HELP! Moving to full face mask from nasal pillows

[CaptainRaven40]

Hello all! Hope everyone is doing well and that your therapy is going well.

I have been a P10 nasal pillow person since I first used it. I love my P10. Well this year my allergies have hit me to where I can't breathe thru my nose at all. I have tried everything. This has affected my therapy drastically. I have not been able to wear my mask. I was hoping that the P10 would help with not being able to breathe through my nose. Well I was due for a new mask through my insurance and I decided to take the chance with a full face mask because I need my therapy as you all know we all need it here. I tried on several masks from the Airfit F10 to a couple of hybrids and masks in-between. I do have facial hair and I know this can cause issues with a full face mask. Well I ended up landing on the F&P Simplus. It went great at the DME with this mask. It fit amazing at my pressure. I moved in to all of my various sleeping positions and had very minimal leaks. Fast forward to this afternoon when I get home and give it a try with my machine. I am on a apap mode with a level of 12-20 range. It seems lately from sleepyhead data that my rate that I stay at the most is 16 so I set my machine to cpap and to fit my machine using the pressure at 16. Now I can't for the life of me to get the mask to seal properly at all. I put it on and make adjustments and it leaks into my eyes under my mouth. It is leaking everywhere! So I need some help. I have never had a full face mask before and maybe I just am doing something completely wrong. I tried keeping it loose and then tightening it slowly and then I went to the other extreme and nothing seemed to help. I laid on the edge of my pillow so the mask wasn't being pressed as much. I just don't know what to do. This is new territory for me. So if I could get some input, suggestions, and help I would more than appreciate it!

[yippeekia]

There are several fitting videos found on youtube. Those may be helpful. I have found that tighter can be worse with full face masks. It seems counterintuitive, but sometime looser allows the cushion to inflate and you get a better seal. You can also try a mask liner. If you are creative, an old t-shirt will work until you can order one from Padacheek, etc.

You can always go back to the DME.

Best Wishes

[CaptainRaven40]

There are several fitting videos found on youtube. Those may be helpful. I have found that tighter can be worse with full face masks. It seems counterintuitive, but sometime looser allows the cushion to inflate and you get a better seal. You can also try a mask liner. If you are creative, an old t-shirt will work until you can order one from Padacheek, etc.

You can always go back to the DME.

Best Wishes

Thank you for the response! I have watched the videos I could find online and am trying the techniques or have tried most of them. I thought about the tshirt but didn't know if it would really help. So thank you for that suggestion!

[Julie]

Tip - FFMs must be tried on lying down as your face changes so much then - doesn't affect nasal masks much, but FFMs a lot.

[CaptainRaven40]

Tip - FFMs must be tried on lying down as your face changes so much then - doesn't affect nasal masks much, but FFMs a lot.

It was tried lying back in a recliner that laid out flat. I was lying on my side when tested at the DME.

[49er]

Hi CaptainRaven,

The Simplus is my backup mask when I can't tolerate the Elan due to nasal congestion. A trick to stop leaks I learned from a posting from Madalot is when I have the mask at my pressure and have tightened the straps sufficiently is to pull the mask away from my face and reseat it. Sometimes, I have to do it a few times but this seems to work. Obviously, your mileage will vary but hopefully this will work for you.

Best of luck.

49er

Hello all! Hope everyone is doing well and that your therapy is going well.

I have been a P10 nasal pillow person since I first used it. I love my P10. Well this year my allergies have hit me to where I can't breathe thru my nose at all. I have tried everything. This has affected my therapy drastically. I have not been able to wear my mask. I was hoping that the P10 would help with not being able to breathe through my nose. Well I was due for a new mask through my insurance and I decided to take the chance with a full face mask because I need my therapy as you all know we all need it here. I tried on several masks from the Airfit F10 to a couple of hybrids and masks in-between. I do have facial hair and I know this can cause issues with a full face mask. Well I ended up landing on the F&P Simplus. It went great at the DME with this mask. It fit amazing at my pressure. I moved in to all of my various sleeping positions and had very minimal leaks. Fast forward to this afternoon when I get home and give it a try with my machine. I am on a apap mode with a level of 12-20 range. It seems lately from sleepyhead data that my rate that I stay at the most is 16 so I set my machine to cpap and to fit my machine using the pressure at 16. Now I can't for the life of me to get the mask to seal properly at all. I put it on and make adjustments and it leaks into my eyes under my mouth. It is leaking everywhere! So I need some help. I have never had a full face mask before and maybe I just am doing something completely wrong. I tried keeping it loose and then tightening it slowly and then I went to the other extreme and nothing seemed to help. I laid on the edge of my pillow so the mask wasn't being pressed as much. I just don't know what to do. This is new territory for me. So if I could get some input, suggestions, and help I would more than appreciate it!

