I'm at a complete loss as to what to do next

[sister]

OK, I'm at a loss,what to do about leaks.I have tried everything and it will work pretty good for awhile but then they always come back!
Last week I thought i was sleeping good,7-8 hours per night.
Never got my leaks down,but then I never have,but I slept and i felt good.
This week it's a complete turnaround,I am doing the same things but am usually woke up anywhere from 2:00 to 4:30 am and struggle with leaks the rest of the night.
I really makes me ill this morning that I lose so much sleep every night messing with the mask.
I do all the right things,I know I do because I was getting a good seal and was sleeping good until a few days ago.
I just cannot understand it.I hope one day to be one of you people that say,'I love my c-pap' but it doesn't look that way.
Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it,i've been struggling since jan.2006. Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be best to just enjoy what time I have left.
I have tried almost every mask and like I say, they work for awhile and then I"m back to square one again.
Thanks for letting me vent this morning,I can't vent with my husband because he needs a sleep study and is in denial,won't even talk about it,so that is a constant worry for me too.
GOD BLESS YOU!

[mars]

Hi Sister

Vent as much as you wish. We all need to get our treatment right, and it is very frustrating when it is not working.

Others will have better ideas than me about this problem. But I would mention that it is not just the mask involved in this.

Also to consider is

the pressure
the humidifier
the pillow
the position of your face on the pillow
have you restless leg syndrome, or other sleep disturbance problems?
have you acid reflux or anything else that could cause you to disturb your mask?

Can the tightness of the mask eventually distort your face so the mask starts leaking?

This all just off the top of my head (its even more jumbled inside ) but maybe something will mean something to you.

If not - there will be others much better informed.

There is always an answer to these problems, but sometimes they take a bloody long time to appear

cheers

Mars

[TerryB]

I don't know any specifics about your case or your mask, but, some people have mentioned that they benefit from taking extra care to remove facial oils from their face and mask sealing edges before retiring. This may help explain varying results. Also, some masks work better with less strap tension.

Good Luck,
TerryB

[Julie]

And very often gaining or losing even just a few pounds, possibly water related rather than diet, can make a difference. You might want to think about it if you are using a diuretic at some point in the day and possibly change the time.

[jbn3boys]

What about replacement/cleaning schedules? With my old mask, I could go a good week, often two between thorough washings. With my new mask, I have to wash it every day or two, otherwise I will get leaks. I know this morning that it HAS to be washed before I go to bed tonight, or will be leaking like crazy. Also, some mask parts need to be replaced more often than others. I think they suggest nasal pillows be replaced once a month, for example. This might explain why they work for a time, and then start to leak.

Just a thought. Hopefully someone will be able to come up with an light-bulb kind of idea that will solve your problem!

[brain_cloud]

Plus there are ideas to do with adding supplemental strappage in strategic locations (see rested gals pictures of this) as well as mask liners and padacheek sort of stuff. I also think we get less sensitive to leaks over time. Not monster leaks mind you but small noiseless ones. I know that little leaks that used to bother me I don't give a damn about now.

[dtsm]

i've never used a FFM. I did try out half a dozen different models/brands at my DME thinking it would be good to have in case I got a cold or flu. But everyone of them leaked.

Have you ever considered a nasal mask or nasal pillow and then use chinstrap and/or tape to avoid leaks from mouth?

[bobbiesue2]

There is a real simple solution that I found by chance since I had the same issue you do. Try a Quietus liner~they really work!!! Good Luck!

BobbieSue