Mask Leaks ??? FFM????

lpady · Post by **lpady** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 8:02 am

I seem to be having a lot of mask leaks (35+???). My AHI is good (1.7) but should I be concerned about the leaks? I have a FFM and I've fiddled around with the headgear to get it tight enough but not so tight it gives me a nose-ache in the a.m. Should I just get some sort of pads for the bridge of my nose? I need a FFM since I'm a mouth breather - lots of congestions, allergies, etc.

I'm afraid if I go the route of a nasal mask it won't be as effective. Plus taping my mouth isn't really an option - I'm allergic to the adhesive. When I had my sleep study I had the tape marks all over my face and neck for a week -- looked like I had a serious case of love bites!!! And that was with PAPER TAPE!

Help would be appreciated.

patbringer · Post by **patbringer** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 8:51 am

One option to address your issue is the Hybrid mask (http://www.hybridmask.com)

Cheers!

Pat

brackstone · Post by **brackstone** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:36 am

I started taping and I don't think I'll ever look back

track · Post by **track** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:59 am

I tried taping and I hated it. I struggled with a medium sized UMFF and a Soyala FFM for 3 months until I bought a UMFF large. My leaks have completely disappeared and I don't have to put the straps in a death grip for it to seal nicely....and I am talking about pressures of 15.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:02 am

lpady wrote:I seem to be having a lot of mask leaks (35+???). My AHI is good (1.7) but should I be concerned about the leaks? I have a FFM and I've fiddled around with the headgear to get it tight enough but not so tight it gives me a nose-ache in the a.m. Should I just get some sort of pads for the bridge of my nose? I need a FFM since I'm a mouth breather - lots of congestions, allergies, etc.

I'm afraid if I go the route of a nasal mask it won't be as effective. Plus taping my mouth isn't really an option - I'm allergic to the adhesive. When I had my sleep study I had the tape marks all over my face and neck for a week -- looked like I had a serious case of love bites!!! And that was with PAPER TAPE!

Help would be appreciated.

All masks have a stated "vent flow rate" for a certain pressure. According to the chart for that particular mask, it wouldn't seem that yours is really excessive or out of line.

http://www.internetage.com/cpapinfo/leak-rates-1.html

Unless you're feeling a lot of leakage around the seals of the mask, I wouldn't worry about it at this point. It usually takes a bit of tweaking to get them properly adjusted.

Den

lpady · Post by **lpady** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:49 am

Den -

Thanks so much! You are a font of information and wisdom. I love that chart! Let's me know I'm OK. What I hate is they (DME's, docs) don't let you know what is normal or what you should target!

At least now I know it's fine and I don't have to worry about it - especially with an AHI of 1.7 (WOO HOO)

Linda

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:07 pm

lpady wrote:Den -

Thanks so much! You are a font of information and wisdom. I love that chart! Let's me know I'm OK. What I hate is they (DME's, docs) don't let you know what is normal or what you should target!

At least now I know it's fine and I don't have to worry about it - especially with an AHI of 1.7 (WOO HOO)

Linda

"Knowledge is power" (and they can get more money by keeping their clients as in-the-dark as they can)

Each mask is SUPPOSED to come with that information......problem is, if you don't have anything to report your numbers, you won't know.

Best wishes,

Den

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:10 pm

I am trying to understand that chart. I am a noob in my first week of cpap usage. I have the Respironics comfortgel nasal mask with 10 pressure. Does that chart mean I can expect a leakage rate of 25.5%? If not percent, what is the measurement?

Thanks.

Jaggles · Post by **Jaggles** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:12 pm

[quote="Anonymous"]I am trying to understand that chart. I am a noob in my first week of cpap usage. I have the Respironics comfortgel nasal mask with 10 pressure. Does that chart mean I can expect a leakage rate of 25.5%? If not percent, what is the measurement?

Thanks.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:13 pm

Liters per minute.

Den

Mask

Additional Comments: RLS, EDS, Depression (which will hopefully go away after xPAP??? )

Mask

Additional Comments: Strictly a side sleeper

Mask Leaks ??? FFM????

Mask Leaks ??? FFM????

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