mirage quattro leaks with changing positions

[caffeine please]

Seems I get one issue resolved and another develops If I sleep on my side my mirage quattro is ok (tight straps on bottom and loose on top) but in the middle of the night I wake and am on my back. The thing is leaking (making the farting noises etc and I finally take it off because I can't get it adjusted just right). I have read similar posts-any ideas???

Has anyone ever considered using their mask for target practice?

[Billy6]

I have the same FFM and dont have your problem. Maybe you could tighthen the top some. Make sure when you put it on, you hold the bottom of the mask to fit your chin first before you clip it in.

As far as target practice, I did it with my Comfort 2, finally

[deglorious]

Make sure you have a squeaky clean face to ensure a good seal and don't use any creams or other products before you go to bed. Also, I wash and dry my cushion just before I go to bed.

Good luck,

Deglorious

[FoxNewsFan]

I have 2 suggestions as I have had the same problem.

1 Just before putting on the mask I put on a slathering of CeraVe hydrating cleanser on my face right where the mask will touch my face. This seems to make the mask slide slightly when I change position and therefore it doesn't break the seal. I started using it to get rid of the red marks/sores that were starting to appear from the slight rainout that sometimes collected in the corners of my mask. I clean the cushion about every 2 weeks and it hasn't deteriorated it at all in the 4-5 months that I've been doing it.

2 When I turn on my back the mask wants to leak a little on both sides. I find that if I straighten my neck slightly, push back on the pillow, it will stop. 1/4-1/2 " Now, I think I do it without waking up because my data shows very little leaking. It took me a good 1-2 months to really start to like the Quattro. Now, sometimes I wake up in the morning and don't even realize I have the mask on for a few minutes.

Ed

[elader]

Seems I get one issue resolved and another develops If I sleep on my side my mirage quattro is ok (tight straps on bottom and loose on top) but in the middle of the night I wake and am on my back. The thing is leaking (making the farting noises etc and I finally take it off because I can't get it adjusted just right). I have read similar posts-any ideas???

Has anyone ever considered using their mask for target practice?

I have exactly the same experience. Tightening does NOT help me. Cleaning does NOT help me. I jut don't sleep on my back. I arrange pillows to make it hard to roll over. Sometimes I do find myself awakining to brrrzzzzzzzaaaaapppppp and I turn back on my side.

[caffeine please]

Thank-you everyone and happy cpapinn

[nobody]

I have similar issue. It's because my skin is so oily. I wash it before bed and wash the mask, but I usually have to get up during the night to wash everything again because my mask becomes so greasy from my oily skin that it won't stick all night. It's frustrating. I'd like to find a mask that fits me that doesn't rely on it sticking like that.

[Paul56]

Seems I get one issue resolved and another develops If I sleep on my side my mirage quattro is ok (tight straps on bottom and loose on top) but in the middle of the night I wake and am on my back. The thing is leaking (making the farting noises etc and I finally take it off because I can't get it adjusted just right). I have read similar posts-any ideas???

What seems to be working reasonably well for me...

-Washing my face just before putting the mask on for the evening.

-Washing the face & forehead cushions of the mask each day.

-Wearing the mask as high on my face as possible without having the lower face cushion flap covering my lower lip. I find this position reduces/eliminates the nose bridge issues.

-Keeping the upper strap somewhat loose just so that it circles my head. It is the forehead adjustment knob position that determines how tight/loose the upper portion of the mask fits.

I cannot say I wake up and don't realize I am wearing a mask but I can say the mask does not hurt or make me sore when I do wear it... and no red marks that take until noon to disappear.

Occasionally I still end up battling leaks... particularly when I'm having a bad week and the machine wants to blow at higher pressures to combat the apneas. However, so far the majority of the time it just all works and I end up with good numbers on the LCD in the morning.

Is it the ideal mask? No, I think many of us are all still waiting for that one... but for now it does get the job done for me until I feel like being adventurous and start experimenting with masks.

