Question on changing from nm to ffm

[Spog]

Happy New Year Everyone!

I need to ask if I should be concerned about adjusting the pressure setting on my machine if I swap to a full face mask as I intend to do tonight for the first time.
Been using a nasal mask for 6 years, now having open mouth issues and chin strap did not correct the problem so I decided to try ffm method.

Hope you are having an enjoyable day!
Thanks,
SPOG

[zimlich]

No, you should not have to change the pressure when you change masks- from nasal to FFM. My Respironics System One Machine has a setting for setting resistance which may vary with the mask. On some machines this is locked. I would not be concerned about this. Good luck.
Mary

[archangle]

In theory, there is no difference, but some very smart people believe a FFM can push your jaw back and make your apnea worse. Unfortunately, with a Plus CPAP machine, you have no data to work from.

It probably doesn't affect everyone, and we can't really guess at how much, if any, extra pressure you in particular might need.

Try it and see how it works.

[zonk]

In theory, there is no difference,

here is another plausible theory ???
my pressure was higher with full face mask than nasal mask
full face mask leaked like a sieve so the autoset had to work a bit harder to keep-up

[Shastzi]

I can tell you that the FFM does push your lower jaw back and it irritated my TMJ when starting out, but my jaw muscles are slowly acclimating to it.

Spog:
I run a Remstar Plus now too. The Remstar Plus is not real smart in the pressure department I check mine often with a digital manometer and a tee fitting I made up from hardware store / automotive parts.
I always run a pressure check when I switch masks though because I have found that the exhaust vents are different on each mask (some are less restrictive than others)
If I use the FullLife and set the machine at 14.5 cwp, I get a measured 15.9 cwp. Quite a difference!
If you are interested in doing your own pressure measurements to spot check your equipment, just give me a buzz and I'll show you how I use it all.

Cheers!
=^.^=

[Moriarty]

....some very smart people believe a FFM can push your jaw back and make your apnea worse....

Interesting point there Archangel... I started out on a Hybrid mask and was getting AHI that was quite unstable - ranging from 3 to 7 - and getting sore jaw joints even though I took care to avoid over-tightening the mask.

After changing to the Pilairo Nasal my AHI is now av around 2.7 and is very stable. I had a few weeks on the Swift FX and had AHI av around 1.8 but it hurt my nose so I went back to the Pilairo a few months back.

[twindad]

Happy New Year Everyone!

I need to ask if I should be concerned about adjusting the pressure setting on my machine if I swap to a full face mask as I intend to do tonight for the first time.
Been using a nasal mask for 6 years, now having open mouth issues and chin strap did not correct the problem so I decided to try ffm method.

Hope you are having an enjoyable day!
Thanks,
SPOG

My sleep doctor told me that if I went from a nasal mask to a full face mask, that my pressure would probably need to be changed from 14 up to 16. I tried a Quattro FX ffm in place of a Mirage FX nasal mask at the same presure of 14 for a couple of nights and my AHI stayed below 2 with each of them, so I didn't need a pressure increase. The Quattro FX did seem to open my mouth when its cushion inflated, so I had an RT check the fit, which seemed fine. The Quattro FX seems to prop open my mouth even when I wear the same chinstrap that keeps my mouth closed with the nasal mask, and this dries out my tongue and gives me a cotton-mouth feeling from mouthbreathing all night. Anyone got any suggestions on how to deal with this while wearing the full face mask?

[zonk]

The Quattro FX seems to prop open my mouth even when I wear the same chinstrap that keeps my mouth closed with the nasal mask, and this dries out my tongue and gives me a cotton-mouth feeling from mouthbreathing all night. Anyone got any suggestions on how to deal with this while wearing the full face mask?

it cannot be helped. full face mask allow you to breathe from your mouth and mouth breathing dry the mouth
some find more extra humidity does help but in some instances can cause rainout (there are solutions for rainout)
room humidifier can increase air moisture in bedroom
some medication known to dry the mouth. keep hydrated during the day and keep small bottle of water by the bedside so you take a sip if get up during the night. have you trid Biotenne mouth wash

the other option, go back using the nasal mask with chinstrap ... breathe thru your nose and keep mouth closed

[TheWerkz]

The Quattro FX seems to prop open my mouth even when I wear the same chinstrap that keeps my mouth closed with the nasal mask, and this dries out my tongue and gives me a cotton-mouth feeling from mouthbreathing all night.

Hi Twindad,

Have you seen this thread: How-to-achieve-the-perfect-mask-fit-GUARANTEED

You may want to turn-up the humidity setting as well, if you're breathing through your mouth or if your mouth just comes open while you're asleep the extra humidity should help some.

If you haven't figured-out how to do the "swing 'n seal" for the Quattro FX, there's also videos on youtube - just search Quattro FX and you'll find several.



Ren

[twindad]

Thanks zonk and TheWerkz - I cranked up the heat on the humidifer and the heated tube on my auto machine and tried wearing my Quattro FX ffm with no chinstrap last night. It drained 3/4 of the water in my humidifer in 6 hours, which I thought was about right. I did mouthbreathe ALL (every sleeping minute of the) night and woke up with dried out tongue and mouth, but it Wasn't bad! Two sips of cold water first thing this morning (the first sip swished around a bit then spit out) got me rehydrated and feeling normal quick. I'm ready for allergy season with this ffm now!
(If anyone using the swishing water trick doesn't remove the dried film in their mouth well enough, try it with Coke Classic)