Does a mask really go bad?

For the past 4 or 5 years I have had no trouble using my cpap until about 2 weeks ago. For some reason I haven't been able to sleep. I have tried many things. When the trouble started I changed my nasal pillows.

I can see that the pillows need changing as they do seem to wear. I bought new masks because I was using a Nasal Aire II and the tubes would turn color or they started to come loose and get disconnected at night. But about 2 years ago I changed to the mirage swift lt. I instantly loved it, fit great, quiet and very comfortable for me.

I have changed the pillows regularly but never bought a new mask. Can the mask wear out too? Its hard plastic and looks just fine. I seem to not be able to get as much air either. I mean volume of air. I find I have to take an occasional deep breath through my mouth that I never used to do.

Sounds like the pressure might need tweaking. How's your leak? I found swapping my headgear for new helped reduce leaks.

my leaks are about 0. got a nice fit too.

My doctor suggested I change the machine from cpap to auto cpap. I tried it earlier tonight with the minimum at 4.0 but I couldnt seem to get enough air to breath through the mask so I eventually turned up the minimum pressure to 8.0 which is where I am normally at. So after messing with the machine and settings for a bit I am totally awake and will watch a little television and try to relax and go back to bed shortly.

Try setting the APAP 1 below and 2 or 3 above your CPAP pressure and see what your numbers are. Did you change anything else just before this started? Changes in other aspects of your life?

Has your weight changed? I imagine it's possible (apart from weight changes) for your face to change (age) over time otherwise, maybe in micro amounts, but coming to a point where they make a measurable difference one night. Maybe you do need refitting and/or a change of mask.

Back to the original question please, folks. I'm curious about needing to replace masks, too.

BeachGirl wrote:t They should be replaced every 3 months.

every 3 months seems quite excessive and expensive. I have never heard of a recommendation for that short of a time.

To be specific about my mask, no part of the mask aside from the nasal pillows touch my face. Any other part that touches my face are cloth and nothing that seals.

I've had my current mask almost a year. I've found that the headgear wears out and gets stretched out over time -- like an old pair of socks that loses its elasticity. I've marked on my headgear with a sharpie about once a month where it's comfortable and i don't get leaks. every month or two, i have to tighten another 1/2 inch or so. it seems 4 months is about the limit on my headgear. The silicone is still holding up.

I've also switched out parts other parts from older masks

On my FF mask, the only plastic part that seems to wear is the swiveling elbow. It develops leaks at the joints. My first mask started to leak after 3 months, this one has begun to leak a little now at a year.

There are basically 2 types of wear on masks.

One is corrosion. This comes from exposure to the oils on the face, ozone and other chemicals in the air, and UV damage. Also, corrosion can come from the chemicals used to clean and disinfect the mask.

The other is fatigue. Materials have a finite life cycle and eventually are unable to hold their shape. After stretching the elastic a bunch of times, it wears out.

I suppose I should also mention that abuse can wear out a mask, but there are a lot of variables associated with that and one persons abuse may actually be another persons normal use.

When engineers design a device, they expect a certain life cycle from it. If you continue to use it beyond that expectation, you may not get full function from it.

The question comes down to weather the life cycle of a mask is dictated by corrosion, fatigue, or something else like sanitation concerns.

You have been using your same headgear for 2 years, perhaps changing the head gear should be a first step in figuring out what is going on.

My Quattro is 15 months old. The headgear will probably get replaced in the next few months. The silicone cushion has been replaced every 3-4 months. The body of the mask is plastic....It may never wear out.

jackr wrote: I seem to not be able to get as much air either. I mean volume of air. I find I have to take an occasional deep breath through my mouth that I never used to do.

Are you using your original machine? After 4 or 5 years, it may not be producing the same volume of air. Have you had the pressure checked since these problems began?

Weezy

I just replaced the silicon strap and Velcro strap on my fx, they were 6 mo old, the old parts were stretched out and flimsy compared to the new ones. I was getting more leaks even with new pillows, so I'd say yes, you need to replace some parts if not the whole thing every now and then. JMO

DocWeezy wrote:

jackr wrote: I seem to not be able to get as much air either. I mean volume of air. I find I have to take an occasional deep breath through my mouth that I never used to do.

Are you using your original machine? After 4 or 5 years, it may not be producing the same volume of air. Have you had the pressure checked since these problems began?

Weezy

No this machine is about 2.5 years old.

I did put the machine on auto cpap and my usual pressure was 8.0. Last night I got 4 hours of sleep and I was at 8.7 90% of the time. That could make a difference.

Now also I have gotten to the point where worrying about sleeping is keeping me up!!! LOL. So my doctor is giving me a couple of samples of Ambien CR tonight. He says that with the new pressure if I use ambien to get me to sleep for just a couple of nights I may break the cycle I am in. I dont like the idea of taking a sleeping pill but I do understand it has its purpose. I wont take it tonight because I have to work Friday and I am paranoid that it will effect me.

The original doctor who first prescribed my cpap machine gave me a prescription for ambien for 30 days with 3 refills. I never used it and they expired so I dont know what he was thinking to give me a script for all those pills. I assume he didnt think I would respond so well to cpap as most of the people I know quit using it.