Hey Family,
I have been reading all of the postings on the UMFF. Well I just had to have one; tried it last night and it may have been the worst cpap night of my short life. First, I just couldn't get the mask to fit or feel comfortable on my face and then I would move during sleep and have leaks. At times the mask felt too tight or too loose
Looking for some help!
rjgreen3
UMFF-HELP!!
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1
first thing is it has to be sized right, with correct sizing, if you measure the mask from the center of the cushion from the nosebridge area down to the chin area, then the width center-to-center of the part of the cushion that makes contact with your face.
Then you measure from the center of the pupils of the eye down to the center of the chin (in the indention below the bottom lip) and the mask SHOULD land in that area. Then the width has to be wide enough to cover your mouth when closed and lips together (not tight).
With the mask properly sized put it on, lay down in bed with your head on the pillow. Grab both the top straps at the same time, pull the velcro loose, then pull straight out from your head then back to tighten the strap. ONLY tighten the top strap enough to barely make it snug, in fact it should be almost loose, if you pull lightly on the headpiece the forehead pads should pull away from your head by about 1/8".
Turn On your cpap machine so it is blowing, let the thing leak.
Next, grab the bottom straps at the same time (still laying with head on pillow), loosen velcro again pull straight out and back, pull ONLY tight enough to stop the leaks around the mouth, it SHOULD be comfortable.
Next, push the button and adjust the tilt of the mask until it starts leaking into the eyes then take it back the other way until that leaking stops, release the button. There is a happy medium getting the tilt correct so it doesn't leak in the eyes or the mouth.
Should it start leaking, only tighten the bottom straps, it is best to tighten each side evenly. That's it.
It is best:
1. Wash your face before bed to remove oils, oils on the mask/skin seem to cause it to leak more.
2. Keep your mask cushion clean for same reason as above. If you are on straight cpap don't worry about the leaks so much, even with leaks it is better than no cpap at all.
Warning: Do NOT overtighten the straps on that mask where it puts a crease in the cushion, should you do that it will leak more than if you just wore it loose.
Then you measure from the center of the pupils of the eye down to the center of the chin (in the indention below the bottom lip) and the mask SHOULD land in that area. Then the width has to be wide enough to cover your mouth when closed and lips together (not tight).
With the mask properly sized put it on, lay down in bed with your head on the pillow. Grab both the top straps at the same time, pull the velcro loose, then pull straight out from your head then back to tighten the strap. ONLY tighten the top strap enough to barely make it snug, in fact it should be almost loose, if you pull lightly on the headpiece the forehead pads should pull away from your head by about 1/8".
Turn On your cpap machine so it is blowing, let the thing leak.
Next, grab the bottom straps at the same time (still laying with head on pillow), loosen velcro again pull straight out and back, pull ONLY tight enough to stop the leaks around the mouth, it SHOULD be comfortable.
Next, push the button and adjust the tilt of the mask until it starts leaking into the eyes then take it back the other way until that leaking stops, release the button. There is a happy medium getting the tilt correct so it doesn't leak in the eyes or the mouth.
Should it start leaking, only tighten the bottom straps, it is best to tighten each side evenly. That's it.
It is best:
1. Wash your face before bed to remove oils, oils on the mask/skin seem to cause it to leak more.
2. Keep your mask cushion clean for same reason as above. If you are on straight cpap don't worry about the leaks so much, even with leaks it is better than no cpap at all.
Warning: Do NOT overtighten the straps on that mask where it puts a crease in the cushion, should you do that it will leak more than if you just wore it loose.
Last edited by Snoredog on Fri Dec 01, 2006 7:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Knightfall
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:31 am
- Location: Southeast Pa
RJ,
I don't know if you happened to read this thread I started about 3 weeks ago:
viewtopic.php?t=15159&highlight=
I had a miserable first night with the UMFF, and was extremely disappointed as a result. I started the above mentioned post, and got a lot of good advice, not to mention good support which is sometimes more important. Read through that thread if you haven't already.
I am still using the UMFF on weekends only so if I have a bad experience, I don't have to worry about making it through a day at work on top of it.
My initial mistake with the mask was having the straps way too tight. Some of the users who helped me described the tension you need to use on the bottom of the mask as "loose" to "medium" tension, with the upper portion of the mask having the forehead piece just touching the forehead.
I backed off the tension until it was comfortable but secure, and had a lot more success. Getting the mask to make that initial seal proved to be tricky for me; most of the time I would have to pull the mask away from my face and "reset" it if you will. Once I get a seal now, I can sleep through the night no problem, just as comfortably as when I use my Activa.
Also, my first night I woke up with a nice red welt on the bridge of my nose. Some advice I got here was to wear the mask such that the bottom of the cushion (which is normally in the crease between your lips and chin) should be worn closer to your bottom lip. Doing this got the mask off of the bridge of my nose, and it tends to stabilize the mouth in a closed position better.
And make sure you have been fitted with the correct size; also some good advice in the aforementioned post regarding sizing.
I would encourage you to keep working with the mask as I am, and wish you better success in the future with it.
Ken
I don't know if you happened to read this thread I started about 3 weeks ago:
viewtopic.php?t=15159&highlight=
I had a miserable first night with the UMFF, and was extremely disappointed as a result. I started the above mentioned post, and got a lot of good advice, not to mention good support which is sometimes more important. Read through that thread if you haven't already.
I am still using the UMFF on weekends only so if I have a bad experience, I don't have to worry about making it through a day at work on top of it.
My initial mistake with the mask was having the straps way too tight. Some of the users who helped me described the tension you need to use on the bottom of the mask as "loose" to "medium" tension, with the upper portion of the mask having the forehead piece just touching the forehead.
I backed off the tension until it was comfortable but secure, and had a lot more success. Getting the mask to make that initial seal proved to be tricky for me; most of the time I would have to pull the mask away from my face and "reset" it if you will. Once I get a seal now, I can sleep through the night no problem, just as comfortably as when I use my Activa.
Also, my first night I woke up with a nice red welt on the bridge of my nose. Some advice I got here was to wear the mask such that the bottom of the cushion (which is normally in the crease between your lips and chin) should be worn closer to your bottom lip. Doing this got the mask off of the bridge of my nose, and it tends to stabilize the mouth in a closed position better.
And make sure you have been fitted with the correct size; also some good advice in the aforementioned post regarding sizing.
I would encourage you to keep working with the mask as I am, and wish you better success in the future with it.
Ken
A fool and his money are soon partying.
-- Steven Wright
-- Steven Wright
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1