Need help problem-solving large leaks with Dreamwear mask

Hello, everyone. After spending about a year and a half using only the Wisp mask, I"m trying out a new one: the Dreamwear nasal cushion (the one with the large hole in the center not the prongs that go in your nose.) There are definitely nice things about this mask. It's soft, comfy, doesn't leave marks on my face when I sleep on my belly like the Wisp does. But it's so noisy and leaky. (I know other have had the same feedback). The last few nights I've been registering very large leaks -- 25%, 33%, etc. The thing is, I can't tell when I have a bad leak, because the mark is constantly blowing air kind of all over the place, even when it's not leaking -- at least it gives that sensation -- so it's hard to know what's a legitimate non-leaky air blowing out of the mask and what's an actual leak.

I also don't know what I can do to adjust it to prevent the leaks either. I think I'm using the right size frame and nose piece (large size frame, medium size nose piece. The small nose piece was a little more snug, but felt cramped width-wise.) I've tried tightening and loosening the straps in the back. When they're very tight the mask fits very snugly and there are no leaks and minimum noise, but it's kind of uncomfortable, and I've read that it shouldn't be so tight. But then when I loosen it I register the leaks...but not always.

So, I don't know what's going on or how to fix it. Can anybody who uses this mask give any feedback?

By the way, I spend probably two thirds of my sleep time on my side and the rest on my belly. Very occasionally wind up on my back at some point.

What is telling you that you are having bad leaks?
Machine LCD display or SleepyHead software?

Are the leaks waking you up?

Machine LCD display. There's an entry under Info for large leaks.

With the DreamWear nasal cushion mask I found that there was a very fine line between too tight and not leaking and just a tiny bit looser and more comfortable but leaking.
I found that using the fleece side wraps helps stabilize things and I didn't have to have it quite so snug (that back strap). Have you tried using those fleece wraps?

Are you sure that you are a large frame...do you have a medium frame you could try?

Would you be willing to try the gel pillow? It's more stable than the cushion (or it was in my own personal experience). Those cones just barely go into the nostril and shouldn't touch the inside of the nostril and you shouldn't feel them and the gel part of the pillow rim is quite comfy and seems to stay in place better than the cushion.
You know that the gel pillow version will fit on your existing DreamWear frame?
So all you would have to get is the gel pillow.

If you like the Wisp, you can get a padded straps for it...Padacheek and Amazon. I just ordered a set for my Wisp from Amazon Canada.

I rotate my nasal masks...my go to mask is the Eson2 usually. This week, I have rotated my three nasal masks from the Eson2 to Dreamwear to Wisp. Of the three, Dreamwear (large frame with small cushion) is often noisy and quite leaky....see SH charts on the three nasal masks in my other post.

Dave

I don't tend to like the fleece/fabric wraps. They feel too hot on my cheeks. I do remember that the Wisp cloth frame left fewer marks on my face though.

The problem with nasal pillows is that I sleep a substantial amount of time on my belly and it seems to me that when on my belly the "prongs" would wedge into my nostrils.

I am having some of the same issues with my Dreamwear mask. I find the mask to be very comfortable and it works perfectly when I am sleeping on my back. When on my side I get leaks and have to do a lot of readjusting to get a seal, and I am mostly a side sleeper. I am thinking about trying the gel nose pillow for this mask but I'm going to follow this thread for a while before doing so.

RodL1948 wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 06, 2018 8:09 am

I am having some of the same issues with my Dreamwear mask. I find the mask to be very comfortable and it works perfectly when I am sleeping on my back. When on my side I get leaks and have to do a lot of readjusting to get a seal, and I am mostly a side sleeper. I am thinking about trying the gel nose pillow for this mask but I'm going to follow this thread for a while before doing so.

I first tried the original dreamwear under the nose cushion when it came out and yes...it did seem to leak more than I would like and it was annoying.
Then when the gel pillows came out I tried them and they are a lot more stable IMHO. Mush less leak.
Also make sure that your frame size is correct. I ended up going to the small frame with the gel pillows and the leaks were even more reduced. Makes me wonder if I would have done better with that original under the nose cushion back when first tried if I had used the smaller frame...but I sold the mask because I wasn't in love with it enough to keep it and someone else wanted it more than I did.

Check EBay for cheap price on just the gel pillow. Sometimes quite cheap for new and unopened. All you need is the gel pillow because it will fit on your existing frame.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 06, 2018 8:15 am

RodL1948 wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 06, 2018 8:09 am

I am having some of the same issues with my Dreamwear mask. I find the mask to be very comfortable and it works perfectly when I am sleeping on my back. When on my side I get leaks and have to do a lot of readjusting to get a seal, and I am mostly a side sleeper. I am thinking about trying the gel nose pillow for this mask but I'm going to follow this thread for a while before doing so.

