[Equipment] FFM: Stomach Sleeper with Beard

[Beatty]

Hi all, lots of great information in here!  I wish I discovered it earlier in my CPAP journey. 

Anyway,  I read some threads, but thought I would post new.  I have some high leak rates that occur off and on throughout the night that I want to try to address.  I'll post sleepyhead data later -- I just started using sleepyhead and I have a cold, I want to post after I have some normal sleep data.  

I use P10 pillows (mediums) with my ResMed 10, I have a beard, and I sleep on my stomach the vast majority of the night.  I have been waking up more and more and my leak rates indicate high leaks that peak.  I'm sure its the mask.  I may try the large pillows to see if that helps, but I have been wanting to try a FFM and especially with my current cold I really wish I had one.

Suggestions on FFM with a beard and a stomach sleeper?    Feel free to suggest anything else that may help too!

[Gideon]

Welcome to the forum.

FYI Sleepyhead Daily charts frequently tell us what kind of leak is occurring. We frequently distinguish between a mask leak and a mouth leak.

Stomach sleeper makes it hard.  Face down or to the side?  Doesn't really matter. You need to support your head with the mask off to the side of the pillow.  With the P10 I find the weight of the hose is enough to cause some real severe mask leaks as the hose pulls the mask.  I bought a hose management device that wraps around the main hose and clips to my pillow, Would work with clipping to PJs too, to support the main hose.

Fred

[paulag1955]

Fred, could you post a picture of what it is you're using to clip the hose to the pillow?

[Walla Walla]

Here's one from Amazon

[Gideon]

That's it 

[paulag1955]

Thanks, guys!

[Beatty]

Welcome to the forum.

FYI Sleepyhead Daily charts frequently tell us what kind of leak is occurring. We frequently distinguish between a mask leak and a mouth leak.

Stomach sleeper makes it hard.  Face down or to the side?  Doesn't really matter. You need to support your head with the mask off to the side of the pillow.  With the P10 I find the weight of the hose is enough to cause some real severe mask leaks as the hose pulls the mask.  I bought a hose management device that wraps around the main hose and clips to my pillow, Would work with clipping to PJs too, to support the main hose.

Fred

Thanks!  I sleep face down, with my mask down off the side of the pillow.   I tried a chinstrap which kept my mouth closed, but the MyAir (I know, I know) data still showed high leak number.

I will post my daily chart later.  I think I have one day pre-cold, so I'll start a thread on that to see what everyone thinks.   I just don't know if that day is a typical day.  It is interesting data, but I do need help understanding it.

[Gideon]

Keep your posts here, that will maintain a history.  
Post several of your charts together (attach them)
Helping you learn, that's what we do.  If you don't understand a recommendation just ask.

There are 2 phases to treatment, The numbers, that's the easy part.  Your comfort, that is just as important so let us know how you feel.

Keep in mind that those helping you have been doing this for a lot of years.

Fred

[Beatty]

If a different view or more charts would be useful please let me know.  These charts are from my first night with the SD card plugged in, although I am 9 months in using my CPAP.   

I would love to hear any recommendation to improve my therapy.  When I first started I felt great it was amazing.  I would have perfect scores on MyAir.  Things are not as good as the first four or five months, but I still feel really good.  However, I do wake up several times a night now.  Generally I fall right back asleep, but not always.  If I don't fall back asleep, I often shift to my back for a while, but always turn back to my stomach to fall asleep.   MyAir now shows high leaks rates.

The leaks seem to be getting worse over the last 4 months or so.  I am ~10 months using my CPAP.

Thanks in advance for your help and input.

[paulag1955]

Have you replaced the headgear to your mask in that time?