Hybrid cpap masks

Has anyone had any experience with the "hybrid" mask? I'm referring to the ResMed Liberty mask type. It combines a mouth mask with nose pillows. I have a mouth breathing problem which results in dry mouth. I've been using the nose pillows alone but still need to use a chin strap to help keep my mouth closed. Unfortunately I wake up a couple times each night because I have to reposition the chin strap or take a sip of water because of dry mouth. My sleep therapist thinks a full mask would help the dry mouth problem. I am going to have a fitting with a full mask in a couple weeks and I'm going to ask to try a hybrid too. Any comments????

Richard, the dry mouth is caused by breathing through your mouth and this decreases the effectiveness of therapy. The high pressures I require necessitate a full face mask but I have found that there are full face masks and then there are full faced masks. If you have one that seals around your entire nose and mouth, fitting is super essential as they tend to leak badly otherwise. You must also figure out how to keep the mask from slipping into your mouth if you jaw sags during the night as you become fully relaxed. I can't use any form of nose pillows and trying a nasal mask was a bust for me as there was insufficient air egress with the smaller holes in the mask. This may not be true for you but I found using an Amara View mask provide a good combination of comfort and utility for me but you may have to experiment with several masks to find this same combination for yourself.

Hi RestlessRichard. I tried the Liberty when it was introduced by ResMed just for the experience. Quite a few patients I have worked with over the years report very positive experiences with this mask. It seems to work well for people who need a full face mask but prefer the feel of nasal pillows vs. a mask that sits over the nose. Keep in mind that you might require a slightly higher humidity setting on your humidifier, but you should be able to tell pretty quickly whether you need to make an adjustment. Let us know what you think!