PadACheek help please?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
User avatar
brightcrow
Posts: 83
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2015 3:50 pm

PadACheek help please?

Post by brightcrow » Sat Oct 03, 2015 2:31 pm

I need some help but PadACheek is out of the office for a week. I've spent more than two hours trying to get my mask liner to work right, but I'm not getting a good seal. There's something essential I need to know while tailoring the size and fit of the hole around my nose: in order to get a good seal am I supposed to feel the silicone (?) mask cushion around my nose, or is the fabric supposed to cover it? I'm primarily interested in protecting sensitive skin on the bridge of my nose, but would also like any other protection the liner is designed to give. Many thanks if you can help.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Climateline tubing

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by chunkyfrog » Sat Oct 03, 2015 2:40 pm

When installed correctly, the fabric should be the only thing touching your skin in that area.
You will NOT get an airtight seal. Once inflated, your cushion will only allow a tiny bit of air through the liner.
This is not a significant amount, so do not be concerned. When you ordinarily would sweat where the mask touches,
you will stay dry, and the mask will be QUIET, no more face farts!

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her

User avatar
brightcrow
Posts: 83
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2015 3:50 pm

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by brightcrow » Sat Oct 03, 2015 2:50 pm

Thank you, that helps. This is my first week and all I do is troubleshoot. Before getting the liner, I'd finally gotten a good seal, but the welt on the bridge of my nose is persistent. Today with the new liner it's leaking at the top where the felt padding is. I can feel the air in my eyes. It's a shame, because that's where I need the protection the most. My machine continues to say bad seal regardless of whether or not I'm using the liner, so I'm not sure that's a reliable indication over only a couple of minutes. I'll try it out for a full night, and see if I pass the leak test.
(Edited for clarity).

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Climateline tubing

User avatar
Sir NoddinOff
Posts: 4190
Joined: Mon May 14, 2012 5:30 pm
Location: California

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by Sir NoddinOff » Sat Oct 03, 2015 4:21 pm

brightcrow wrote:Thank you, that helps. This is my first week and all I do is troubleshoot. Before getting the liner, I'd finally gotten a good seal, but the welt on the bridge of my nose is persistent. Today with the new liner it's leaking at the top where the felt padding is. I can feel the air in my eyes. It's a shame, because that's where I need the protection the most. My machine continues to say bad seal regardless of whether or not I'm using the liner, so I'm not sure that's a reliable indication over only a couple of minutes. I'll try it out for a full night, and see if I pass the leak test.
(Edited for clarity).
I have a zero tolerance for any air blowing into my eyes whether open or closed. I never found a way to eliminate that problem completely so I just use these silicone eye shields every night... I've had the same pair for a couple of years. They are called Onyx Eye Shields:

https://www.dryeyeshop.com/onyix-silico ... -p327.aspx

As a bonus, I was able to also take down my blackout curtains in my bedroom since they block out absolutely all light. They also trap in a lot of moisture and keep your eyes hydrated, (maybe too much so - if that happens please PM me and I'll offer some solutions to fix that issue).

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ F10 Full Face Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead software v.0.9.8.1 Open GL and Encore Pro v2.2.
I like my ResMed AirFit F10 FFM - reasonably low leaks for my ASV therapy. I'm currently using a PR S1 AutoSV 960P Advanced. I also keep a ResMed S9 Adapt as backup. I use a heated Hibernite hose. Still rockin' with Win 7 by using GWX to stop Win 10.

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by chunkyfrog » Sat Oct 03, 2015 4:40 pm

If the cushion is wrinkled in the area near the leak, the headgear is too TIGHT.
It sounds backwards, but try loosening the headgear and let the cushion inflate completely without wrinkles.
This is a common problem when providers fail to give complete instructions to patients.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her

User avatar
brightcrow
Posts: 83
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2015 3:50 pm

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by brightcrow » Sat Oct 03, 2015 5:42 pm

Edit to update: I'm embarrassed to admit I just found out I have a Mask Test function on my machine. However, I fail even without the mask liner unless I tighten the cheek straps, pretty snugly. This occurs at higher pressures (higher subjectively to me), and is counter to my RT's and your good advice to loosen the straps. I blame side sleeping, but nothing I can do about that. Thanks for your efforts to help. I don't think I can do much more until I can make an appointment for some hands-on help.
--------
(before update)
Thanks. I've been loosening in lots of combinations, but all this is made harder by the fact that I sleep solely on my sides, which smooshes everything, especially loose cheek straps. The head-strap across my forehead is fully an inch off of my face at this point, so it can't be loosened. There's not much to support the mask except the strap at the top of my head, so I do all my testing lying down.

It's been another couple of hours of trial and error with the mask liner, and I can barely look at this darned thing anymore. The instructions said to gradually increase the size of the hole to fit your nose, but it didn't say in what manner, so I kept shaving off the circle's circumference. Finally I put in some small slits radiating outward. This was done while accommodating the two attached thick, vertical hanging felt strips intended for the nose bridge. It's those strips that caused the eye leak. Tucking them out of the way, to test whether I should cut them off, revealed that the hole was now too large for the cushion opening. So now I have to choose between the felt strips on/with eye leak or felt strips cut off/with fabric hole larger than cushion opening.

