My Air /mask leaks

[babydinosnoreless]

New cushion helped some but still leaking. So frustrating. Got my Ahi down to .4 but now the mask leaks are waking me up.

[Barbee]

New cushion helped some but still leaking. So frustrating. Got my Ahi down to .4 but now the mask leaks are waking me up.

Have you tried washing your head gear?

[babydinosnoreless]

New cushion helped some but still leaking. So frustrating. Got my Ahi down to .4 but now the mask leaks are waking me up.

Have you tried washing your head gear?

Not yet. It doesn't seem like its streched out. I've been fine tuning, bumping the pressure up, I think its a side effect of the higher pressure.

[Muse-Inc]

Are you sure the mask is leaking? I recently started getting leak and slightly tightened one set of straps -- leak stopped.

[babydinosnoreless]

Are you sure the mask is leaking? I recently started getting leak and slightly tightened one set of straps -- leak stopped.

Yeah it wakes both myself and my husband up with the hiss and you can see it on the sleepyhead chart. Its not more than the machine can handle but it is waking us. I got it controlled last night. Sat there and read with my mask on for about 30 min and fuddled with the hoses.

I hit the unicorn 0.0 last night so it must have worked. keeping fingers crossed.

Edit: so we slept last night. Guess we were just thst tired because mask leaks were still happening.

[Muse-Inc]

Okay, mask seal.

• I have to have oil-free skin to get a good seal, so a little before getting ready for sleep I wash my mask and let dry. I also wash my face or use these facial towelettes https://smile.amazon.com/Coconut-Argan- ... towelettes.

• See if you can figure out which set of straps might need tightening. I try pulling each set slightly away from my face to see if that might work.

• Check the cushion and re-position. Might even try a different size. I have to make sure mine are angled to fit the opening of my nostrils...one side is more angled than the other.

[RogerSC]

You got to be firm with DME's. My DME was doing the same thing in the beginning, sending me supplies amounting to a nasal pillow every month, and all the rest at the max replacement rate. So I told them don't send me anything unless I ask for it, stop the unsolicited deliveries thing or I'll just send them back on your dime. And then sent back a bunch of stuff. They eventually got the message, although they still ping me a couple of times a year to see if I need anything *smile*. At the rare times when I need something I tell them, and they send it. Just takes training and firmness, like training a puppy *smile*. Now I have long, blissful periods when I don't hear from them at all, with no unexpected deliveries. Much better.

I also am awakened by leaks when I'm trying out masks that aren't the right one for me, like the AirFit P10. The headgear on that mask moves around a lot when I'm sleeping, and the resulting leaks wake me up. Too bad, there's so much that I like about that one. Anyways, I'm suggesting that maybe you could try some other masks that might take the face in the pillow treatment a little better. Like maybe a nasal pillow mask? Or another model of nasal cushion mask that has more stable headgear that won't move as much when your face is in the pillow? Don't know what to suggest for that, I don't sleep that way *smile*. You can also try sleeping in a different position...I trained myself to sleep on my side when my snoring on my back was bothering my bed partner. Turned out to be a good move for both of our sleep quality, since it turns out that my sleep apnea is much worse on my back than when I'm sleeping on my side. Anyways, what I'm suggesting is trying something different rather than trying to make something work that doesn't work, over and over again. Just a thought.

[babydinosnoreless]

Okay, mask seal.

• I have to have oil-free skin to get a good seal, so a little before getting ready for sleep I wash my mask and let dry. I also wash my face or use these facial towelettes https://smile.amazon.com/Coconut-Argan- ... towelettes.

• See if you can figure out which set of straps might need tightening. I try pulling each set slightly away from my face to see if that might work.

• Check the cushion and re-position. Might even try a different size. I have to make sure mine are angled to fit the opening of my nostrils...one side is more angled than the other.

I am sorry all just realized I started two threads! My bad! I will answer here and let the other one die out.

I have watched the videos resmed has a very good one for this mask and I have tried tightening the straps. That actually seems to make the leaks worse. I wipe the mask daily with rubbing alcohol to remove the oils and kill germs. Before I go to bed I wipe my nose area with rubbing alcohol as well. I had tried the mask wipes but I am allergic and the rubbing alcohol seems to work the same way without the face breakout.

I may have the wrong size cushion but it seems right. It feels right and only started being a problem when I got my AHI lower by raising my pressure. I am not sure if its the higher pressure or if its the deeper sleep causing the problem. As I mentioned my husband says I am sleeping soundly and snuggling my face in the pillow and that is when the mask is getting dislodged.

[babydinosnoreless]

You got to be firm with DME's. My DME was doing the same thing in the beginning, sending me supplies amounting to a nasal pillow every month, and all the rest at the max replacement rate. So I told them don't send me anything unless I ask for it, stop the unsolicited deliveries thing or I'll just send them back on your dime. And then sent back a bunch of stuff. They eventually got the message, although they still ping me a couple of times a year to see if I need anything *smile*. At the rare times when I need something I tell them, and they send it. Just takes training and firmness, like training a puppy *smile*. Now I have long, blissful periods when I don't hear from them at all, with no unexpected deliveries. Much better.

