Mask for a man with a full beard and a bald head

I know...lovely picture, especially when you consider my avatar.

Anyway, I'm new to CPAP and am in the process of getting my equipment. I know what CPAP unit I want (S9 Autoset), but now I need to choose a mask. For my sleep study, I was fitted with a nasal mask (brand unknown) and a chin strap, and that combination worked well for my study. However, that morning I had lines from the mask imprinted on my face that lasted a couple of hours.

Also, since I have a full beard, I thought I may have a problem with leaks if I use full or nasal masks. It seems that the nasal-pillow masks may be the better option for me. I like the looks of the Swift FX Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask, but I also like the concept of the girly Swift FX Bella Nasal Pillow with the Bella Loops. For men with beards: What CPAP mask(s) works best for you? Thanks.

Dunno what I used in titratration, but have been happy with Swift FX for 9 months. Lines go away in a few hours. Never tried another.

Had trouble with the Swift FX leaking and blowing air into my left eye nearly every time I slept on the rt. side. Borrowed my husbands extra Opus 360. It lowered the leak rate and that crusty dry eye stopped happening. Here is what the Opus 360 looks like.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -Mask.html

The nasal pillows touch the underside of your nose only so having a full beard (or 'stash) shouldn't get in the way of treatment. Where the plastic side straps touch your cheek, you could order padding from Pad-a-Cheek. People write that they don't get any lines when using them.
Hope that helps!
Best wishes,
Cindy

BDG and Cindy, thank you both for your comments.

Cindy, I really like the design of the Opus 360 that you suggested I consider. When I opened the link and first looked at the product photos, I said to myself, "Oh, no." when I saw the hose going between the eyes and over the back of the head. But, the photos don't do the mask justice since I read where the hose can be attached to the side or allowed to hang freely. I read a lot of the reviews, and it seems that the design allows for the mask to steer clear of my mustache and for me to turn from side to side smoothly. One of the reviewers mentioned that she coils a couple of feet of hose under her pillow and lets it hang freely, and that works perfectly for her. That sounds like just what I need. I'm a side sleeper and shift sides periodically throughout the night.

Similar to what you mentioned, some of the reviewers also stated that the cheek pieces were a little stiff or rough, so I think the Pad-a-Cheek padding is what I should use as well. The only other question I have is about the fit of the pillows. Some reviewers claim they felt some discomfort with the Opus 360 pillows. How do you feel the Opus 360 pillows compared to those of the Swift FX?

Thanks for your help!

The side strap covers from Padacheeks will pretty much eliminate any strap lines on your cheeks if you want to go with the Swift FX traditional headgear. You can even make your own from a bit of fleece if you want to go that route. I am lazy and like someone else to do the work and her stuff is so much nicer than my homemade stuff.
http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_SwiftFX.html

brucifer wrote:The only other question I have is about the fit of the pillows. Some reviewers claim they felt some discomfort with the Opus 360 pillows. How do you feel the Opus 360 pillows compared to those of the Swift FX?

The Swift FX pillows seemed more flexible than the Opus 360 pillows. That said, the flexibility of the Swift may make them more comfortable, but lets the pillows deform easier and that seemed to degrade the seal on my nose. I had to get a new one every month. The Swift probably works well for those that don't toss around, and lay on their back for most of the night. But that doesn't sound like us.
I originally was fitted for a size small in the Swift. After a week it began to whistle on exhale. Drove me nuts... couldn't get to sleep. Changed to a Medium size (that got rid of the noise) and did the same when I started using the 360. Sometimes people get a better fit / seal when they go up one size. The pillow should barely protrude up inside your nostril. The part that flairs out away from the holes makes the seal against the under side of your nose...the skin you can see in the mirror.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -Mask.html
You can see the pillow better by reducing the brightness of your screen.
I like the firmness of the 360. It maintains a good seal even when laying on my side with my face partly buried into a bed pillow. Have had a sore nose twice... the upper inside corner of the right nostril from pressure of laying on my rt side for long periods. A little topical antibiotic fixed that quickly. Oh...the other time was early on when I reached across my face and forgot to leave extra room for the exhaust port sticking out.
Hope this answers your question. Best wishes,
Cindy

Pugsy and Cindy,

Thank you both!

Cindy, I really appreciate you taking the time to give me very helpful, detailed information. I'm going to request the Opus 360 as my first CPAP mask, and I am going to order the Pad-a-Cheek pads for it as well. Again, thank you!

Being a bald guy with a big thick red beard and mustache, I'm entitled to an opinion

I've been using the Resmed Activa LT for almost 3 years. This is a cushion type. I could not adapt to the nasal pillow type.
A beard really makes no difference. The seal is only near your mustache. The pillow or cushion never gets near your beard at all.



My only leak problems are when I don't sleep on the edge of my pillow and the mask pushes up. When I start getting some hissing issues, I know its time to visit my barber.

I have a full beard as well, but because it's "thin" along the sides of the mouth and in the dent above the chin, the Quattro FX FFM mask seems to be working fine so far.

I have a very closely trimmed beard (I take it down to a #1 setting with a trimmer once a week). I am currently using a Swift FX nasal pillows mask and have also used a Mirage FX nasal mask, both with no issues. When I first started out I was using a Mirage Quattro full face mask, which I still use occasionally if I'm stuffy; I noticed that I had issues getting a good seal if I had more than 4 days growth of beard, but I added a mask liner from Padacheek and it took care of it.

Good to learn that the men with beards who responded actually use all three basic types of masks. So far I have very pleased with the OPUS 360 nasal pillows mask that I started using this past week. It's lightweight and working well for me, so I'm going to stick with it for now. Thanks again for your responses.

I am a zealous Sleepweaver Soft Cloth nose mask evangelist. I have a mustache and it works great. Comfortable, you can lay on your side, it is easy to exhale with and it's quiet. Plus you get 30 days to try it and if it doesn't work for you you can get a full refund. I think it will also give you very pretty blue eyes like the girl in the ad.

http://www.cpapxchange.com/sleepweaver- ... -mask.html

Good luck.

Full disclosure: I am pretty new at this.

Hubby's face fur varies from non-existent to 2"+
He has used the F/P Flexi Fit 431, with success, but the P/R Fitlife total face mask is the best for him.
Since you are bald, I would advise you to forego the suggestion of
velcro on the inside of the back strap of the Swift FX.

chunkyfrog wrote:Hubby's face fur varies from non-existent to 2"+
He has used the F/P Flexi Fit 431, with success, but the P/R Fitlife total face mask is the best for him.
Since you are bald, I would advise you to forego the suggestion of
velcro on the inside of the back strap of the Swift FX.

No Velcro for me! I don't have chin-strap-slipping problem that Angela has. The top of the strap sticks just fine to my bald head without Velcro....thank God.

Have you looked at the 'BREEZE'? Nasal pillows mask, touches the nares and the base of the skull and routes overhead...no dealing with sleeping with the hose around.