Liberty Nasal Pillows not Sealing

Gtechy · Post by **Gtechy** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:48 am

I have been on CPAP for 2 months. Initially I was given the ResMed Quattro but it tore the bridge of my nose, so they gave me a Resmed Liberty.
I like the Liberty size, much better for a side/stomack sleeper like myself. The problem is that no matter what size of nasal pillow and headgear pressure combination I use, I get woken up at night with noise from the air leaking around the pillows.
My machine is an APAP and I know it can get up to 16 for me.
Any suggestions? Or is it the norm that air leaks around these nasal pillows no matter what?
Thanks,

CamiTampa · Post by **CamiTampa** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 1:18 pm

I have the same problem with my liberty. I can get it to seal fine if I keep a finger on the front of the pillow. Soon as I let go, it leaks. I like ths mask alot, I just wish I could get it to not leak. After one month I have yet to go more than three hours before I removed the mask.

Jefe · Post by **Jefe** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 2:19 pm

Very light coating of Ayr gel or KY jelly on the pillows. Soothes the nostrils, and makes the pillows slide into place easier, plus they both get a bit "tacky" as they dry, providing a better grip.

ibthebest · Post by **ibthebest** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 4:24 pm

This might sound silly, but i put an "O" ring around the pillows to add to the stability a little. I think it is about 1 and 1/4 inch in diameter. Cost about .40 It really made a difference on mine. I taped the middle of the "O" ring. It really keeps the pillows from moving all over. Here is a picture:

Michael

Wyl · Post by **Wyl** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:10 pm

I had the exact same problem, and I ended up just moving my mask about half an inch up towards my nose. It isn't centered, but the extra pressure on the pillows makes them seal better and I didn't lose the seal on the mouth piece.

However, I rolled over a few nights ago and the elbow didn't swivel, and I broke the plastic clip at the bottom to where the quick disconnect elbow won't stay on. So I'm using my Hybrid again. The DME is sending me a replacement elbow for the Liberty, but a forum member gave me a set of the newer headgear for the Hybrid so I may just stick with that again.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:55 am

I have been using the liberty for about 3 weeks now and have encountered the exact same problem. Then I came across a post about Lansinoh. It is 100% pure medical grade lanolin. Ok so I felt a little weird buying something that very prominently announces it is for breastfeeding mothers but what the hell...

It is very thick and somewhat sticky... almost the consistency of thick honey. And fair warning... a little goes a long way with this stuff. It has completely eliminated the problem I had with the skin around my mouth being painfully dry. And even better it has greatly reduced my problem with the nasal pillows not staying sealed. I won't go so far as to say it's NEVER a problem... but it is much much less of an issue. In fact... I never thought I had any major leakage problems with the Liberty mask (other than the pillows) but once I used the Lansinoh the mask sealed noticeably better. It made it feel like the pressure was a good .5 - 1 cm H2O higher than withouth the Lansinoh. I don't have any technical data to back this up as I have a "dumb" CPAP machine... but I instantly felt the difference the Lansinoh made in how well the mask sealed.

I was concerned at first that it might cause major zits but if anything I have had FEWER zits not more. My skin has never looked or felt so good! Oh... and for those allergic to wool (lanolin comes from sheeps wool) Lansinoh is very emphatic that their lanolin is so pure that it will not trigger your allergy. I can't say if this is true as I have no problem with wool... but something to consider if you do.

Tasmania · Post by **Tasmania** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:33 pm

whoops... forgot to sign in before I made that last post.

sleepngo · Post by **sleepngo** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:35 pm

I don't have any problems with the nasal pillows leaking sense I rearranged the upper straps that hold the nasal pillows in place. I took the two straps from their original position and routed them across the front of the head gear, which gives more adjustment to the front of the nasal pillows and more lift. it causes a little twist in the strap but works great.

Dan

Tasmania · Post by **Tasmania** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:39 pm

BTW... I also had that flimsy little strip of plastic that passes for a quick disconnect on the elbow break... after only 4 nights no less... I know I could order a new elbow but I opted to try and repair it first. I very carefully crazy glued a thin piece of rubber tourniquet (though a rubberband would work too I imagine) all the way around the quick disconnect end of the elbow. It basically added a stretchy reinforcement ring. And it has worked flawlesly since. Even if I get a new elbow eventually I will probably do the same thing to it to keep it from breaking in the first place.

Oh... and its best to let the crazy glue fumes dissipate for several hours before using the elbow again.

ibthebest · Post by **ibthebest** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:06 pm

ResMed admitted that the clip on the hose was faulty. They said "your DME" will gladly replace it. The redesigned one has a 1 or 2 on it. I got my replacement; no one or two so I suppose it will break again soon.

Mikey

Gtechy · Post by **Gtechy** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:30 pm

Same here, my elbow quick connect broke the 2nd week. Does Resmed actually test these products? The pillows don't seal for the majority of the replies here and the clip material is brittle and very thin. Sheesh...

jammin · Post by **jammin** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:06 pm

I have had the Liberty for about a month now, and after trying a UMFF, a Quattro, a Vista and Swift, it has worked out the best so far. Unlike the folks who have had luck with Lansinoh (which I tried) I've had the best luck by cleaning the pillows and mouth seal just before bed. If I had leaks during the night that woke me up I got up and cleaned it again and it was OK afterward.

My biggest complaint so far has been it's fragility. The elbow clip broke for me about as quickly as it did for other folks. I had the best luck wrapping it with a 1/4" wide strip of duct tape while waiting for a replacement. But last night, I started to put it on and the piece of the frame that you attach the top left strap of the headgear to had broken off and vanished. My DME says it has happened to several of his users. It's amazing to me that a company could put out a product at this price point that has such flimsy construction! I'm picking up a replacement tomorrow, but I'm not optomistic about it lasting long.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:08 pm

Well I have had it with getting woken up with the Liberty hissing at me. So I have given it up, and I am back to the Quattro with medipore tape across the bridge of my nose.

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 3:03 pm

Thank goodness for the Hybrid.

The problems i had with liberty include all of the above and my sore upper lip that got squished against. you know, the area between my lip and nose...would get so sore I could cry

soulrhythm · Post by **soulrhythm** » Fri Nov 30, 2007 2:09 pm

I have also had these same problems with the Liberty, but when it worked, I really liked it. So I kept working with it and now think I have found a system that has resoved it all for me.

For the elbow I routed my tube up above my head by sewing in some velcro to the headgear (see pic below). For nasal pillow leaks (and subsequent hiss), I have found four things that made the difference for me, and have now had two weeks with under a .2 leak rate.

1. Wash mask daily with a mild, Moisturizer free soap
2. Wash face right before bed with same soap.
3. Add a strip of flexible medical tap across the tip of the nose to the upper cheeks to hold pillows in place
4. I small piece of Mac's silicon in the center of the tape sealing the gap between the two nasal pillows.

Hope this helps.

JIM

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