mask leakage

popcpoo · Post by **popcpoo** » Sun Jun 21, 2015 2:41 pm

I am currently using RESMED Air Curve 10 VAUTO, IPAP 20 - 25 CM H2O and EPAP 15 - 20 CM H2O with a Fisher Paycal SIMPLUS mask. I am getting a lot of air leakage during the night. The mask tends to ride up on my face and start leaking. I wake y\up three or four times a night and adjust the mask. Some times I cannot reseat the mask, and must take it off completely and put it back on again, restarting my machine. What can I do to keep the mask in place, or does anyone know of mask that will handle this kind of pressure.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Sun Jun 21, 2015 3:18 pm

There are so many masks out there (see Cpap.com for full variety), have you not tried others - while lying down, because your face changes a lot then? If you really like the mask otherwise, you could try Padacheek(.com) liners that help with leaks, but the riding up and down seems to be a problem - are you overtightening when you don't need to (and shouldn't)?

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Sun Jun 21, 2015 3:35 pm

If you like the Simplus well otherwise...you could try a mask liner like Julie suggested or even the antil leak strap from padacheek.com.

Have you ever tried any of the other masks out there? They will all pretty much technically "handle" your pressures but any mask is going to have a bit of a challenge at those pressures. People get it done though.

I know you are using a full face mask but if you can normally breathe through your nose just fine and don't just HAVE to use a full face mask because you just HAVE to mouth breathe you might look at one of the nasal pillow masks like I use.
I mention it because sometimes people using higher pressures have been told that they have no choice but to use a full face mask and nothing is further from the truth. Nasal pillow masks can be used and are quite stable at higher pressures and with less real estate touching the skin there's less area to leak.
Just a thought that I wanted to toss out there just in case you were told that you couldn't and if there's nothing wrong with your nose...it is an option.

I see pressures over 20 nearly every night...and I just the other day checked my leak since the last of March when I got this new machine and I haven't had one large leak and I never get woke up by even tiny leaks.

JDS74 · Post by **JDS74** » Sun Jun 21, 2015 3:54 pm

The F-P Simplus mask is a FFM that can move at night when your facial muscles relax with sleep. It is possible that normal jaw movement at night is moving your mask and causing the leaks. You might try a soft cervical collar which will support your jaw and help keep the mask from moving. The specification on the Simplus show a pressure of 25 cm H2O as the upper limit of their data chart showing the intentional leak rate as a function of mask pressure.

It may be able to handle higher pressures. Other FFM masks show higher pressure graphs so changing if the collar doesn't help may be an option.

For example, the Respironics OptiLife show leak rates for pressures up to 40 cm H2O.
Since I don't use any FFM, I have no opinion on the comfort and/or effectiveness of any model.

Denial Dave · Post by **Denial Dave** » Mon Jun 22, 2015 9:17 am

I used the Simplus when it first came out and could never solve leak issues. FWIW-- I had the same issues with the Quattro Air when it came out.

I also have high pressure settings... The Resmed Quattro has worked awesome for me for almost 3 years now.

popcpoo wrote:I am currently using RESMED Air Curve 10 VAUTO, IPAP 20 - 25 CM H2O and EPAP 15 - 20 CM H2O with a Fisher Paycal SIMPLUS mask. I am getting a lot of air leakage during the night. The mask tends to ride up on my face and start leaking. I wake y\up three or four times a night and adjust the mask. Some times I cannot reseat the mask, and must take it off completely and put it back on again, restarting my machine. What can I do to keep the mask in place, or does anyone know of mask that will handle this kind of pressure.

POPCPOO · Post by **POPCPOO** » Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:17 pm

I want to thank all of you for your replies. I started with the Mirage Quatro, but it caused a very large sore on my nose. I then went to the Simplus, but had the leakage problem. I have tried nasal pillows and could handle the pressure just fine, but my mouth won't stay shut. I have tried two different chin straps, but they only made my chin sore and my mouth still came open when I slept. I do not have a normal shaped nose. I have a Roman nose with a small hump in the middle of the nose, with a very narrow bridge width. I was originally diagnosed with sleep apnea in 1998, but opted for surgery instead of the mask. I had a badly deviated septum corrected, sinus cavities cleaned out, and soft pallet reconstruction. My job required me to fly all over the country and the machines at that time were much bigger than they are today.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:36 pm

You might look at one of the "hybrid" masks. Nasal pillows and cover the mouth at the same time. Take your Roman nose out of the picture.
They look a little weird and they are a bitch to initially get fitted just right but once that hurdle is over with they are comfortable and there is somewhat less area to have to deal with keeping sealed.

This one I could use if I had to. It's been around a long time and has nasal pillows.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/RespCa ... -Mask.html

Now Respironics has come out with a new mask that works on sort of the same principal but it uses a cradle cushion instead of nasal pillows and also covers the mouth.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -mask.html
It's so new that it is still in the pre order stage but typically once a mask has been offered in the pre order stage it gets released in the next couple of weeks. A few people have had a chance to be part of a demo group to use it ahead of public release and so far the reports have been promising. I haven't had a chance to see one yet to see how stable that cradle cushion is but it's sort of like what we use to have available in a nasal mask where a person could use either the cradle or nasal pillows. It comes with free return insurance so if you hate it you have 30 days to get it back to cpap.com and get your money back. And do call on the price because I think it is $120 instead of the MSRP of $169. Respironics makes cpap.com post the MSRP but they can discount it after the fact.

Something to think about anyway. I can't stand anything on my nasal bridge area and something like this one or the hybrid above would be the way I would have to go if I just had to have a full face mask. I opted to tape my mouth shut when I first started therapy because I wanted to use the nasal pillow mask so badly. After a few weeks my mouth quit dropping open (out of habit and not physical need) so I quit taping and I don't do anything to prevent the mouth from dropping open. It still does drop on a rare occasion but doesn't do it often and never lasts very long when it does do it and I sleep right through it all so I don't really feel the need to use anything other than my preferred nasal pillow mask.

popcpoo · Post by **popcpoo** » Tue Jun 23, 2015 11:04 am

Pugsy, what kind of tape did you use to tape your moth shut with? I like the nasal pillows, but I can't keep my mouth shut.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Tue Jun 23, 2015 11:13 am

I am the queen of cheap ...when I was taping I just used some left over blue painter's tape that I had leftover from a painting job. It got the job done and didn't tear my skin off. Plus it was fairly easy to break the seal if I just HAD to. The idea isn't to cement the mouth shut but instead just to have a little gentle reminder to keep the lips closed.

Other people use various other tapes depending on their skin and preference.
Some past discussion can be found here.
viewtopic.php?t=8011

mask leakage

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