I was fitted for CPAP at the end of June this year. At the consultation I found I could not tolerate a full face mask. It was comical - I had answered no to the question 'was I claustrophobic' then freaked out when the big Quattro was pushed on my face... The therapist accused me with 'You said you weren't claustrophobic' to which I replied ' Claustrophobic is being locked in a cupboard - that mask was an attempt to murder me'....
We then went to the Swift nasal pillows but I could not feel like I was getting enough air and I needed a super tight chinstrap to keep my gob shut. That clearly wasn't going to work... just ask any one that has tried to get me to shut my gob...
Next we tried a Mirage Liberty Hybrid mask that was (for me anyway) the best of both worlds.
Over the next few weeks I noticed that air flow through my nostrils had improved and that I was spending some time breathing through my nose while going about my day.
That encouraged me to try nose breathing with the Liberty - and found that I could make it work for me so I deliberately practiced for about a month...
Last week I went back to the Clinic and hired a F&P Pilairo, a Swift, and a chinstrap. ($20 bucks the lot for a month - or until I get back to them (which might be a while since I am traveling for work).
I have been using the Pilairo for the last week and found excellent results WITHOUT a chinstrap My Average AHI has gone from 3.5 to 2.5 and the 95% pressure has dropped from 12.9 or thereabouts to 10.5. The leaks are within limits with some nights showing 0 unintentional leaks (based on deducting the flow value on the Pilairo spec sheet for my pressure from the SleepyHead reported figure).
Next week the Swift will get a run.
The reason for my post is to encourage people that, although their mileage might vary, there can be options to improve the experience if they take an observant approach to the way your breathing reacts to the initial treatment.
In my case the driver was that the Liberty got in my way....
Summary - after 58 years of breathing through my mouth I now breath through my nose - except after exertion like climbing the 70' radar tower at work today.
I will keep the Liberty for when I have blocked nose.
Hi - My name is David and I was a mouth breather...