Ultra Mirage FF leaking all of a sudden

bluegrassfan · Post by **bluegrassfan** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:21 pm

I've been using this thing for about a month...doing okay, small leaks, but then last night it went wild. Now I haven't taken it apart in a week to 10 days, could that affect that silicone thingey? It doesn't seem to want to seal. Think I'll ask CPAP about it. tks for any info from folks who know. BGF

jasper · Post by **jasper** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:36 pm

Is it possible that the headgear straps have stretched a bit? Might want to try readjusting them.

Another thought is that the seal needs to be cleaned real well, even if you only use a wipe on it.

You don't mention what machine you're on. If it's an APAP, is it going higher than normal in response to increased apneas? I had trouble getting a good seal on APAP when sometime during the night, the pressure would spike to 18. Woke me right up.

Just look for anything else that might have changed. Lose any weight lately that might have changed the shape of your face?

Eliminate one thing at a time.

Good luck.

tillymarigold · Post by **tillymarigold** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:38 pm

Have you been cleaning it regularly?

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:10 pm

if it is just one night, don't worry about, check your cushion seal against the frame, check the horseshoe shaped exhaust port to make sure it is installed correctly, sometimes people put it in backwards and it makes more noise.

There is really no "flapper-valve" on that mask, it has a series of "vent-slots" around the perimeter of the elbow which functions as the anti-asphyxia valve which in my opinion works better than the newer design on the quattro.

So if it is just one night, don't worry about it, check your silicone coupler between the humidifier tank and the machine depending on what machine you are using.

bluegrassfan · Post by **bluegrassfan** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:36 am

Thanks for the replies..sorry for some reason my info disappeared, but I have it back on now. I'm going to readjust the straps tonight...I haven't cleaned it in about 10 days or so, maybe two weeks..other than swishing it liquid soap then rinsing. I took it apart last night and cleaned it good. I'll try it again tonight. That mask is a little bit of a pain to put back together, but I'm gonna try wipes for a while. Tks again..bob

Wolfmarsh · Post by **Wolfmarsh** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:33 am

I never take it apart to clean it.

I get the entire thing wet, soap it down, shake it off, and leave it out to dry on a towel while I am at work.

Takes me 30 seconds before I get in the shower every morning.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:13 am

bluegrassfan wrote:Thanks for the replies..sorry for some reason my info disappeared, but I have it back on now. I'm going to readjust the straps tonight...I haven't cleaned it in about 10 days or so, maybe two weeks..other than swishing it liquid soap then rinsing. I took it apart last night and cleaned it good. I'll try it again tonight. That mask is a little bit of a pain to put back together, but I'm gonna try wipes for a while. Tks again..bob

If you took it apart BEFORE it started leaking, that would explain the leaking.
As Wolfmarsh said, don't take it apart.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:23 am

Anonymous wrote:
bluegrassfan wrote:Thanks for the replies..sorry for some reason my info disappeared, but I have it back on now. I'm going to readjust the straps tonight...I haven't cleaned it in about 10 days or so, maybe two weeks..other than swishing it liquid soap then rinsing. I took it apart last night and cleaned it good. I'll try it again tonight. That mask is a little bit of a pain to put back together, but I'm gonna try wipes for a while. Tks again..bob
If you took it apart BEFORE it started leaking, that would explain the leaking.
As Wolfmarsh said, don't take it apart.

ditto!

I never take my masks apart either, about the only thing I do is remove the headgear, fill one of the bathroom sinks with hot water, squirt in some Dawn liquid hand soap and give it the bar glass treatment, rinse, dry in a hand towel a little bit and wear it.

bluegrassfan · Post by **bluegrassfan** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:50 pm

That's what I'm gonna do from now on! When I say take it apart, I just mean taking off the hard liner, then the silicone, nothing else. But no more!

bluegrassfan · Post by **bluegrassfan** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:24 am

after cleaning the mask, it worked pretty well last night. The silicone interface seemed to be softer and more pilable and adhered to my face. tks for all the input...bob

cwsanfor · Post by **cwsanfor** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 12:24 pm

Pardon the "me too" post, but I can't remember anyone taking the thing apart but once. I never have. It's the putting it back together part that is not so easy.

I took my Quattro apart one time, because I sort of had to, but I don't expect to do so again.

Speaking of the two masks, I've put the UMFF back in my mask rotation lately, and it seems to have gotten better while I didn't use it. Pretty comfortable mask, and I scored a 0.0 with it the other night, much better than I used to. Odd.

Mask

Additional Comments: Pressure at 17