Leaks, Leaks, Leaks, Leaks, LEAKS!

[Aghousewright]

I have been through three masks in 5 weeks...I cannot find one that does not leak and fits right...

I started with the Mirage Quatro FX...leaks (eyes and jaw)
Then I went to a Flexifit431...leaks! (eyes)
Today I got a new mask...and well...its not worth a hill of beans or the time to look at what it is! (Forget this piece of junk)

Now I'm up at midnight, frustrated....does anyone have any suggestions for a mask that does not leak!?

I have tried a pad a cheek liner, a gel like nose liner under the seal...nothing...

If anyone has any help/ideas, please reply. Thank you.

I guess I should add, I need a full face mask...that does not interfere with my eyes...tried a nasal in the office and about suffocated...

Also my DME says this was the last idea she had...the one I used tonight (hill of beans) now what...live in rural area, no other DME...

[Janknitz]

The biggest mistake people make with masks is to clamp them down too tightly to stop leaks. Masks with air cushions should be much looser than you'd guess because the air cushion must fill with air to work and it can't if it's mashed down on your face.

Take a look at my blogpost entitled "Taming the Mirage Quattro" in my signature below. These techniques will work (more or less) for any air cushion mask.

Do not try to fit an air cushion mask seated in a chair or with the machine off. You must b lying down, and the machine must be on to fill the cushion with air to get a proper fitting. Remember looser is better, and if you must tighten, always tighten the lower straps first. The cushion around your nose needs to be very inflated to seal properly.

Good luck!

[nanwilson]

It takes more than a few days to get a mask to be comfortable. As Jan said, read her blog for suggestions. There are MANY full face masks out there, take a look at the pictures and descriptions at cpap.com (our hosts) and you will get an idea. I use the Innomed Hybrid and it took me a couple of weeks to get it tweaked in to submission. Actually I had 12 masks before I tried the hybrid, I also have a quattro that I use occasionally. Do not....repeat..do not strap the mask down tight, especially the quattro it is designed to float on your face......any mask that has a double wall on the face part are usually designed to "float" .

[chunkyfrog]

I couldn't wear the Mirage Quattro or the Quattro FX because my facial geometry differs too much
from that of the Resmed (super)model; so I went to the F/P Comfort gel full face.
--a heavier mask, but the gel enabled me to get a much better fit through more intuitive means (cinching it down-- )
Of course, I had to readjust once I was lying down with the air on (mask fit mode)--to let the creases out and get comfy.
Good luck!