Still having trouble finding a mask

froger25 · Post by **froger25** » Mon May 15, 2006 6:24 am

Hello,

Well I think I have the right machine for me now, the Remstar APAP w/C-Flex seems to be a very comfortable machine for me.

Now I am still having difficulty with a leaking mask. I think that is causing me to still snore because in my theory the APAP can't adjust properly with the leaks I am having. Here are the masks I have had:

Fisher & Paykel HC431 FF
Ultra Mirage FF (Medium)
Ultra Mirage FF (Large)
Fisher & Paykel 407 Nasal

As I have said in previous posts I felt like the nasal was suffocating me, I think because I have some sort of ENT problem that needs addressing. My sleep doc says I really should try the nasals though because they tend to leak less. The nights I tried it I managed to keep my mouth closed and everything, I just felt like I couldn't breathe. Well the UMFF large I think was too large, it leaked way worse than the medium. The medium has been my primary mask for the past 2 months. The F&P 407 simply wouldn't seal at the pressures I reached at all.

Every night before I go to bed I wash my face with an oil control wash to make the seal as clean as possible. I don't have it too tight or too loose. I am a roller so I sleep side to back to side over and over all night.

Now does anyone think I need to simply replace the silicone seal on the UMFF medium? How often should they be replaced?

Also is there a different mask that anyone can recomend that has given them a better experience??

Ric · Post by **Ric** » Mon May 15, 2006 7:14 am

here's my short answer for 3 of the 5 masks I have tried:

Activa - best seal, feels a bit "wiggly", but I'm getting used to it.
UM-II - good seal, pretty quiet, least noticeable (hardly know I'm wearing it)
SomnoPlus - quietest, reasonably comfortable

I haven't spent enough time with my other 2 to give a good opinion, (Swift, UMFF)

Which ever one you decide to use, I'd suggest spend some quality wake time wearing it so that you're familiar with the mechanics of it, and get used to the feel so it doesn't seem like something from a Ridley Scott movie trying to invade your face. i.e. wear it while reading, watching tv, etc. before you try to SLEEP with it.

DSM-Guest · Post by **DSM-Guest** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:34 am

Frogger,

I keep coming back to my UMFF std mask. I am currently running my machine at 16 cms and that is 'leaks' territory so I have tightened up the mask a bit until I drop my machine back to 15 CMS.

I agree 100% that cleaning your face each night does help the mask seal better. My wife is so switched on to this that she will make sure I have done this as she resents the squeaks that are imminent if I fail to do the face cleaning ritual.

One other ritual I have got into is to wash the headrest & seal part of the mask with plain soap every morning, just a very quick lather & rub & rinse than I leave the mask to dry. I have been using the same cushion for 9 months & it still works well.

Re other masks ...

I tried a SWIFT mask a few nights back. It was actually very comfortable around the head whereas my modified Adams Circuit mask does have two hard bits near my ears & can be a tad annoying at times.

I tried a Breeze way back but resent the hard plastic bit that traverses my head. Each time I move it seems to manipulate the pillows part & I kept getting sore nostrils.

The SWIFT unfortunately seems to have a pillows design that doesn't fit my nose as well as the Adams Circuit pillows (which are the same items as are used in the Breeze nasal pillows mask).

I have a selection of other masks waiting for me to try but I want to get a better software setup than I have at the moment so am holding back on testing them.

Unfortunately my PB330 doesn't record detail nightly data & to my surprise, I found the new Bipap S/T I bought doesn't record detail of AHI HI & AI. It is good at telling me how many breaths I took on my own or with its assist

I have a newish Bipap Pro 2 and a VPAP III on the way & hope either one will solve the nightly data recording for me even if I prefer a Bilevel with S/T feature (the VPAP III & Bipap Pro 2 only offer Bilevel capability not the timed assist.

I have several other nasal pillows masks I want to try just to be able to asses them & measure their effect.

Cheers & good luck with your masks.

DSM

froger25 · Post by **froger25** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:54 pm

I also keep coming back to my UMFF. It seems to be the lesser of the problems.

In ref to your VPAP III I hope you can tolerate a loud machine, I just gave mine up a week ago because I thought it sounded like a cracked out hoover vac. I got my Respironics Remstar last week and I have to break the seal sometimes to tell it is running it is so quiet. Now I don't have to use a bi-level like you may but the c-flex is comfortable even at 20.

I know my DME is out to make money but they told me that I need to replace that seal every month and get a new mask every 3 months??? Is this another DME tale?

