the merest whisper of a leak

[DebMA]

hi, so far, my fx for her mask has been just dreamy...but for the past two nights i've been getting an ever so slight leak on my upper lip. it's not the "exhaust vent" as that's angled away from my face...i can't even hear the leak, only feel it. my ahi runs from under 1 to 1.3. i don't have the software so can't tell you much other than what i can read each night on the dinky display, but no large leaks ever register...i'm not sure if this is affecting my therapy, but it IS annoying me, and no matter how i angle the cushion or the straps i can't get it to go away. last night i smeared a line of lansinoh on upper lip, which worked when i went to sleep, but sometime in the night the cushion shifted a little bit and there was the leak again...i am using the small pillows, and they are about a month old. does this mean it's time to switch them up (haven't heard from the dme about replacements yet, but i can call)? or is there something else i could do?

thanks!

[chunkyfrog]

I had to replace those cushions every 30 days--My DME didn't call me--I had to call them.

[Janknitz]

Probably time to change the cushions. They get soft and sort of "mushy" feeling and sometimes the inner pillow turns inside out.

[jromano]

Hi DebMA,

so far, my fx for her mask has been just dreamy

Glad to hear that your mask has been working well for you for the most part!

but for the past two nights i've been getting an ever so slight leak on my upper lip. it's not the "exhaust vent" as that's angled away from my face...i can't even hear the leak, only feel it. my ahi runs from under 1 to 1.3. i don't have the software so can't tell you much other than what i can read each night on the dinky display, but no large leaks ever register...i'm not sure if this is affecting my therapy, but it IS annoying me, and no matter how i angle the cushion or the straps i can't get it to go away.

Sometimes the smallest things can be THE most annoying...

If no leaks are registering, that's great! I'm not a doctor and I don't know your baseline but a low AHI such as yours generally suggests that your therapy is working.

Janknitz mentions a few other product options here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=58394&p=549544&hili ... ly#p549544

Many nasal pillow users have had success eliminating leaks by going up a size in pillows. Have you tried the mediums?

While some manufacturers will recommend changing nasal pillows every month, the actual breakdown is going to depend on the materials in the product, how well they are cleaned/cared for on a regular basis, how often/how long the pillows are used, etc. Some may start to lose their seal after a month while others may last the user 6 months or more. See the manufacturer's instructions for specific recommendations. Also, while some DME's will call to remind you when you are due for a new product, many will not. Always, always be your own advocate. When in doubt, start making phone calls.

If you think that movement during the night may be causing the problem, there's a great thread about (yet another) clever fix with velcro here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=58377&p=549417&hilit=velcro#p549417 Janknitz points out that this was brought up in an older thread... you may want to check out both.

Even though you mentioned your mask in your post, you may want to post your equipment in your profile (User Control Panel --> Profile --> Edit Equipment). Make sure to select the "Text" option for how to display the information... Other users will be able to answer your questions that much easier, and I assure you there are no shortage of people in this forum that are willing to help.

Best of luck to you! Let us know how it goes...

Cheers,
Jess