The most frustrating part is if I were to start over with a whole new mask liner (at least a week from now due to closed shop), I still wouldn't know what to do, no clue what the best way to enlarge the opening is, and whether to cut off the felt. I think I'd cut off the felt and hope the microfiber barrier would be enough to relieve the welt on my nose bridge.

My unit, once detecting a bad leak condition, continues to give me a frowny-face no matter what I do. Restarting it didn't help. Not sure if it's intended to indicate short-term mask testing.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Climateline tubing

User avatar
Sir NoddinOff
Posts: 4190
Joined: Mon May 14, 2012 5:30 pm
Location: California

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by Sir NoddinOff » Sun Oct 04, 2015 9:26 am

I'm using a Pur-Sleep buckwheat hull pillow that molds nicely. What I do is use my fist or hand to make a hollow next to cpap mask... it's easy to do with the buckwheat hulls. This hollow will last all night or until you rearrange the hulls. This allows your mask to not touch anything but your face which is idea for side sleepers. The pillow is very well made with a nice thick quilted cover, plus the creator is a member of this forum. Google Pur-sleep cpap pillow... Amazon has them too.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ F10 Full Face Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead software v.0.9.8.1 Open GL and Encore Pro v2.2.
I like my ResMed AirFit F10 FFM - reasonably low leaks for my ASV therapy. I'm currently using a PR S1 AutoSV 960P Advanced. I also keep a ResMed S9 Adapt as backup. I use a heated Hibernite hose. Still rockin' with Win 7 by using GWX to stop Win 10.

User avatar
brightcrow
Posts: 83
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2015 3:50 pm

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by brightcrow » Sun Oct 04, 2015 10:24 am

Thank you for your suggestion. I'll take a look.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Climateline tubing

popcpoo
Posts: 38
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2015 5:02 pm
Location: Central OK

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by popcpoo » Sun Oct 04, 2015 1:28 pm

I tried the liners on two different masks I had, and could not get a good seal with either one. I have found moleskin placed on the nose at night keeps it from getting sore. The moleskin was a suggestion of one of the DME people I have worked with. She said her husband has been using it for a long time and it worked for him.

User avatar
brightcrow
Posts: 83
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2015 3:50 pm

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by brightcrow » Sun Oct 04, 2015 7:13 pm

That's a good idea. It doesn't interrupt the seal at the top? I don't know if moleskin is adhesive backed - my skin has trouble with with most adhesives too. Sensitive skin.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Climateline tubing

User avatar
curems
Posts: 179
Joined: Sun Aug 02, 2015 9:06 am
Location: New Jersey

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by curems » Sun Oct 04, 2015 8:08 pm

brightcrow wrote: This is my first week and all I do is troubleshoot.
I empathize with your issues! I started with a Wisp mask but developed pressure sores so I tried things like cushioned bandaids and liquicell cushions but both caused problems because of the adhesive. I also tried the gecko gel pad but it still didn't prevent the sores. I ended up trying many more and different masks until I figured out what would work for me. Do you have any opportunity to try different masks? (I'm not trying to steer you away from your current mask, just trying to help you troubleshoot.)

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: PR S1 60 Series Auto CPAP, using SleepyHead software

User avatar
RogerSC
Posts: 1891
Joined: Sat Jul 21, 2012 1:11 pm

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by RogerSC » Mon Oct 05, 2015 1:48 am

Personally I've tried both nasal pillow and nasal masks, and I find nasal pillow masks better for side sleeping. They seem to take being smooshed better, and tend to hang into your nostrils where a nasal mask can kind of slide around. I'm an active side sleeper and find that masks like the Swift FX or AirFit P10 will stay on better overnight. This is especially important to me, since leaks wake me up, and it's hard to get enough sleep if you're being awakened a lot by mask leaks.

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by chunkyfrog » Mon Oct 05, 2015 5:33 am

For those who cannot get a regular silicone nasal mask to seal without tight adjustment,
several models of GEL nasal masks are made. Our hosts offer several for sale.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her

Janknitz
Posts: 8410
Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:05 pm
Location: Northern California

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by Janknitz » Mon Oct 05, 2015 8:45 am

I find the extra padding I the Padacheek liners for the bridge of the nose causes more leaking and pressure. I always tuck that extra strip out of the way.

For sleeping on my side I slightly loosen the straps on the right (pillow side because I sleep on my right side) and tighten the straps on the other side. This accommodates the pressure on the side of my face from the pillow.
What you need to know before you meet your DME http://tinyurl.com/2arffqx
Taming the Mirage Quattro http://tinyurl.com/2ft3lh8
Swift FX Fitting Guide http://tinyurl.com/22ur9ts
Don't Pay that Upcharge! http://tinyurl.com/2ck48rm

Zoopshine
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2015 8:21 am
Location: BFE

Re: PadACheek help please?

Post by Zoopshine » Mon Oct 05, 2015 9:21 am

I've gotten the same kind of fit just by sliding my headgear left or right, depending on what side I'm sleeping on. Quick, simple, and easier than fooling with the mask straps.

_________________
MachineMask