I also am awakened by leaks when I'm trying out masks that aren't the right one for me, like the AirFit P10. The headgear on that mask moves around a lot when I'm sleeping, and the resulting leaks wake me up. Too bad, there's so much that I like about that one. Anyways, I'm suggesting that maybe you could try some other masks that might take the face in the pillow treatment a little better. Like maybe a nasal pillow mask? Or another model of nasal cushion mask that has more stable headgear that won't move as much when your face is in the pillow? Don't know what to suggest for that, I don't sleep that way *smile*. You can also try sleeping in a different position...I trained myself to sleep on my side when my snoring on my back was bothering my bed partner. Turned out to be a good move for both of our sleep quality, since it turns out that my sleep apnea is much worse on my back than when I'm sleeping on my side. Anyways, what I'm suggesting is trying something different rather than trying to make something work that doesn't work, over and over again. Just a thought.

My dme sent me home with a dreamwear ffm. It didn't fit right I bought out of my own pocket the smaller frame which helped but I was still having problems. The dme said I was beyond my 30 days and wouldn't do anything ( they were the ones that made me go passed my 30 days by not having the pressure set right for the first two weeks). I called my insurance company who said that they didn't have a problem with paying for a different mask. I called up my dme. After arguing with me they finally gave me a f30 the mask pulled on my jaw wrong and I couldnt get rid of the leaks. I called them well within the 30 days they wouldn't replace. Said I only had that option on the first mask. And they sent me an order of stuff that I had canceled after getting into it with them about the masks. Walked into the place and demanded they take it back. They charged me up front over $400 for the machine. My insurance has paid all but $96 they still have not refunded me said they won't until the machine is paid off in Oct. ( sorry tmi)

In any case I called my insurance company back to complain they said I could get my supplies anywhere. I am trying to get set up with a new dme. In the meantime the N20 that pugsy sent me is the best I have found. I can actually sleep with it and it doesn't make rude noises or hurt my face. It fits very similar to the braces headgear I wore as a kid and I was doing super well with it. Found out I don't sleep with my mouth open or breath through my mouth at night. Its only since I have been actually sleeping so well that I apparently shove my face into the pillow that its been a problem. I did change the cushion. (Bought one from amazon) checked the hoses for leakes, checked the headgear and frame all look good. It has to be the way I am sleeping now that I am finally sleeping. Not sure how to train myself to not shove my face in the pillow. Maybe sleep without a pillow ?

[brucelegs]

I bought my own filters off of Amazon taking that out of the equation for the next year. Every three months ? No! I have 3 big dogs and now that my kid and SO, have moved in 4 cats so once a month at the least. Smh. What I really want and why I am trying to get set up with a new dme is the hose. I need a back up. Also thinking I may want to try the bleep but unless insurance pays its cost prohibitave. Everyone has different rules and getting set up (they all want my sleep study and blah blah blah). The whole process is maddening.

I am going through this right now with the DME stuff trying to decide if I even want to use the local folks. They told me the cash price would be the $883 if I purchased outright (same as cpap.com). Time for a new machine and while my insurance says 10 monthly payments, DME says I have to show proof of compliance, etc - ain't got time for that after 10 years of using a machine. If the local folks will truly sell me that machine for $883 outright and it will go towards in network deductible that is good, if not, cpap.com here I come even with a higher out of network deductible.

[babydinosnoreless]

I bought my own filters off of Amazon taking that out of the equation for the next year. Every three months ? No! I have 3 big dogs and now that my kid and SO, have moved in 4 cats so once a month at the least. Smh. What I really want and why I am trying to get set up with a new dme is the hose. I need a back up. Also thinking I may want to try the bleep but unless insurance pays its cost prohibitave. Everyone has different rules and getting set up (they all want my sleep study and blah blah blah). The whole process is maddening.

I am going through this right now with the DME stuff trying to decide if I even want to use the local folks. They told me the cash price would be the $883 if I purchased outright (same as cpap.com). Time for a new machine and while my insurance says 10 monthly payments, DME says I have to show proof of compliance, etc - ain't got time for that after 10 years of using a machine. If the local folks will truly sell me that machine for $883 outright and it will go towards in network deductible that is good, if not, cpap.com here I come even with a higher out of network deductible.

Call your insurance outright and ask. Its the only way to know for sure. Its frustrating dealing with this stuff, why do they have to make is so complicated?

[babydinosnoreless]

Thanks My Air for the sales pitch and telling me what I already know.

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[AMC4x4]

Sorry for resurrecting an older thread - was just wondering if you ever got this under control? Was following your story because I am having the same issue with a Swift LT. I tried the L pillows and that seemed to help for two nights. Now I'm back to the leaks. I love that suggestion of trying to find out if there are any holes in the air tubing lol.

[babydinosnoreless]

Sorry for resurrecting an older thread - was just wondering if you ever got this under control? Was following your story because I am having the same issue with a Swift LT. I tried the L pillows and that seemed to help for two nights. Now I'm back to the leaks. I love that suggestion of trying to find out if there are any holes in the air tubing lol.

I did get it fixed. Someone mentioned the headgear and I said it wasn't stretched. I was wrong. Apparently it stretched just a little but it was enough to cause problems. I switched to the "for her" headgear which is smaller and it made all the difference in the stability of the mask. I also switched to the small cushion which seems to fit just a bit better than the medium.