An "ah ha" moment this morning with mask...

[DAG]

Since I've been on CPAP therapy on my new machine (ResMed S9 VPAP Auto) since 4/1, and with my pressures raised more than double, I've noticed that unconsciously I've been making my mask-straps tighter and tighter each night until instead of DECREASING the leaks, I've INCREASED them! During my 2nd sleep last night, I decided to use the time while in bed to do some experimenting. I placed the mask on my face without the hose attached and laid down. I then adjusted the mask-straps so that they were loose. I turned on my machine and activated the 'mask fit' feature. I hooked up and then adjusted the straps ever so slowly until it seemed ok. I then placed the machine into regular ramp mode and watched what happened. As the pressure began to rise, I swore that I was going to experience leaks AND or a mask-fart. Then as the pressure rose, I did notice a slight leak here and there and resisted the urge to tighten. At one point I did do an adjustment but made it a tad looser to try that. I got a 'fart' and then had to start over. After about an hour of playing around, I finally discovered how much tightness to use and all went well!

I then finally realized that the masks were made to be on the loose side in order for that floppy part of the rubber to be able to be placed on the curvatures of the face via the pressure. There is a fine-line there in this adjustment business--not to loose AND not to tight for all to work well.

My question then would be how you respond to what I've just said above and what your experience has been in this regards. Thanks!

[Jeannh]

It took me months to actually hear what the folks here were saying: go loose unless you hear or feel air. It also took me relaxing about the mask, and resisting that "oh-oh, I could tighten that" feeling. My masks are now looser than ever, with way fewer leaks. As a result, better therapy. You're on the right track!

[DAG]

It took me months to actually hear what the folks here were saying: go loose unless you hear or feel air. It also took me relaxing about the mask, and resisting that "oh-oh, I could tighten that" feeling. My masks are now looser than ever, with way fewer leaks. As a result, better therapy. You're on the right track!

You use the word "relaxing" here and it caught my eyes and experience immediately. Yes, I totally agree!

[Sheriff Buford]

I have often told folks to try and resist tightening their straps when leaks start. I have told I'm crazy.... but I get told that every day. I think your mask should "float" on your face. When I mask up and turn the machine on... when the mask inflates, it will slightly "lift" off my face. If it doesn't, then I know I have the straps too tight. I would also suggest you try and eliminate the ramp feature as soon as possible. I used it early on, but as you get used to therapy I found it was a feature I grew out of. Some advantages of eliminating the ramp feature is that the mask may not leak when at the lower end of the ramp, and start leaking at the higher end of the ramp. The same may happen in the auto-pap mode. You can adjust the mask for the lower pressure and when the pressure increases to fix an apnea, the mask may start leaking and even wake you up. You'll eventually mask up, hit the button and go right to sleep.

Best Wishes...

(Crazy) Sheriff

[space45]

I was lucky on the mask, my Quattro FX fit great and sealed for the most part on my beard, for the first night, but was a tad tight to get the seal through a good full size beard not the duck guys full, just s good sized full beard, well thought things may go better naked, so off it came, looking in mirror was real weird as the face looking at me was not mine, I had not seen that in over 20 years. anyways, after that I could not get all that great a fit, the first night was better, I then started to notice as days went on the straps were getting longer and less stretchy till there was not much stretch at all left and had to be on so tight it was giving me head aches and I was sore all over my head, the straps were now hurting the tops of my ears it was just plain nasty. being new to all this and having top end pressures of 24.8 cmH2o I would wake up with leaks and need to rework it all. so at day 12 I had had enough, out to the fabric shop and got some supplies and started hacking and slicing, got a perfect fit, worked well but just a tad tight and night 13 was good but could have been better and head was sore still but ton better then before. so readjust and more hacking and splicing and last night #14 was the best ever, real nice and head felt nice this morning. I will now take this looser fitting info and see if I can get it even better with small tweaks, thanks for this it could make things even better, will have to try at least, may have to add some stretch into the bands again as they are not moving much at all with being stretch out and all the velcro I added on it, in fact it is just about all velcro, whats left of the harness is just a guide as to where to run the velcro...LOL 14 days on PAP and loving it, good night sleeps are getting better and no more running to the can, sleep right through and getting longer and longer uninterrupted nights sleeps, and the wood pecker stopped coming around all on its own, so that is a plus. no more crack of dawn wake up hammering on the tin chimney that goes straight into our bed rooms gas fireplace. man that was loud. BTW the wife hates me naked, funny thing as I really like it when she is, but anyways I am growing the beard back and seeing how that goes.

[caryrae73]

I remember reading and watching videos on YouTube not long ago about leaks and it was the same thing, loose is better. I saw tightening to stop a leak too much could actually make leaks worse and is not good for the mask seal either. At first my mask kept leaking so I kept tightening the straps which made it uncomfortable on my face too especially the chin.

