Liberty....any pointers please?

[CarrieS]

Last night was my first night with the Liberty and my leak alarm woke me several times to adjust it. I will try again tonight and just tighten it up though but I know Im suppose to not make it tight but not sure what other options I have. Going from a NAII to a Fullface is hard enough it would make the transition much easier if I can make a FF with pillows work. If I leak again alot tonight I will be making a trip to exchange and try a hybrid if they have one - I really wish they made a Medium in the Liberty. My leaks seeme to come from my lower side of my cheek mainly when I would roll from my back to my side...any pointers?

[Flying_Norseman]

From my limited experience: Undo both bottom straps then put it over your head and try and seat the nasal pillows. Then attach both bottom clips. Lay back and undo the two bottom velcro straps until they are loose. Tighten them a little bit at a time and test if you can be on your side with leaks. If you can't then tighten them a bit more. You don't want it too tight. Once you feel they are tight enough to be on your side, gently pull the mouth seal away from your face and then let it re-seat and seal.

Mack's Ear Plugs helped mine seal really well. Do a search here for posts about that. If you can't find any (the search isn't great) use google and type in the following: Mack's Ear Plugs site:cpaptalk.com

[Megawatt]

I’ve been on cpap for about 8 weeks now and I have done extremely well and have been able to work through most of the problems getting use to becoming a ‘Hose head’.
I have a Liberty and the biggest problem I have had is the nasal pillows slipping out from under my nose and leaking like crazy. What I came up with has made my pillow snorkeling a dream come true.

Before I put on the mask I wash my face and my nose. I put the mask on and get everything in position. Then I take a ¾” by 3” fabric bandage or fabric bandage tape will do and place it just over the tip of my nose and partially covering the nasal pillows and around and up both sides of my nose. You may have to adjust the size of the tape depending on the size of your nose. I have a big shnoze so adjust accordingly. This holds the pillows in place the whole time I am sleeping. It makes your nose look like you have a pig’s nose but what the heck we’re already ‘Vador Faces’ and now I sleep like I never have before.

I hope this helps

Megawatt

[CamiTampa]

Carrie,

I have been using the liberty for 2 months now and found that if I tape the nasal pillows to my nose with surgical tape I can reposition the mask body without having to worry about the nasal pillows leaking. I use about a three inch long piece of tape and and place it slightly under the pillows and to my nose.

I like the liberty better than any other mask I've tried.
Cami

[CarrieS]

Thanks for the advice I actually dont have leaks by my nasal pillows at all. Mines by my lower jaw - I think I need a small headgear so they are special ordeing me one - until then Ive rigged it up to be a bit smaller in the back with a couple bolos from my NAII - now I can tighten enough to stop the leak I think without having tension right in the ball of my neck like I did before. Tonight I will test run that while I await my new headgear. I have my NAII waiting beside the bed with a new chin strap and polystrips for a plan B but I really dont know if that will work for me I think Im mouthbreathing due to my sinus history not just mouth leaking. Wish me luck!

[Idget]

I have done the same using either band aids or medical tape similar to other posts. Worked like a charm until I had to replace my liberty the other day due to broken elbow piece (squeezed too hard). An obvious defect. Not sure why but having leak from one of the nasal pillows even with the fix. May have to play with smaller/larger pillow on this side since I noticed nostril is smaller than other. I have seen the shoe lace fix in other posts but haven't tried it since I had success with tape.

[WearyOne]

Before I put on the mask I wash my face and my nose. I put the mask on and get everything in position. Then I take a ¾” by 3” fabric bandage or fabric bandage tape will do and place it just over the tip of my nose and partially covering the nasal pillows and around and up both sides of my nose. You may have to adjust the size of the tape depending on the size of your nose. I have a big shnoze so adjust accordingly. This holds the pillows in place the whole time I am sleeping. It makes your nose look like you have a pig’s nose but what the heck we’re already ‘Vador Faces’ and now I sleep like I never have before.

I hope this helps

Megawatt

Magawatt, I tried this last night with my Hybrid and the leak rate was closer to the vent rate than it ever has been. (Hybrid's vent rate for my pressure is 45 and last night I had an average leak rate of 45.2!) Don't know if this is the reason, but if not, it's sure a big coincidence!

Thanks for sharing!

Pam

[lcozzarelli]

Carrie S., have you seen this mask? http://www.nomask.com/

I haven't tried this yet, but reviews are great, and I wouldn't need to wear my nightguard for bruxism (teeth-grinding)![/i]