[CaptainRaven40]

[quote="49er"]Hi CaptainRaven,

The Simplus is my backup mask when I can't tolerate the Elan due to nasal congestion. A trick to stop leaks I learned from a posting from Madalot is when I have the mask at my pressure and have tightened the straps sufficiently is to pull the mask away from my face and reseat it. Sometimes, I have to do it a few times but this seems to work. Obviously, your mileage will vary but hopefully this will work for you.

Best of luck.

49er

Thank you 49er. I will give that a try tonight. I really appreciate it! Who knows maybe I will be a full face mask lover after all of this and won't want to go back to the P10... LOL! Nah.

[49er]

Hi CaptainRaven,

The Simplus is my backup mask when I can't tolerate the Elan due to nasal congestion. A trick to stop leaks I learned from a posting from Madalot is when I have the mask at my pressure and have tightened the straps sufficiently is to pull the mask away from my face and reseat it. Sometimes, I have to do it a few times but this seems to work. Obviously, your mileage will vary but hopefully this will work for you.

Best of luck.

49er

Thank you 49er. I will give that a try tonight. I really appreciate it! Who knows maybe I will be a full face mask lover after all of this and won't want to go back to the P10... LOL! Nah.

You are very welcome CR. Oh, I hear you about the full face masks. LOL!

[CaptainRaven40]

You are very welcome CR. Oh, I hear you about the full face masks. LOL!

I have never had the desire to try one. Maybe I will take to it once I work out the kinks. I doubt it though lol.

[CaptainRaven40]

Last night was a rough night with the Simplus. I didn't sleep much at all trying to get the mask just right so it wouldn't leak into my eyes or down out of the mouth piece. Trying to find the right sleeping position both comfort and where the mask wouldn't leak. I finally found a couple of positions that worked after hours of trying. I miss my P10! Lol. I am sure it will get better, but last night just plain sucked! I will keep working at it and make it work because this is the choice I have right now. Me and full face masks right now just aren't meant to be together forever.

[49er]

Last night was a rough night with the Simplus. I didn't sleep much at all trying to get the mask just right so it wouldn't leak into my eyes or down out of the mouth piece. Trying to find the right sleeping position both comfort and where the mask wouldn't leak. I finally found a couple of positions that worked after hours of trying. I miss my P10! Lol. I am sure it will get better, but last night just plain sucked! I will keep working at it and make it work because this is the choice I have right now. Me and full face masks right now just aren't meant to be together forever.

I am so sorry to hear that CR. I definitely understand your frustration and wish you all the luck in the world.

49er

[CaptainRaven40]

Last night was a rough night with the Simplus. I didn't sleep much at all trying to get the mask just right so it wouldn't leak into my eyes or down out of the mouth piece. Trying to find the right sleeping position both comfort and where the mask wouldn't leak. I finally found a couple of positions that worked after hours of trying. I miss my P10! Lol. I am sure it will get better, but last night just plain sucked! I will keep working at it and make it work because this is the choice I have right now. Me and full face masks right now just aren't meant to be together forever.

I am so sorry to hear that CR. I definitely understand your frustration and wish you all the luck in the world.

49er

Thank you 49er! I appreciate all of the words of encouragement so much!

[Janknitz]

Take a look at my blogpost on taming the mirage Quattro. The same basic principles apply to all air cushion masks.

A mask liner may help. And IMHO there's ALWAYS a certain small degree of leaking with FF masks. I try to have it around the chin rather than the eyes.

[49er]

Take a look at my blogpost on taming the mirage Quattro. The same basic principles apply to all air cushion masks.

A mask liner may help. And IMHO there's ALWAYS a certain small degree of leaking with FF masks. I try to have it around the chin rather than the eyes.

Great advice about having the mask around the chin. CR, sorry I forgot to mention yesterday that when I do that with the Simplus, it helps with the leaks.

49er

[49er]

Last night was a rough night with the Simplus. I didn't sleep much at all trying to get the mask just right so it wouldn't leak into my eyes or down out of the mouth piece. Trying to find the right sleeping position both comfort and where the mask wouldn't leak. I finally found a couple of positions that worked after hours of trying. I miss my P10! Lol. I am sure it will get better, but last night just plain sucked! I will keep working at it and make it work because this is the choice I have right now. Me and full face masks right now just aren't meant to be together forever.

I am so sorry to hear that CR. I definitely understand your frustration and wish you all the luck in the world.

49er

Thank you 49er! I appreciate all of the words of encouragement so much!

You're very welcome.