Mask leak rate 44.2 - cant get that mask any tighter!!!

sleepy_timo · Post by **sleepy_timo** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:33 am

Hiya,

I have a Resprionics Comfort Gel nasal mask with the CPAP machine set at 10.5. for this pressure the leak rate should be 26.2 l/m, i am currently averaging 44 l/m I cant get the mask any tighter on my face without causing permanent damage! My AHI ranges from 5-7.

Any suggestions would be appreciated

Timo

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:10 am

Sometimes making the mask too tight is the problem. Start with the mask very loose. Lay down on the bed with the machine on and start snugging up the straps a little at a time.
Keep in mind, this mask might not work for you and you may have to find one that will work better for you.

Brenda

sleepy_timo · Post by **sleepy_timo** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:19 am

Thanks Brenda, I will give it a go but i've tried various settings on the straps with similar results. I sometimes notice that when i try to roll on my side they mask leaks and the hissing noise wakes me up. do other people have this problem?

Timo

brackstone · Post by **brackstone** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:29 am

sleepy_timo wrote:Thanks Brenda, I will give it a go but i've tried various settings on the straps with similar results. I sometimes notice that when i try to roll on my side they mask leaks and the hissing noise wakes me up. do other people have this problem?

Timo

Yes Timo I had that problem for a while too until I found the right mask for me. You might want to try a pillow mask as in my opinion those tend to leak less.

Also can you tell me more about your pillows?

Lastly when tightening your mask I always lay on my back and do the top straps first and the bottom straps last. Only tighten enough to stop the leaks!

Then turn on your side. Is the mask being pushed off your face by the pillow? Let me know what happens.

sleepy_timo · Post by **sleepy_timo** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:40 am

Hi Brackstone. I sleep with just one ordinary pillow. Is there special pillows that help with sort of thing? Or do people try to sleep without any pillows?

Thanks

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:54 am

I use the papillow. It allows the mask to sort of hang over the edge of the pillow. There has been quite a bit if discussion on pillows. you could try a search on bed pillows and see what comes up.

Brenda

brackstone · Post by **brackstone** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:30 am

sleepy_timo wrote:Hi Brackstone. I sleep with just one ordinary pillow. Is there special pillows that help with sort of thing? Or do people try to sleep without any pillows?

Thanks

Yes there are pappillows as BDP mentioned.

I have mine on order and it should arrive today.

This may work for you as well:

However the interim I used a very large body pillow filled with down. IMO you want to avoid things like foam and termpurpedic. Reason being the mask does not weigh anything and all of the weight will come from your head and neck. So your head and neck will sink into these pillows and the mask will not sink so your head will turn and either give you a wicked cramp or make the mask leak.

I take my large body pillo that's filled with down and fold it in half with my tempurpedic pillow below it. Then I lay my head just on the edge of the pillow with my mask hanging off the side and that does the trick for me.

The reason I have the tempurpedic pillow below is because it will give me a bit more left above my bed. Since Down pillows typically just flatten out and leave you mushing your face into the bed.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 7:37 am

You shouldn't have to tighten it too tight, and you can't press your face into the pillow so hard it unseats the mask. I sleep on my side, that works best with the nask kind of hanging off the pillow. also it works good on your back, but that is worse on your apnea.

Are you mouthtaping, you could be getting your leak from mouthbreathing, you won't know for sure unless you tape to prevent it or use a FF Mask. Jim

sleepy_timo · Post by **sleepy_timo** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:15 am

I was wondering about the taping the mouth shut thang. what do people use, i dont want to rip the tape off and end up with red lips!

brackstone · Post by **brackstone** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:09 am

sleepy_timo wrote:I was wondering about the taping the mouth shut thang. what do people use, i dont want to rip the tape off and end up with red lips!

2 Inch Nexcare Gentle Paper Tape the surgical name is 3m micropore surgical tape.

Rooster wrote a very good guide on how to tape it's floating about somewhere in the forums if you search for it.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:17 am

Here's Rooster's tape procedures:

http://tinyurl.com/2qz9b2

Also, many people like to use the Poligrip strips -- they seem to work too.

Inpjs · Post by **Inpjs** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:08 pm

I personally think it's a little too much to have to even think about taping your mouth shut using a FF mask. I currently us the Mirage Ultra full face mask and when my mouth opens while I'm sleeping, the unGodly noise wakes me with the seal flapping against my face. Much worse when I'm on my back. The full face mask is supposed to help mouth breathers. Theres' got to be an easier way to deal with OSA! I bought a memory foam pillow because I was waking up every morning with pain and stiffness in my upper back and between my shoulder blades, and the new pillow took that away. However now with the new pillow the mask pushes off to one side when i'm on my side causing that noise to wake me up. The therapy is suppose to help you sleep better and I wake up more now than I ever did before I started therapy.

This is so frustrating.

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:30 pm

Inpjs,

I use the Ultra Mirage Full Face also (when I have a cold), and it never wakes me in that way. If it fits properly, it should not do that. If it's doing that, there's something wrong. Either the mask that you have is not the right size for you, you don't have it adjusted properly, or the UMFF is just not the mask for you; OR it could be the pillow. Did you read what brackstone wrote a few posts up in this thread?

brackstone wrote: IMO you want to avoid things like foam and termpurpedic. Reason being the mask does not weigh anything and all of the weight will come from your head and neck. So your head and neck will sink into these pillows and the mask will not sink so your head will turn and either give you a wicked cramp or make the mask leak.

Now, I've never used tempurpedic, but that makes a whole lot of sense to me. I would try switching pillows. I'm able to use just regular, firm pillows just fine. Other people like the pappillow, as mentioned, or the Shapeable Pillow (from Target).

You may think the tempurpedic is alleviating muscle aches, but it could be just your body adjusting to actually sleeping in one position all night again. All of us experience muscle aches to some extent once we actually start sleeping well, because our bodies are used to tossing and turning.

Also, though it's been discussed elsewhere, I don't think anyone on this thread was talking about taping with a full face mask. The comfort gel that sleepy_timo has is just a nasal mask.

Also, you said you wake up more with the mask than you did with untreated OSA. It might feel like that, but I doubt that's true. Think about it - even if you have only an AHI of 15 (mild apnea), that means you are waking up 15 times per hour. That's every four minutes. No, not waking up all the way, like you are with the mask, but still waking. Not only that, but all those apneas are damaging your body. I'd say mask struggles are preferable, especially since they are only temporary. Keep working at it, and trying different things. You'll get it.