[bwexler]

After three and a half years I had the same experience last night. Had a stuffy nose so I pulled out the F&P FFM and loosened the straps before I put it on. I slept well with few leaks.

It is amazing what you can learn after you know it all.

[BlackSpinner]

I keep telling people "think of a hovercraft" It needs its skirts inflated in order to function efficiently.

[space45]

does this loose mask thing work at high pressures? I can feel the seal stretching, not the mask harness, but the seal, I feel it move and then pop out and wind blowing like mad. would seem the loose fit is great for lower pressure but mine has been as high as 24.8, can a loose fitting mask work at that level with the thin sealing parts not being blown out?

when that happens I have to disconnect hose and remove mask and then use the right procedure putting it back on making sure the seals are back where they belong. would be nice if loose was good for high pressures as well. for my experience the high pressure just blows out the seals with looser fits. any tricks to getting this to work would be of great help.

[Sir NoddinOff]

I've been a member of the tighter-than-floating school of strap management since starting out on my Quattro FX three months ago. My pressures are high but not crazy high. My method works okay leakwise, but what the heck, some of the above suggestions tend to make sense, so I'll give it another shot at trying to float my QFX tonight. Wish me luck

[DAG]

I have often told folks to try and resist tightening their straps when leaks start. I have told I'm crazy.... but I get told that every day. I think your mask should "float" on your face. When I mask up and turn the machine on... when the mask inflates, it will slightly "lift" off my face. If it doesn't, then I know I have the straps too tight. I would also suggest you try and eliminate the ramp feature as soon as possible. I used it early on, but as you get used to therapy I found it was a feature I grew out of. Some advantages of eliminating the ramp feature is that the mask may not leak when at the lower end of the ramp, and start leaking at the higher end of the ramp. The same may happen in the auto-pap mode. You can adjust the mask for the lower pressure and when the pressure increases to fix an apnea, the mask may start leaking and even wake you up. You'll eventually mask up, hit the button and go right to sleep.

Best Wishes...

(Crazy) Sheriff

Some great posts here! A few down the line are asking if this works for pressures over 20. Good question. Maybe someone who has such a pressure or above could comment on this. Anyway, I thought I was having difficulty when my pressure was at 7. Now that it is at 15/11, double, I can only say that at this pressure, my loosening up the straps has made all the difference in the world. Now, on my ResMed S9 machine, the way I do this is I use the "mask" feature which gives me three minutes to play around with it while lying on my bed, doing my adjusting till I get it just right, then I turn off that feature and on we go.

[chunkyfrog]

The "loosey goosey" technique is even more important with the Sleepweaver masks.
Fabric is even more flexible than silicone, and the littlest crease becomes an air vent.
To use these lightweight marvels requires patience and a light touch--but it's so worth it.

[djhall]

A few down the line are asking if this works for pressures over 20. Good question. Maybe someone who has such a pressure or above could comment on this. Anyway, I thought I was having difficulty when my pressure was at 7. Now that it is at 15/11, double, I can only say that at this pressure, my loosening up the straps has made all the difference in the world.

Honestly, I think a great deal has to do with the topology of your face. If the mask sits roughly the same all the way around the perimeter then the loose seems to works best, assuming you don't push the mask sideways too much with your pillow. If you bury your face into your pillow (which I do) or you have low spots around the mask perimeter (I have low spots at the nose just under the eyes and just under the corners of my lips) then the mask leaks are uncontrollable until it is cranked down tight. The Resmed and Respironics full faces with forehead supports all seal fine for me when cranked down tight, but the bridge of my nose becomes a real issue with most unless I use a pad-a-cheek liner with the nose bridge felt tab.

[space45]

The "loosey goosey" technique is even more important with the Sleepweaver masks.
Fabric is even more flexible than silicone, and the littlest crease becomes an air vent.
To use these lightweight marvels requires patience and a light touch--but it's so worth it.

I own both, could not get ether to work at the high pressure, leak like mad, I need the full mask one to work, I was supper keen on making it work but could not, not sure if it hates the shape of my face of what, will be worst now that I am regrowing my beard. getting that mask to work was the reason for shaving it off. it would have been so very nice if I could have got that mask to work.
maybe there is still hope for my getting it working, any tricks to getting it to seal? also will it work at high pressure. one would guess with the way it inflates that higher would be better for it. but it was one big no go for me.

[dinycat]

I, too, have to have my mask tighter than I'd like. I've tried the looser fit, but it actually slides off my face in the night. My full face mask has the inner flap that covers the nose and nobody has told me if it's supposed to be totally flat, or if it's meant to fit outside the cushion. Should the flange be separated like a seam that is to be pressed apart, or stay doubled?

I know that doesn't make any sense, but I don't know how to describe what I mean. Oh, how I wish I'd had better instruction. No wonder people have a tough time with compliance and end up storing their machine in a closet.

dinycat