If you have your mouth open, the air that you pump into your nose, simply comes out of your mouth, and never provides the air pressure required to prevent obstructions, further down the plumbing.

So, I thought: Why didn't they give me a full face mask?

I've since started wearing the chin strap that came with my ResMed device. But overall, I'd say the chin strap is much more of a hassle to wear than the pillow device for my nose.

Is there a great brand out there for chin straps?

What do others use?

Mine works, but it is uncomfortable, and by the time you put it on you've four straps on your head, as both the pillow and the chin strap have a strap that goes across the top of your head, and another that goes around the back of the head to keep it from slipping off.

Thanks for the information. I've now been using my ResMed for about three weeks, and have gotten used to the nose pillow. I very much enjoy the dashboard that you can sign into. In fact every day I log in to see how my sleep went. Of course the AHI number is the one I'm most interested in, and it shows it, along with a chart that provides your AHI number for the 14 previous nights as well.

Agree with you that even 5 AHI's an hour seems too high, though my doctor says that below 5 is great. Fortunately, I'm now usually below 2 or 3.

The dashboard is very helpful, as if I see a spike in my AHI number -- I hit a 10 two weeks ago, which isn't good -- I can look at the other charts and see that on the same night my mask seal leakage hit a high of 35. So it figures that if the Mask seal is bad, you aren't getting sufficient pressure down your wind pipe to keep from becoming obstructed.

Best of luck to everyone. The good news is that it seems to get easier. The pillow contraption that seemed so awkward at first, now seems like no problem. However, I'd like to find a better chin strap to keep my mouth closed. I'll post separately about that.

As a newly diagnosed person who has been given a C-PAP machine, I'd be interested in community reviews of the types of devices they are using. My physician plugged me into a ResMed AirSense 10. Will use it for the first time tonight.

Would be interested in hearing from others who have used the ResMed AirSense 10 . . . as well as from people using other devices. Also, I've been given a pillow device for the nostrils, rather than the full face mask. I'd be interested in pros and cons of one over the other.