changing Co2 exhaust holes?

[littleredtree2]

Good mornin everyone

just another silly question from a new hosehead.

If I want to change the way my mask exhaust works, Can one drill holes in other spots?

My Comfortfull 2 is working great for me. BUT, it blows on my hubby. I was thinking about closing the ports on the diffuser over the nose...and drilling a few small holes someplace else.

Has anyone tried this? Will it break the mask?
will it let out enough of the Co2?

What kind of drill bits would one use?

Had my best numbers yet last night. 3.5 AHI.

[rested gal]

I don't think I'd do that. Not unless you were absolutely sure the holes you drilled were going to let out the exact same amount of air - no more, no less - that the built in vent is exhausting out. Plus, until you did your drilling and tried it, you wouldn't know if you had helped the direction of exhaust problem. Might still have the problem for your bed partner.

I'd be more inclined to try to create a deflector of sorts to put outside the vent, to direct the exhaust air differently. But I don't know how.

You're using a Full Face mask, so my mask with its perfect (imho) vent wouldn't help you, as it's not a FF mask. My Headrest nasal pillows mask has the exhaust vent up above eyebrow level and vents straight up. Never hits anything. Not the bed partner, my arm when sleeping on my side, the bedcovers, the pillow...nothing. I love it.

Of course, in order to use the Headrest mask (or any non-FF) I have to tape my mouth and wear a chin strap to prevent my mouthbreathing during sleep. Otherwise I'd have to wear a FF mask.

[littleredtree2]

Thanks for the Info Laura.

I will not do it, It was just a thought.

Does anyone have something they did or used to deflect the air on their favorite mask?

[BleepingBeauty]

Thanks for the Info Laura.

I will not do it, It was just a thought.

Does anyone have something they did or used to deflect the air on their favorite mask?

I agree strongly with Laura on this - don't alter the vent holes! I did try to make a deflector once (to direct the exhaust air upwards), but the air hitting the deflector made so much noise, I abandoned the idea.

Maybe you and hubby could switch sides of the bed (if you always sleep on your left or right side) so that he's out of the line of fire re: the airstream? Just a thought.

[littleredtree2]

Maybe you and hubby could switch sides of the bed (if you always sleep on your left or right side) so that he's out of the line of fire re: the airstream? Just a thought.

Yes, We did switch. I am so afraid I will wake him with a blast of cold air...I don't move around much.
My back likes it more when I can move more. I guess he will just have to get used to the occasional blast of air
He has put up with the Freight train snore for over 31yrs...Whats a blast of air now and then

thanks.

[rested gal]

In the good old tradition of bundling boards, perhaps put a pillow up there between you?

[littleredtree2]

In the good old tradition of bundling boards, perhaps put a pillow up there between you?

Never thought of that.
I will try it. Sure is cheaper than other things I have thought of. Thanks

[littleredtree2]

Lab ratting at its best.

Its not very pretty, but it works.

I took 2 of the Picture hangers and used the sticky end first.

Attached them facing each other, just above either side of the hose clips. Still allowing the hose to be used.

Then took clear DUCT tape. And closed the top and back end.
It shoots out a hard stream of air. (tested it ) .

And It will either blow straight up or down, not in hubby’s face.

[Sleepless Sam]

I taped a small piece of one of those green scrub pads for doing dishes, loosely over the vent holes. It diffuses the direction & flow of the air, that it cannot be felt, And has not changed the leak rate that is recorded on the machine.

[littleredtree2]

I taped a small piece of one of those green scrub pads for doing dishes, loosely over the vent holes. It diffuses the direction & flow of the air, that it cannot be felt, And has not changed the leak rate that is recorded on the machine.

I thought about doing a similar thing...but was weary of causing the air to not be able to leave at a good rate. Thus getting at least a bad headache. ( again)

I am sure there are lots of things we could do. I would be interested in what others are doing too.

[Gerryk]

Little, please make sure you haven't blocked any of the vent holes. It looks good so far. I said so far because I know people who tinker keep tinkering until it's perfect. Just be careful not to block any vent holes.

Gerry

[littleredtree2]

Little, please make sure you haven't blocked any of the vent holes. It looks good so far. I said so far because I know people who tinker keep tinkering until it's perfect. Just be careful not to block any vent holes.

Gerry

Thanks for the heads up Gerry.

No holes are covered. I do appreciate your mentioning it.
There is only the one...and its under the cover. You can see it in the pic.

[letchworth]

Does anyone have something they did or used to deflect the air on their favorite mask?

I use the OptiLife mask (nasal pillows or cushions)-- My wife occasionally complains about a blast of air directly out of front of mask- but says she can cope with pulling blankets up higher or turning over.

I have tried the pillow in the middle (depends on who goes to sleep first and how much room is left). I tend to sleep on one side and then the other throughout the night. Probably the best help has been, since it is king bed, is to sleep a little lower in the bed than she- thus the air hits blankets instead of wife.

Occasionally the exhaust port is too close to blankets, and noisy-- but that is not a major problem (& easily fixed by moving the blanket a bit).

But you have hit the nail on the head--- still quieter than before (& so much safer than the alternative)
letchworth

[BleepingBeauty]

Little, please make sure you haven't blocked any of the vent holes. It looks good so far. I said so far because I know people who tinker keep tinkering until it's perfect. Just be careful not to block any vent holes.

Gerry

Thanks for the heads up Gerry.

No holes are covered. I do appreciate your mentioning it.
There is only the one...and its under the cover. You can see it in the pic.

Hi, lrt. I'm not familiar with your mask, but the hole I see in the pic looks like the anti-asphyxia valve (through which you can breathe if/when the power goes out or the machine otherwise shuts down while you're masked up), and NOT the mask's vent holes. None of the holes on a mask should ever be covered.

Every anti-asphyxia valve I've seen has a little "flapper" mechanism inside that "closes off" that opening when you're getting therapy. Without air pressure from the machine, the little flapper will fall away from that hole and allow you to breathe room air. You should never feel pressurized air coming from that valve.

With my Hybrid, after I mask up and turn on the machine, I cover that anti-asphyxia valve opening with my fingertip for just a fraction of a second; when I release my finger, I hear a little "pop," if you will. "Popping" that valve ensures that the flapper is in the correct position, closing off the anti-asphyxia opening in the mask's shell and ensuring that I'm not losing any pressurized air through it.

Do be careful with any lab-ratting you do.

[Gerryk]

Good catch on that one BB, I didn't look close enough or should I say can't look close enough without my glasses on. I pulled up the manufacturers web site and it looks like all the exhaust is covered now and just the antiesphyxiation valve is left open, but it's hard to tell. Their literature contradicts itself, I see it two different ways. One pircture shows the exhaust ports on the side of the valve and another shows them behind the antiesxphyxiation valve.

Maybe someone more familiar with this mask can take a look.

Gerry