Newly diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. Can anyone tell me...will I have to shave my long "Texas" gottee to fit the mask? I'm kind of attached to it. If so are there alternatives where I wouldn't have to shave?
Thanks

I wouldn't think you would have to shave.  Do a search on this site for facial hair and/or mustache.  I believe that I have seen other posts from guys who do fine with their facial hair.

Good luck!

A nasal mask won't go near your gottee, so if you're not a mouth breather you should try a nasal mask first.

I have a mustache and beard, and use the swift nasal pillows with success. Also have heard good things about the "comfort curve". During the sleep test they used a mask, which had some leakage beneath my nose, causing a bit of irritation. Doc recommended nasal pillows.

My husband has a mustache and my nephew has a beard, they both use the Resmed Mirage Activa, with no leak problems, and of course, I agree, any nasal pillow would also be fine.

Thanks all. I am trying a respironics with nasal pillows. Find my nose gets pretty sore and have to switch if I wake up to the nose mask. Just a trial. Still....don't have to shave.

I use the Swift nasal pillows and had soreness at first, but turned up the temp on the humidifier one notch, which took care of it. I do still get an itching from leakage driving me crazy sometimes, and the mask will shift if I roll over, but my mustache is intact...

I have used both the Swift/Respironics nasal pillows and have found that I did get a soreness.  The Respironics one was not ajusted correctly and after consulting with some of their technitions at the plant in a focus group, I got the problem corrected.  The plant is just 8 miles from my home.  However they both proved to be ineffective when I rolled over on my side and slept.  The both would come loose and leak.  I am now back to the Res Med Activa.