One idea that I have yet to try myself is using a silk pillow case. The friction of the headgear straps against the pillow case can shift the straps... so I'm thinking a silk pillow case with a low friction surface could help with this issue.

Good luck!

[DoriC]

My husband just started using satin pillowcases 2 weeks ago after I read that tip here and it does seem to help with the leaks. Not perfect but better.

[Wulfman]

Have you done the "Teflon tape fix" to it? (fixes the leaking elbow)

Den

[nobody]

I am not so sure this teflon tape thing is a good idea. When the manufacturer designs the mask and puts the holes in it that are meant to push your expired air out of the mask, I'm sure they do not seal the elbow, so that leak around the elbow would be taken into consideration in the mask design. When I had tape around the elbow of my mask it did not seem to clear out enough of my expired air. The mask is extremely annoying with that elbow leak because it feels as though it leaks all over my face. So yeah it is a design flaw, but I question the safety of sealing that leak.

Have you done the "Teflon tape fix" to it? (fixes the leaking elbow)

Den

[Paul56]

Got my Quattro mask last September and have never noticed any leaks around the elbow.

I do know that with a new face cushion the leak issues are reduced. Hmm, that got me thinking... I should be thinking about picking up some supplies.

[DoriC]

I am not so sure this teflon tape thing is a good idea. When the manufacturer designs the mask and puts the holes in it that are meant to push your expired air out of the mask, I'm sure they do not seal the elbow, so that leak around the elbow would be taken into consideration in the mask design. When I had tape around the elbow of my mask it did not seem to clear out enough of my expired air. The mask is extremely annoying with that elbow leak because it feels as though it leaks all over my face. So yeah it is a design flaw, but I question the safety of sealing that leak.

Have you done the "Teflon tape fix" to it? (fixes the leaking elbow)

Den

IMHO, I'm sure Den and all the other "pros" here have researched this problem before recommending this fix so I trust their advice. My husband just started using the Q recently and seems to be doing OK. Dori

[Mtnviewer]

I use this mask and have reduced leaks when changing positions by modifying my foam pillow. I am a side sleeper. I cut off the lower corners and did some other shaping so that the mask would not be moved by the pillow. I used a bread knife to cut out pieces of pillow where it otherwise pushed against the mask. I have far fewer problems now & my pillow is just the right size for turning from side to side & hitting the edges right.

I wipe my face & mask off each night before use with a Costco wet nap & let both dry. I wash my mask once a week. I also shave each night with my electric razor. I keep the top fairly tight but not too tight, the bottom is also snug & the mask forehead adjustment 1 stop out. It seems that more tension helps prevent leaks when the APAP hits higher pressures. I also use the teflon tape fix, mostly due to the hiss of the leak there. As suggested & seeing the rest of the engineering into the mask I now wonder if the elbow leak is a design feature vs. flaw? My frustration with the mask is putting it on perfectly each night, or what I think is best & end up repeating it up to half a dozen times. Some times I think it's on perfect & it leaks, other times it doesn't. The mask leaves a red mark on my nose bridge, but less than it used to & it is no longer sore. I guess getting the upper strap & forehead adjustments right will affect that. I put an anti-bacterial hand cleaner on that spot each morning, as with my first nasal mask, that sore opened up & I don't want it to get infected if it does go raw. I would like to try other FF masks, but otherwise the Quattro is okay & getting better as I work with it.

[nobody]

IMHO, I'm sure Den and all the other "pros" here have researched this problem before recommending this fix so I trust their advice. My husband just started using the Q recently and seems to be doing OK. Dori

I saw absolutely nothing in the archives here that even considers that if you seal an inherent leak in a mask it might just change the way the mask expels your exhaled air. There was a post a while ago where someone came up with this "fix" and posted about it and everything since then has referred to that. Maybe I've missed something, who knows, but I don't think it even crossed anyone's mind. It only crossed mine because the mask seemed exceptionally stuffy after I tried that "fix". I removed it and the air is much fresher. I'd rather have a mask blowing in my face than to be suffocate in my mask. I hope your husband wears an oximeter. Good luck.