Mask Leaking

Hi all. Last night I gave my machine another try. (2nd night). Because of fibro pain I sleep in all positions, having to keep switching. I start on stomach then go to side then back if necessary.

My whole setup is comfortable but my mask was leaking on bridge of nose while stomach sleeping. The space where it was leaking was rather small, maybe 1/4 - 1/2 inch gap. If I tried to push the mask back down, it would either work until I settled back into the pillow, or sometimes it would leak at the chin. I tried obvious angles to position the mask well, but I couldn't get it to work. Same problem with side sleeping. I

I'm a little lady. The mask has an "S" on the back of it so i think it's a "small", but the packaging clearly says "Medium" all over it.

I'm thinking of switching to a true "Small", or to a hybrid mask. I can't use a straight nasal mask as my lips flutter. I've also wanted to avoid having an appliance resting under my nostrils if possible, and I feel "safer" with a full face mask, but I could try a hybrid as a last ditch effort.

Do you think going one size down in this full face mask could make a big enough difference to stop the leaking?
Any other tips or suggestions?

Thanks - and have a great Saturday!

When you sleep on your stomach...you must hang the mask off the side of the pillow just as you would with lying on your side. While on your stomach, move to the edge of the pillow and turn your head so the mask hangs off the pillow while your head stays on the pillow. It might help if toy would use a firm pillow so your face doesn't sink into the pillow, but stays on top. My suggestion is the buckwheat hull pillow....It's great.

You have to try it - your face is different from everyone else's and someone else's experience will not match yours.

LSAT wrote:When you sleep on your stomach...you must hang the mask off the side of the pillow just as you would with lying on your side. While on your stomach, move to the edge of the pillow and turn your head so the mask hangs off the pillow while your head stays on the pillow. It might help if toy would use a firm pillow so your face doesn't sink into the pillow, but stays on top. My suggestion is the buckwheat hull pillow....It's great.

I did have my head hanging of the edge of the pillow. It worked, except for the bridge nose leak.
I have a higher-loft pillow and will try that tonight, but this leak isn't happening on the sides; it's happening "up and down"...bridge of nose or chin.

I think it makes sense to try a small-size mask.

Hopefullady wrote:

LSAT wrote:When you sleep on your stomach...you must hang the mask off the side of the pillow just as you would with lying on your side. While on your stomach, move to the edge of the pillow and turn your head so the mask hangs off the pillow while your head stays on the pillow. It might help if toy would use a firm pillow so your face doesn't sink into the pillow, but stays on top. My suggestion is the buckwheat hull pillow....It's great.

I did have my head hanging of the edge of the pillow. It worked, except for the bridge nose leak.
I have a higher-loft pillow and will try that tonight, but this leak isn't happening on the sides; it's happening "up and down"...bridge of nose or chin.

I think it makes sense to try a small-size mask.

You also should be trying mask liners...............

LSAT wrote:

Hopefullady wrote:

LSAT wrote:When you sleep on your stomach...you must hang the mask off the side of the pillow just as you would with lying on your side. While on your stomach, move to the edge of the pillow and turn your head so the mask hangs off the pillow while your head stays on the pillow. It might help if toy would use a firm pillow so your face doesn't sink into the pillow, but stays on top. My suggestion is the buckwheat hull pillow....It's great.

I did have my head hanging of the edge of the pillow. It worked, except for the bridge nose leak.
I have a higher-loft pillow and will try that tonight, but this leak isn't happening on the sides; it's happening "up and down"...bridge of nose or chin.

I think it makes sense to try a small-size mask.

You also should be trying mask liners...............

I'll look into them and what they are.
Thx

First, I sympathize with the "small" bit. There are at least two sizes of head gear as well as multiple mask sizes. My control got a lot better when I figured that out. The "but" here is that all complete mask setups come with medium head gear so you have to order the small specially. My DME kept assuring me that could not be done. However, our sponsor will sell you JUST the head gear in any size for a reasonable cost. My DME merged with Apria just over a year ago. Apria is quite willing to provide just the head gear.

Next, on the pillow bit - I never stomach sleep so am no help for that. I do sleep on my sides and keep the mask in place by pulling the pillow so the corner wedges up under my head and neck and the mask hangs over the edge. Remember also that the body eventually develops muscle memory for what works best and it becomes less of an issue to deal with sleeping, pillow manipulation, awkward mask, pets, partner etc. all at the same time.

Good wishes.
Linda

Hopefullady wrote:
I'm a little lady. The mask has an "S" on the back of it so i think it's a "small", but the packaging clearly says "Medium" all over it.

I'm thinking of switching to a true "Small", or to a hybrid mask. I can't use a straight nasal mask as my lips flutter. I've also wanted to avoid having an appliance resting under my nostrils if possible, and I feel "safer" with a full face mask, but I could try a hybrid as a last ditch effort.

Do you think going one size down in this full face mask could make a big enough difference to stop the leaking?
Any other tips or suggestions?

Thanks - and have a great Saturday!

This is from Cpap.com info on your mask. Just to be sure what you have. They also have a sizing guide you can use. The Quattro Air for her comes in extra small, small, and medium. The liners can be found at Padacheek.com or look up Remzz.

Where do I find the size?

The size of the mask frame is directly proportionate to the size of the cushion. The size of the mask frame is not identifiable, except by applying the cushion size to the corresponding frame. To properly function, the Quattro™ Air For Her frame and cushion must be the same size. The frame and cushion sizes cannot be mixed and matched.

To find the size of the full face cushion, turn the mask so that the elbow is facing the user. Look to the lower right side of the full face cushion to locate a large embossed letter within a circle. The letter will indicate the size the full face cushion.

Thank you both.

I just went to my storage bin and grabbed a mask I was given when I had a half-hearted attempt at CPAP earlier this year. Its a regular Quattro Air, and I thought it looked and felt smaller than the Quattro Air For Her I have at my house, but when I got home I realized they're both the same. Also, both are Mediums.
I do see the size on the front of the mask, yes. Very cool. Also grabbed a higher-loft pillow for stomach sleeping than the almost completely flat one I've been using.
Thanks for the info on where to get mask liners. That might be a huge part of the answer.