How I stopped nasal leaks on my Liberty hybrid mask (and avo

[brentm77]

After trying numerous suggestions, and only a few nights away from giving up, I stumbled across a method that nearly eliminated nasal leaks on my Liberty hybrid mask. I have now had four full nights of sleep using this method and I am so happy about it that I want to share it with others.

1) Purchase soft silicone ear plugs (I purchased mine from Walgreens). These are those soft earplugs that are designed to be molded into your ear canal.

2) Take one ear plug and roll it between your hands to form a “snake” that is long enough to loop around one nose cushion.

3) Place the snake around one of the nose cushions – sitting on top of the part the presses against your nose and surrounding the actual hole.

4) Repeat the process for your other nose cushion.

5) Put the mask on while looking in the mirror. Positions the nose cushions as usual and smoosh them into your nose. They will mold slightly to the shape of your nose. You can kind of press them a bit around the edges of your nostrils. I also smash the earplugs slightly together between my nostrils.

6) Tighten your head gear appropriately. I find that the softness of the earplugs lets me tighten the upper strap more than I used to – giving me even better resistance to leaks. My nose doesn’t hurt at all with the ear plugs, but was sore without them.

7) For best results – flip on the t.v. or read a book for twenty minutes and move or adjust things as you hear leaks. Sometimes you need to press on the ear plugs a bit to stop a leak.

Once you have everything adjusted, if you are like me, you won’t have problems with leaking. It is leak free and because the pillows are now “stuck” to your nose, you can move during the night without creating new leaks. I have had great success with this without the need of a nylon or shoestring on my face to hold the cushions in place. I have also found it so comfortable that when I wake up in the night I forget that I have the headgear on for a few seconds.

I think replacing the earplugs every five-seven nights will be helpful, as they lose some of the stickiness over time.

[chunkyfrog]

Mack's moldable earplugs? the ones that come in hot pink?
I have to remember I have it next time I have a horrid leak.

[jules]

Rolled out Macks were fix posted often here a few years ago for other masks. However I recall one warning about CVS store brand ones - some kind of skin reaction.

viewtopic/t60727/viewtopic.php?p=321137#p321137

[roster]

The ladies tights fix never fails for me and seems much simpler: wiki/index.php/Hybrid_Mask_Modifications

[brentm77]

Chunky Frog - Mine were a somewhat-clear white, but they were the Maxx brand. I saw some hot orange ones, but they were the kids size.

Rooster - do you mean nylon material? Does it really work? It would be easier not to use the ear plugs - but they are comfortable on the nose. I tried a strap type arrangement and it wasn't as leak proof as the ear plugs.

[roster]

Rooster - do you mean nylon material?

No, definitely not nylon. These are not pantyhose.

You want polyester microfiber ladies tights ( http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/l'eggs ... 94-product ) which are lightweight, breathable, and very soft.

I can't tell I have them on, but they do hold the nasal pillows in the nostrils and I am sleeping on my tummy most of the night and my sides part of the night - that is the ultimate test.

After I went to the store and picked the first ones out (fun!), my wife now buys them for me for a buck at discount stores. Not that they need replacing often because I wash them by hand and they air dry quickly and they last a long time.