newbie, need help!

[purpleturtle]

I got a cpap about 6 weeks ago, I have osa and csa. my boyfriend cant sleep in the same room with my snoring so we decided to get help and get a cpap to help with my sleepiness and snoring. I didn't have any issues other than gas which I can deal with. I am a mouth breather so they gave me a resmed Quattro mask, size small. my pressure is at 12.0 I try to sleep on my side because that helps with not swallowing so much air and prevents the gas pains usually. lately I have been having problem either it leaks up in through the top of the nose to my eyes or a little bit under the chin. I don't know if its possible to get a nose mask or something smaller, will that help? is that an option as a mouth breather? my doctor is worthless and so is the company that provided the cpap so im kind of at a loss for what to do. does anyone have any suggestions? I am going to buy a new cushion in hopes that might help. I have tried tightening the mask but that's uncomfortable and doesn't really help either.

[Pugsy]

Exactly which brand and model machine are you using?
A fixed pressure of 12 cm is a bit unusual setting for someone with both central and obstructive sleep apnea.

Do you mouth breathe because of nasal congestion or habit? If it's nasal congestion causing the mouth breathing and you can't clear up the nose enough to breathe comfortably through the nose with the mouth shut then you need to stick with a full face mask.
If it's out of habit and you normally can breathe through your nose just fine then it might be possible to learn to break the mouth breathing habit and use a nasal interface mask like a nasal pillow or nasal cushion which is a bit easier to keep sealed due to less surface area requiring a seal.

For a full face mask that might be easier to keep a seal you might look at the Amara View.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... -mask.html

Alternately with your existing mask you might try adding a mask liner and see if that helps or not.
You can make your own mask liner out of an old T shirt or you can buy them.
I would suggest making one first just to see if it helps or not before spending money on a liner.
You can get an idea what they look like here.
http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_Maskliners.html

[Julie]

I'd also look at a Cpap bed pillow - it has cutouts for the mask (when on your side) and you could probably make one yourself.

[bettiola]

It may also help with leaks if you have the hose suspended above the bed. You can drape it over the headboard or pllow or rig up a loop attached to the wall to hold it in place. I find that I am most apt to have leaks when I am sleeping on my back, not so much sleeping on my side. It could make a difference.
Good luck!

[Okie bipap]

Since I started running the hose up over the headboard and down the side of my head toward the middle of the bed, my leaks have been much less. I use a hose cover which adds weight to it. If the hose falls off the edge of the bed, it pulls the hose sideways and causes a lot of leakage.