I first tried the original dreamwear under the nose cushion when it came out and yes...it did seem to leak more than I would like and it was annoying.
Then when the gel pillows came out I tried them and they are a lot more stable IMHO. Mush less leak.
Also make sure that your frame size is correct. I ended up going to the small frame with the gel pillows and the leaks were even more reduced. Makes me wonder if I would have done better with that original under the nose cushion back when first tried if I had used the smaller frame...but I sold the mask because I wasn't in love with it enough to keep it and someone else wanted it more than I did.

Check EBay for cheap price on just the gel pillow. Sometimes quite cheap for new and unopened. All you need is the gel pillow because it will fit on your existing frame.

Thanks for the eBay tip.

My normal mask is the Dreamwear Nasal Cushion mask with medium frame and medium cushion. My head is large hat size, about 7 3/4 but I do not have what you would call a round face which in my mind would require a larger mask.

cpap.com has the following frame sizing info (for the Dreamwear nasal mask frame):
How To Determine the Correct Frame Size?
The frame size is equivalent to the distance around the head from one side of the nose to the other. Follow these steps to
determine the appropriate frame size:
Begin by placing the measuring tape marker at the base of the nose on one side. Use the tape to follow along the side of the
cheek and upward over the top of the head. Keep pulling the tape measure around the face, down the other cheek, and to
the base of the nose on the opposite side.
Use this measurement to most closely match one of the frame sizes listed below:
Small Frame - 19 Inches
Medium Frame - 20 Inches
Large Frame - 22 Inches
this is at :
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-dre ... l#tips-tab

The FFM uses the same frame but attaches differently so it could be different. I just received an additional Dreamwear nasal cushion complete mask so I have ordered (paying out of pocket) the medium insert and FFM headgear from 2nd Wind and will receive it Monday. This is basically half the cost but is a gamble on the size.

My seal on the Dreamwear nasal cushion is acceptable, running about 13 l/min from the detailed report on my Airsense 10 and my leakage is ok with myair at resmed.com also. My pressure is about 10 and AHI is about .3.
I would say that I have the cushions fairly tight so they shift less when I turn. I use the fabric wraps. It is not so tight that it bothers me. Leakage occur when the headband slips up in back. Sliding it back down tightens the mask and fixes the leak.

looking forwrd to receiving my Dreamwear FFM as I frequently deal with congestion and use a halo chinstrap.

I have been using a Resmed Air F20 Mask with memory foam for a couple of years now. My pressure is 19.2
I found that the straps across my cheeks were pressing on my jaw, and actually started to move my teeth. Plus with my pressure, my husband would get blasted with air if I slept on my side (he has a Dreamwear mask).
So, I ordered a Dreamwear FF Mask, thinking the top of head airflow would be better (which it is), and that I'd have less severe imprints on my face in the morning.
The FF Mask I ordered came with a medium headset, and was simply too big.
So I ordered a 2nd Dreamwear FF Mask, with everything in a size Small.
The nasal opening in this mask is still larger than my nose is wide, so lots of air flow.
Then I taped the sides of the the nasal section, to make the opening narrower. Again, lots of air leaks.
Next I used Remzzzs, sewed 2 together and used that to help with leaks - didn't do much.
Finally I tried 2 sets of the sewn Remzzzs, and I still can't get through a night without major leaks around my nose.
Ideally, I think I need a 2nd set of straps that would attach towards to top of the mask, to keep the top of the nasal portion snug under my nose.
I went with this mask because I'm a mouth breather, and wanted less pressure on my cheeks and teeth, and less prominent strap marks on my face.
Does anyone else have a high pressure like mine (19.2), and is able to have a leak free mask experience?

Another Dreamwear nasal mask user who's a side sleeper here...been using it for some time, and my usual leak number is 0. Has been as high as 7 occasionally, but that's unusual. This mask is about the only one that I can use these days, after nasal surgery. Other than the TAP PAP, and I really hated that one *smile*...too much drooling, and anchoring to my teeth didn't really feel like a great idea.

I do have to have the Dreamwear tighter than I'd like, gave up on it a couple of times from excessive leakage. By this time, I have a general feel for what's too loose, what's too tight, and what's just right *smile*. Basically what I do is tighten it to "too tight", and then back off from that until it isn't too tight, and doesn't leak when I move the cushion from side to side. Ends up comfortable enough, and very low leakage.

Good luck with this mask, it does take some patience to find that sweet spot.