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Tue May 16, 2006 1:17 pm

froger--

here is what you can do if you want to go nasal and are having trouble breathing through your nose with your mouth closed. use ayr gel in your nostrils and use a breathe-rite strip on your nose. for me, sometimes that works, sometimes it works, only to have my nose get clogged up again after a couple of hours. (i have a deviated septum, so for you, this may work better than it does for me.) if it works, great, but full-face mask leaks are nothing compared to the mouth leaks you will get if your physiology forces you to mouth-breathe.

when i can wear a nasal mask, i love activa and swift, although swift gives me a sore nose, so sore that even vaseline in my nostrils before sleep doesn't always alleviate. activa lower straps need to be loose, so loose that you will think it's leaking before you turn machine on.

if you are between sizes on your UMFF, you can try putting the large seal in the mask and then putting the medium on top of it so that it acts like a double seal.

i personally find the FP431 suffocating and claustrophic and i am not one given to bouts of claustrophobia, but others here wear it well. i also find that the silicone heats up from my breath and i wake up in a sweat from it.

good luck.

caroline

Wulfman- · Post by **Wulfman-** » Tue May 16, 2006 1:40 pm

froger25 wrote:I know my DME is out to make money but they told me that I need to replace that seal every month and get a new mask every 3 months??? Is this another DME tale?

BIG TIME!

I've used mine every night for a year.....haven't changed/replaced a thing.

Den

froger25 · Post by **froger25** » Wed May 17, 2006 6:20 am

use ayr gel in your nostrils and use a breathe-rite strip on your nose. for me, sometimes that works, sometimes it works, only to have my nose get clogged up again after a couple of hours. (i have a deviated septum, so for you, this may work better than it does for me.)

I too have a deviated septum so says my doctor a couple of years ago. I am assuming it is only worse now. I don't generally have too much trouble breathing through my nose however at least during the day. I certainly lock up with that nasal mask on though.

I noticed last night with my UMFF that it only leaked in the morning this time into my eyes. I don't know if my face gets oilyer on the morning and makes the seal leak or if it is the straps moving around. I think I am going to move the forehead pad tonight to push harder on the nose then tighten the chin via the straps again.

Other than the leaks I like the UMFF but if it isn't working I can't use it. The strange thing about the morning leaks is I know that the pressure is pretty low in the morning just by the way it feels when I wake up. So I am not quite sure why it leaks.

engine 88 · Post by **engine 88** » Wed May 17, 2006 7:04 am

go to cpap.com and take a look at the Hans Rudolph full face mask. I just ordered it, I let you know how I make out .I should have by tommorow . I currently use a Ultra mirage ff mask and am fairly satisfied with it . I ordered the Hans Rudolph as an alternate.

froger25 · Post by **froger25** » Wed May 17, 2006 9:56 am

go to cpap.com and take a look at the Hans Rudolph full face mask. I just ordered it, I let you know how I make out .I should have by tommorow . I currently use a Ultra mirage ff mask and am fairly satisfied with it . I ordered the Hans Rudolph as an alternate.

I have looked at it before, actually it was the mask I wanted originally before I started CPAP. Definately let me know how it goes because it is an expensive mask. I will have to see if my DME can obtain it as well.

On another note are you a firefighter? If not I am curious where you got your nick.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 17, 2006 10:40 am

froger:

are you sure those air leaks into your eyes aren't just the natural "exhale" from the air vents? sometimes when i go to sleep, air from those guys goes into my eyes, but that's not a leak.

caroline

froger25 · Post by **froger25** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:16 pm

are you sure those air leaks into your eyes aren't just the natural "exhale" from the air vents? sometimes when i go to sleep, air from those guys goes into my eyes, but that's not a leak.

Yes I am sure of that. I am aware of the air vent that is on top of it but these leaks come from around the sides of my nose towards the time I get up. It is more of a harsh force of air blowing into my eyes at that point.

ufo13 · Post by **ufo13** » Wed May 17, 2006 8:02 pm

Froger25:

From what you describe many have good results with a pillows type interface which actually seems to open up the airways and help those with various nasal problems etc. I use the SWIFT and I almost never have a problem with leaks. It is just a simple, well made mask, with no bells and whistles. If it works for you as it has for many of us, it will prove to be one of the best you will find!

All the best,

Steve,
ufo13

Handgunner45 · Post by **Handgunner45** » Wed May 17, 2006 8:35 pm

Other than the leaks I like the UMFF but if it isn't working I can't use it. The strange thing about the morning leaks is I know that the pressure is pretty low in the morning just by the way it feels when I wake up. So I am not quite sure why it leaks.

Frogger25,

Are you sure the pressure is lower? I am on straight CPAP and the pressure is constant, however the pressure always seems lower in the morning. I really have to feel the exhaust to tell that the machine didn't turn off durring the night. I guess the body just gets used to the pressure and it feels normal.

I was able to get rid of the eye leaks with my UMFF by moving it a little more toward my chin and moving the nose bridge away with the adjustment for the forehead pad.

engine 88 · Post by **engine 88** » Thu May 18, 2006 4:45 am

Hi Frogger25

I am a retired firefighter I was a Lt. in a fire dept. in New England.We ran 5 engines 1 ladder 2 brushtrucks and 2 funbuses(ambulance) I now live in the Atlanta area.I should be getting the Hans Rudolph mask today I will try to give you an overnight report tommorow. The mask on line was $176 with no taxes and no shipping.

Still having trouble finding a mask

Still having trouble finding a mask

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