i'm leaking!

miggity · Post by **miggity** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:05 pm

Had my results read today and the technician was concerned about how much I'm leaking. As you can see, I have the Mirage Swift II nasal pillows, which I thought were great until now. She suggested a chin strap, which i'm going to try tonight.

She said that a full face mask often results in leaks too, because it's cumbersome when you twist and turn at night.

I'm wondering how possible is it to totally prevent leaking if this chin strap doesn't work for me, and given how she said the full face mask can be a problem too. Is it possible to get it down really low despite these problems?

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:19 pm

Finding the right mask is an important part of your therapy. Determining if your are leaking or a mouth breathing is something to consider. I can give you a tip for the Swift if it is sliding around cause leakage. Take the hook side of Velcro, 2 pieces about 2 inches long and adhere each of them to the back strap one on each side. After adjusting your fit you might want to staple them in place for additional security. The hooks grab your hair and keep the mask from riding up and should eliminate leakage. A lot of us users found this to be a good fix. It doesn't hurt your hair. But don't think, like I did, that it would also work using it on the top strap, that DID hurt.. ..

This tip came from Steve, ufo13, our fellow foum member.

miggity · Post by **miggity** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:29 pm

thanks, Bonnie. I think it's mouth breathing causing it, because i sometimes have really dry mouth

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:34 pm

Many of us tape our mouths closed or glue them closed with Polygrip Strips. Can be a pain to mask up but it sure works great. I found that a chin strap did nothing but keep my teath clinched and I would still leak out my lips.

Jerry

dreamchick · Post by **dreamchick** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:29 pm

First of all I wanted to say I am new to this forum and Cpap. I have only had my machine three weeks.

I too am a mouth breather and also a side sleeper. I had a Fisher & Paykel 405 Nasal Mask but I kept opening my mouth even with a chin strap.

Before resorting to taping my mouth shut (I am sure my husband would love it if I did) I decided to try a full face mask.

I just bought a Fisher & Paykel FlexiFit HC431 Full Face Mask with Headgear from this site. I carefully took all the measurements and entered them into the site and it gave me a selection of masks that could work for me. I selected the one I did based on the product reviews.

I like this mask because it comes with cushions in all sizes so I have a medium mask but found with the small cushion was comfortable and did not leak. I did buy the insurance in case I had to send it back but I love the mask.

I find that it does not move around and I can sleep comfortable and soundly on my side.

miggity · Post by **miggity** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:15 pm

cool mask, Dreamchick. glad to hear it's working well for you. i was getting a little discouraged there thinking that maybe i'm doomed because the technician was playing down the full face mask's utility, saying that because there's so much mask there, that it somehow gets messed up when you twist and turn and leaking happens anyway.

really glad to hear that this is working for you, and that there's hope for me.

i'll give the chinstrap a try tonight (i bought it after all) and see how things go over the next week or so. if it's not successful, maybe i'll try your mask

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 12:39 am

If you find that the chinstrap isn't working, then try suctioning your tongue towards the front (and top) of your mouth when you're falling asleep. It's really the tongue that forms the seal, and the strap is there to keep your jaw supporting your tongue in that position.

Also, because of this, don't put the strap on too tightly. It should be comfortable. Oh yeah, and chinstraps don't work for everyone.

You're lucky to have a healthcare provider that reads your smart card!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 1:05 am

LINKS to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard
viewtopic.php?t=8011

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 6:17 am

Hello Irena,
Please tell you assistant about cpaptalk - he will be able to help far more people.

You are misusing this forum - please do not do this again.

We have had posts by helpful DMEs, you are not one of them.

O.

(5th copy of my message).

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:07 am

Yep, the mouth leak plagued me for awhile, too! The FFM works best for me, though I do use a nasal mask and nasal pillows at times. As others have suggested, too, one key is finding the right mask and right fit, and then getting it adjusted (not too tight, not too loose--took me awhile to understand that too tight can cause leaks rather than prevent them). Good luck!

Hawthorne · Post by **Hawthorne** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:25 am

To my surprise , and displeasure, I find this person, IrenaS blatantly advertising on this forum. This morning this person has replied to several posts, trying to sell cpap equipment to anyone who will email her assistant. This is not a site to advertize your products. It is a forum for people with sleep apnea to help others with sleep apnea. Do you know, IrenaS, that this forum is provided by "cpap.com", an online company that sells all manner of cpap equipment and supplies?? That company does not even try to sell their products on this forum!!!
I agree with ozij. You are abusing the purpose of this forum and I, for one, would like you to leave. What you're doing is unethical to say the least.

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i'm leaking!

i'm leaking!

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