I've had it!

brothertony · Post by **brothertony** » Sat May 17, 2008 2:35 pm

Okay Time to break out the baseball bat and beat the bjebies out of this thing. I have air leaks all around my nasal mask and am fighting it till 2 am in the morning. Or I feel like a dog gone chipmunk with my full gface mask. I'm done AgHHHHHa

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Sat May 17, 2008 2:38 pm

Hello Brother Tony--don't give up, this just takes awhile. Believe me, once you get all of the kinks worked out, it will be worth the effort and the frustration you're dealing with now. Ultimately, too, this sleep apnea is a life threatening thing, so we just have to persist. It will get better, just hang in there if you can.

OutaSync · Post by **OutaSync** » Sat May 17, 2008 3:02 pm

Keep trying different masks until you find one that fits your face. We all have different face shapes, so another's favorite may be bad for you. I own 7 and have tried another 7 at the sleep clinic. All of them leak, but, at least, the Activa does not dig into my nose. I'm still looking. Hang in there. Finding the right mask should be the easy part, but it isn't.

Bev

wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Sat May 17, 2008 3:20 pm

Brother Tony,
I too would recommend you try the Activa mask. It is the only mask I found that can be worn comfortably (lose) and it still doesn't leak.

Hang in there!!!!!!!!!!

alnhwrd · Post by **alnhwrd** » Sat May 17, 2008 3:24 pm

Brother Tony,

Boy can I empathize. Been there and done that! Here is something that helped me, if you haven't tried it already

viewtopic.php?p=228349&sid=5863e3677f73 ... 06ce9d9d8a

Don't use too much, just a thin rope around the cushion will work, and then smush it down on your face.

Here are some mask related articles too:

cpaptalk-articles/solving-CPAP-mask-problems.html

cpaptalk-articles/390/CPAP-Mask-Choices.html

Sometimes its getting the right mask, sometimes its tweaking the one you have, and sometimes its just hanging on until you adjust. It sounds weird, but I think in time my face actually adjusted to the mask enough to lower leak problems. But I still have nights where for no reason I can see my leak rate shoots way up. Then the next night, 0.0!

Hang in there. Consider the alternative. This too shall pass.

Alan

hobbs · Post by **hobbs** » Sat May 17, 2008 3:52 pm

I second the Activa recommendation.

pjwalman · Post by **pjwalman** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:49 pm

Ah, Tony, remember Job. You're just being tested.

Go ahead and take the baseball bat to something so you'll feel better, but leave the CPAP machine alone, 'cause you'll regret it down the road. The mask is the worst bleepity-bleepin' part of this stuff. Just torment the heck out of your DME tech, daily if need be, until you find a mask that you can live with. You're still in your initial trial period. Right? Who cares if they grimace when you walk in the door? You've got to be clear you're this close to quitting and the lack of a decent mask is what's driving you there. If they won't cooperate, then try trading with someone here in the forum. I don't know anything about the cpapauction, but I know there is a thread here called "mask roulette", and it's a way for you to trade with someone who's also searching for the mask of their dreams.

Honestly, I know it's a pain, but you can do this! You're still here, screaming for help, and we'll gladly give it if we can...even if it's only to send you a cyber hug and say "Hang in there!!"

I'm thinking of you, and I know you can do this! Punch a pillow or, better yet, scream into it at the top of your lungs, and then traipse down to that DME's office on Monday and ask for another mask to try.

Take care!

Peggy

zorrro13 · Post by **zorrro13** » Sat May 17, 2008 8:56 pm

[quote="wabmorgan"]Brother Tony,
I too would recommend you try the Activa mask. It is the only mask I found that can be worn comfortably (lose) and it still doesn't leak.

Hang in there!!!!!!!!!!

stararobota · Post by **stararobota** » Sun May 18, 2008 8:27 am

brothertony wrote:Okay Time to break out the baseball bat and beat the bjebies out of this thing. I have air leaks all around my nasal mask and am fighting it till 2 am in the morning. Or I feel like a dog gone chipmunk with my full gface mask. I'm done AgHHHHHa

You may want to try something more intelligent like BiPap Auto. Make sure you have the settings right. The algorithm does seem to depend on settings even when an Auto version of a CPAP or BiPAP is used. (Obviously it does with a plain CPAP). Soon we will all be using even more intelligent contraptions.

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Sun May 18, 2008 8:37 am

This has to be hard on you, esp since you have the pressure "feeling" kicked pretty much. That is GREAT. As others have said the mask it the hardest part of this whole thing. Keep at it!

Fredman · Post by **Fredman** » Sun May 18, 2008 4:08 pm

Did the leaking just become worse? Was the mask good when you first tried it. Sometimes if you don't clean it the silicone becomes greasy with skin oil and you wont tend to have a good seal.

I like to wipe my mask every evening before bed with these CPAP wipes and it has made a large difference. I used to clean my mask only on weekends!

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, seal, clean

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sun May 18, 2008 5:14 pm

for many years that ComfortClassic was referred to as the CrappyClassic.

Go back to the person who gave it to you and they will only give you a step up from that in the CrappyGel, while the CrappyGel seals better it is still just as noisy.

Best thing you can do is look for another mask manufacture altogether.

IF you want to stop leaks and for it to be much quieter offering less strap pressure, there is only 1 nasal mask to get,

The Soyala Nasal, it costs more but lasts twice as long, I get over a year out the mask, on my 2nd one now. If you have been getting a Medium in those Crappy ones get a Large in the Soyala.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Soyala ... dgear.html

I have 8 years worth of duds in my dud drawer most of them from that CrappyCompany.

you also:

Need to configure a lower Ramp pressure on that machine and USE it, it will allow you to fall asleep instead of fighting it until 2 AM. Pick up some Melatonin from Costco and take one of those before bed.

IF you are fighting it that long, the mask interface is no good and the machine not set up correctly for you.

brothertony · Post by **brothertony** » Sun May 18, 2008 7:12 pm

I got the classic comfort from the hospital when i did my sleep study. I also have a mirage quatrro. I diss assembled the quatro and washed everything then came home after church and took a nap with the quattro and slept for 2.5 hrs. so washing it helped or I was so tired i did not care

Fredman · Post by **Fredman** » Sun May 18, 2008 7:32 pm

brothertony it may well be that the mask needed to be cleaned. I see you have the Remstar with Cflex machine, I believe it has a smartcard or has a port for a smartcard.

With a smartcard, a reader and EncoreViewer software you can see your mask leak rate and that too will help know for sure what is happening. If you have a good DME and a Respiratory Technologist they can go through this with you, or you can buy the reader and software on CPAP.COM as a bundle and read it yourself with a little help from the folks here.

Of course if the darn mask is leaking into your eyes, darn sure give away!

:lol:

Have faith brothertony, we are on your side!!!

valvestem · Post by **valvestem** » Mon May 19, 2008 8:56 am

Have you thought of trying nasal pillows?

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