No mask available for a wider mouth? What do I do?

[melbakes]

So, I'm in my first 30 days of having a cpap. I'm on my 3rd mask and that one (as they all do) seems to leak around my mouth when my mouth relaxes as I am falling asleep. It fits for a while and then it leaks. No matter what I do, it leaks. So, needless to say, I have not slept a whole night with my cpap yet. I barely sleep at all, let alone a whole night. (I know that is not the right way to get used to the cpap, but....) The last mask I received is the Respironics Amara in medium. That leaked from minute one. So, I went back to the ResMed Quattro FX in medium. Still the same leak problem. I just got off the phone with my DME. I wanted to get this figured out before my 30 day replacement is up. Well, apparently 30 day means 2 masks total. I've already gotten more than I should. So, I said to her, you mean to tell me that most people have this all figured out with only 2 masks! I really find that hard to believe. Anyway, I was asking her if there's a mask that is a little wider at the bottom to accommodate my apparent HUGE mouth (I'm sure my husband would agree with that - LOL). I guess there isn't one? She offered to give me a larger cushion for the amara since that uses the same headgear and frame, but you can change cushions. I told her I would take it because I have to do something. I have a feeling it is only taller, not wider. If this doesn't work, I guess I call my Sleep Dr. and ask him what to do. BTW, I have ordered a pad a cheek liner for the quattro and amara hoping that might help. Not sure it will if the wideness of the mask is an issue. I am hoping to get those today. I guess my question is: Does anyone else have this issue and if so, what have you done about it? I so want this cpap to work so I can finally not be tired. I am not sure where to go from here........ Thanks for letting me vent.

[sleepstar]

Have you tried a chinstrap to help keep your jaw from drooping so much?

[Bobby269]

I have a big mouth and the quattro Fx large works for me.

[melbakes]

Have you tried a chinstrap to help keep your jaw from drooping so much?

You know, I haven't tried a chin strap because I thought my lips would still pop open, but I could be wrong. Maybe I will try a temporary homemade one to see if the idea works. My next step will be an astronaut's helmet so everything is covered...UGH! Thanks for the idea!

I have a big mouth and the quattro Fx large works for me.

HA!! It's nice to be in the company of other big mouths.... Did you notice if the extra room is in the length top to bottom or side to side? Or both? Maybe the larger Amara cushion WILL help. Thanks for the info.

[Pugsy]

My next step will be an astronaut's helmet so everything is covered...UGH!

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... dgear.html

Don't panic it isn't really a helmet and surprisingly there are a lot of forum members that really like this mask.

Also..How about the Hybrid?
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/RespCa ... -Mask.html

[chunkyfrog]

You may want to consider a chin-up strip.
http://www.chinupstrip.com/
Note: the models are not wearing them correctly; put the bottom up just to the edge of the lower lip,
and pull the lower lip up, bulldog style, before securing the ends.

[melbakes]

My next step will be an astronaut's helmet so everything is covered...UGH!

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... dgear.html

Don't panic it isn't really a helmet and surprisingly there are a lot of forum members that really like this mask.

Also..How about the Hybrid?
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/RespCa ... -Mask.html

Ha! That's funny.... Yes, I've seen the fitlife before and I wondered how that would be on your eyes. Since this is my first month on cpap, how does it work when you are ready for a replacement in 3 months or whenever your insurance says. Can you completely change your mask type at that time? I know I am going to have to live with what I have now for a while, but when the time comes, I am wondering if I can change then. I understand that all insurance is different, so just a generalization would be fine.... I also wondered about the hybrid... does anyone out there have experience with one? Do your lips stay closed with the piece that is in your mouth? Looking on the company websites only does so much since they are trying to sell a product. You won't hear the cons for their products there. Thank you for the input.

You may want to consider a chin-up strip.
http://www.chinupstrip.com/

Note: the models are not wearing them correctly; put the bottom up just to the edge of the lower lip,
and pull the lower lip up, bulldog style, before securing the ends.

Those are kind of neat. I just assumed that a chin strap was something that went around your whole head. Do those "stick" to your face and use pressure points to keep your mouth closed? Interesting. Thanks for the info.

[Pugsy]

Actually there are quite a few Hybrid and Liberty mask users here on the forum. Lots of success with it.
Also surprisingly the users of the Fitlife say that the air doesn't seem to bother the eyes at all. I think probably because it's dispersed over a larger area.

