lips going to sleep... no seriously

[agavegrove]

I'm a noob at this CPAP so bear with me. I have a full face mask, with the humidity set at 1 of 5. Pressure is at 9.

With my new machine I notice that about 15 minutes into therapy my lips start getting cold and tingly. It's enough to wake me up. The discomfort is enough for me to take off the mask. After I take it off, it feels like my mouth is asleep. If I make my mask looser it leaks. Could I be cutting off circulation to my mouth?

Any ideas on how to keep a seal without having to have such a tight squeeze with my mask? What else could be causing this?

I'll get this to work eventually.

[rested gal]

Could I be cutting off circulation to my mouth?

I've not seen anyone post about that happening, but sounds like it. If so, you really do have that puppy cinched down tight.

Any ideas on how to keep a seal without having to have such a tight squeeze with my mask?

Since you're wearing a FF mask, I'd probably try this:

Stick several adhesive-backed velcro dots on the plastic of the front of the mask.

Cut a long strip of cloth (or use an Ace bandage, or...the leg cut off a pair of tights) and put it around the front of the mask, tying it behind your head with a doublestart knot. That kind of knot is easy to adjust, and lays flat. Won't be a bump behind your head:
DoubleStart Knot How to tie a flat knot behind head when using a homemade strap.
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/doublestartknot.htm

The homemade strap across the front can help steady the mask in place and might allow you to loosen the regular straps considerably. The velcro dots would "catch" the fabric and keep the strap from sliding up or down off the smooth curved plastic. Having a strap across the front works somewhat like the way you can stop a leak with just the lightest "touch" of your fingers against the front of a mask.

Also, if you haven't done this already, rig up a way to hang the main air hose overhead so the air hose doesn't tug at the mask when you turn over or move your head:
LINKS to Hose hangers and methods of managing the air hose
viewtopic.php?t=10640

I'll get this to work eventually.

You definitely have the right attitude. You'll get all the pieces of the puzzle together just fine.