Cpap Mask Tightness

[SoarHigher]

In trying to stop leaks, I know not to tighten the straps too much on a Resmed Airfit F10 so as not to flatten the cushion effect, but sometimes they are pretty tight to get it stopped. I am not having headaches so how do you know the long term health effects of over tightening a mask. . . if any long term effect?

Any discussion on this topic would be appreciated since I am into this 6 weeks now and have gotten used to the "hurricane" effect of the air but loud leaks off and on are keeping me from getting a full nights rest.

Thanks

[LSAT]

Check out these videos.....
https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/v ... fr=yfp-t-s

[Sir NoddinOff]

Padacheek mask liners work good for reducing leaks while allowing one to possibly wear their mask a bit looser. Remzzz is another brand and these are made of baby jersey cotton. Google them both.

[wardmiller]

In trying to stop leaks, I know not to tighten the straps too much on a Resmed Airfit F10 so as not to flatten the cushion effect, but sometimes they are pretty tight to get it stopped. I am not having headaches so how do you know the long term health effects of over tightening a mask. . . if any long term effect?

Any discussion on this topic would be appreciated since I am into this 6 weeks now and have gotten used to the "hurricane" effect of the air but loud leaks off and on are keeping me from getting a full nights rest.

Thanks

As happens with most CPAP users, I struggled for several months with many (full-face) masks to get one that fit me. I settled with the ResMem Quattro FX, Medium. Because of the shape of my face, the softness of the flesh, etc, when the straps were adjusted per the instructions (not tight!)I found when I set my machine for full pressure at the mask fitting option, it still leaked a bit. So I tightened it some more until it did not leak at full pressure while I was lying down.

After sleeping about four hours, loud leaking woke me. So I tightened the straps some more until it did not leak. In the morning the data supported the fact it did not leak after my readjustment during the night. When I put it on the next night, it seemed almost too tight, but it did not leak all night. As my flesh got used to the grooves the mask and straps eventually made, I found it had to be tightened again, occasionally. Rarely have I had leaks since.

I'm a side sleeper and bought one of the expensive special pillows. It did not work for me. I tried another brand. It did not work either. I now have a down pillow and make sure it touches my head, not the mask. No leaks.

Bottom line: the product instructions and other users warn against making the straps too tight. Fooy on them! At least for me, I found it must be tighter than recommended.

Note: Don't pressure test the mask using the ramp (low) pressure. Be sure you have the machine set for mask testing with high pressure.

Eventually <sigh> you'll hit the right combination of mask, strap tightness, body position and pillow support . . . if you keep trying. If later you lose (hurrah!) or gain (booo!) some weight, adjusting starts all over again.

[70sSanO]

I have been using a Quattro FX FFM and I agree with wardmiller on this one, especially as the pressure goes up. To me it seems kind of ridiculous to think this lightly tightened straps are going to work under pressure and with the typical moving around as some people do when they sleep. It may work for some people but the almost loose tightening with the OEM headgear was disaster for me.

Years ago I decided to use elastic straps instead of OEM headgear. At first it was a cost savings, but then I got used to using them and ended up preferring the straps. You do have to tighten the straps as they stretch, but the nice thing us that you can pull the mask away from your face and reposition it without loosening anything or going through a Bob Hope routine in gunfight scene in Paleface.

Like anything, YMMV.

John

[Omne]

In trying to stop leaks, I know not to tighten the straps too much on a Resmed Airfit F10 so as not to flatten the cushion effect, but sometimes they are pretty tight to get it stopped. I am not having headaches so how do you know the long term health effects of over tightening a mask. . . if any long term effect?

Any discussion on this topic would be appreciated since I am into this 6 weeks now and have gotten used to the "hurricane" effect of the air but loud leaks off and on are keeping me from getting a full nights rest.

Thanks

I use the same mask. A couple of weeks ago I put it on during the day and set my machine to a constant pressure that was the same as the maximum APAP pressure. I then adjusted all of the straps until there was no leaking and they were as comfortable and as even as possible. Since then I've only had to make very minor changes on one or two straps and it's still comfortable. No guarantees but it worked for me to get everything even. Before then I found that I was over tightening some straps and not tightening others enough so the mask wasn't balanced very well.

Long or short term effect is probably some creases that go away after a while during the day. The way the straps are laid out, and the pressure involved, they don't actually cut off any circulation of note.

[SoarHigher]

Thank you for all your great input and suggestions. I am off to try these ideas and realize that a lot of this looseness has to be tightness!!
Now. . . . if the low AHI recordings could really mean that you get a good night's restful sleep, then I can stretch out in the lounge chair. Oh MY!

[Janknitz]

I had to tighten the Quattro a lot on the bottom to get it to be leakproof and not put pressure on my nose. As a result, the pressure caused teeth to shift and caused me a lot of dental issues. It took a long time for that to become apparent, but it really messed up my teeth!

[MyIdaho]

I was one of the fortunate ones to quickly adapt to a CPAP machine. Leaking was my biggest issue. For me, watching the videos on how properly adjust my mask plus buying a padacheek anti-leak strap did the trick. Good luck!