Masks and your insurance. Normally at the 3 month interval the "new mask" allowance is for the mask only and not the headgear and it's kinda hard to wear a mask without the headgear. Some DMEs throw in the headgear free.
Of course some DMEs go by the 30 days allowed per mask by the mask manufacturer and don't limit you to 2 masks in 30 days.
That's your own DMEs house rules there...they made that up entirely on their own. It's often done though so your DME isn't alone in that regard.
Wanna bet your DME balks at the headgear thing at 3 months?
I don't know who came up with that idiotic way of allowing a new mask but Medicare has the same thing. I guess the 3 months thing is just for the mask and we aren't supposed to be trying a new type.

Sometimes forum members have some tried and failed masks they will offer at a discounted price to help people out.
I don't have any full face masks so I can't help you in that regard.

This mask stuff....that's the hardest part to this therapy...getting a good comfortable fit and maintaining a good seal.

You might try making a homemade mask liner to see if it will help with the leaks enough to allow the mask to be less leaky and annoying. There are store bought liners available but I usually suggest that someone tries homemade first just to get a good feel for it first.
Padacheek.com has some really nice mask liners that will anchor to the mask and not crawl around...comfy and helps with leaks.

[Sheriff Buford]

I use the Fitlife. The air inlet is at the bottom of the mask (around the mouth), so the air does not interfere with the eyes. Let me know if you want to try the mask. Sheriff

[jdm2857]

Somewhere on the board is a posting about a mask that indeed is a clear helmet that encircles the entire head. Looks very comfortable.

I don't think that a homemade chinstrap will help unless your mouth drops open with very little force. Of the "regular" chinstraps, I found that the Respironics Premium is pretty good. I've never tried the Ruby, but it looks like it has possibilities. I think that the ResMed Sullivan is a joke.

I am using the PapCap chinstrap. I really need a C-clamp to keep my mouth closed at night. The PapCap has a non-elastic strap which can apply much more force than an elastic strap.

If you do find that a chinstrap works for you, you can then consider the world of nasal and nasal pillows masks.

[STL Mark]

While your in your first 30 days is a good time to reconsider your DME choice. If your insurance company does not force you to use one specific DME you may want to call some of the other approved DMEs in the area. Explain your problem and see how they work things. In my case I was able to find a local DME and not a national firm. In general they can be nicer to deal with. Look for one that is open to you dropping by and trying out some masks with your machine in their office. You won't get to try a dozen, but you can eliminate the obvious problems before you walk out the door with one.

If you would prefer a different machine, you can sometimes negotiate that during the change in DMEs. You have much more power in your first 30 days than you realize.

[Janknitz]

Your DME is feeding you a lot of baloney. It's 30 days PER MASK with no limit to how many, and it's offered by the manufacturers, so there's paperwork involved. That's why your DME doesn't want to bother, it takes their time.

What masks have you tried so far? Have you tried the Quattro FX--it's pretty wide?

I doubt having a wide mouth is the issue if the problem is that your mouth drops open.

A simple solution would be a single piece of tape from chin to under your nose just to keep your mouth mostly closed. Search taping here for how to tape--most people use painter's tape. You don't have to seal your lips, just keep your jaw from relaxing down. That's the theory behind the "Chin up" tape, too. People have mixed success with chin straps--I don't have enough chin to make them work.

[jdm2857]

It's 30 days PER MASK with no limit to how many, and it's offered by the manufacturers, so there's paperwork involved. That's why your DME doesn't want to bother, it takes their time.

So much for thinking that a medical device supplier might have their patient's health as their first priority.

[melbakes]

Thanks to all of you for the great suggestions, support and words of wisdom. They should make it mandatory for all dme's to have to live with a cpap for a while to see why these decisions are so critical. I'm going to try the larger cushion for the amara tonight with my brand new pad a cheek liner and see how it goes. I'll switch back to the quattro fx if that doesn't work. Wish me luck and I wish all of you happy, restful nights. I'll let you know how tonight goes.

[DoriC]

The older model before the Resmed Quattro Full Face is called Resmed Ultra Mirage FF and is wider than the Quattro. I have one I could send you if you can't get it yourself although my husband used it for quite awhile until we switched to the Quattro FF. There's a thread that talks about boiling the cushion which seems to make it almost new again..