FF Mask Leaks - Argh!

[always_tired]

I use an Ultra Mirage FF medium shallow cushion. When my pressure was 13, I had very little trouble with leaks. Now that my pressure is 15, the mask starts leaking after 3-4 hours disturbing my sleep. I have asked before what to do and lanolin was suggested. It helps at first but not all the way through the night.

I have been trying to find some of the other suggested fixes. I have a very important sleep lab coming up with a MSLT promised. However, if I don't sleep at night, how can the MSLT be accurate. I only got about 4-5 hours sleep last night and finally had to get up and take off the mask. It had rubbed a sore on my nose. I can use the Liberty for a few hours but not all night.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I still have EDS beyond what my doctor would expect so the MSLT is very important to determine if I have an additional sleep disorder.

[ww]

I use an Ultra Mirage FF medium shallow cushion. When my pressure was 13, I had very little trouble with leaks. Now that my pressure is 15, the mask starts leaking after 3-4 hours disturbing my sleep. I have asked before what to do and lanolin was suggested. It helps at first but not all the way through the night.

I have been trying to find some of the other suggested fixes. I have a very important sleep lab coming up with a MSLT promised. However, if I don't sleep at night, how can the MSLT be accurate. I only got about 4-5 hours sleep last night and finally had to get up and take off the mask. It had rubbed a sore on my nose. I can use the Liberty for a few hours but not all night.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I still have EDS beyond what my doctor would expect so the MSLT is very important to determine if I have an additional sleep disorder.

I was surprised that you are using software with a machine that provides not data other than basic compliance (hours slept) data.

An auto machine is available from Respironice that includes Aflex. They still have a software bug that skips a day or two every week or two and have had some problems with their humidifier leaking. It is an auto cpap that is data capable p/n DS510HS and includes humidifier and aflex. Private Pay price is $596.00. The Pro version is data capable but not auto and is the DS400HS with cflex, it is the same thing without the auto and private pay is $555, so is really a poor choice for either you or the doctor. The Plus (DS200HS) is NOT data capable (reports only hours used) and should not be taken under any circumstances! The private pay price is $485 and is a poor choice for you or the doctor as neither of you will ever know whether your therapy is working properly.

I have very good luck with the ResMed UMFF by simply cleaning the cushion and my face at night. I tighten the bottom strap in 1/4 inch (0.5cm) increments until the leaks go away. It is a very good mask and as soon as it changes my face to match the mask, it should never leak again! Seriously, moleskin 2 cm x 3 cm on the bridge of your nose should eliminate the sore nose problem.

[always_tired]

I was happy with my Ultra Mirage FF until my pressure went up. I do wash both mask and face every day. I can't tighten my mask any more without inducing pain.

[Diver71]

Just curious if you get a lot of moisture (rainout) I found when using the ResMed machine during my initial hire period after titration that I got really bad leaks after about 3-4 hours and when I woke enough to realise what was happening I did notice that everytime I woke the inside of the mask was quite damp and that combines with a damp face I was getting mask leaks.

Have you noticed increase in the condensating with the higher pressure and if so then this could possibly be something to consider as a reason for the mask leaks.

[always_tired]

The only time I have had rainout was when visiting a relative who kept her house a lot cooler than I am used to.

Even with high humidity setting, I wake up with a dry throat.

[Catnap]

My experience has been that FFM + leaks + mouth breathing = Dry mouth and throat, regardless of humidity setting. I would guess that you're continuing to experience the dry throat because you're continuing to experience the leaks. Try working on not breathing through your mouth, if you can, and you may find it resolves the dryness issues. As for the leaks, if you resolve those, PATENT YOUR IDEA and make a fortune. I'll be the first to buy your solution!

[always_tired]

My experience has been that FFM + leaks + mouth breathing = Dry mouth and throat, regardless of humidity setting. I would guess that you're continuing to experience the dry throat because you're continuing to experience the leaks. Try working on not breathing through your mouth, if you can, and you may find it resolves the dryness issues. As for the leaks, if you resolve those, PATENT YOUR IDEA and make a fortune. I'll be the first to buy your solution!

I read that the first CPAP masks were glued on. The article didn't say with what. Somehow I don't think Elmer's would cut it. But it seems like a flexible "glue" that didn't damage your skin or mask would be great. Why aren't the big manufacturers working on one?

[Catnap]

Good question! Makes me want to park the Elmer's next to my bed for the next time I wake up with leaks hissing out every which way.

[Guest]

Okay, I am brand new to this forum and this is going to sound waaaay weird, but here goes: today when I was trying to nap and my ^$&^$(*^ FF mask was leaking again and again near the eyes with no real reason (except for increased pressure), I found myself brainstorming. I think the ideas I came up with would be best as temporary fixes, but here they are:

1) Bandaids. But, ouch. Maybe not.
2) Nasal strips. They come off easier. But that's one more thing to buy.
3) In Hollywood, when women at awards ceremonies wear those dresses that look like they can't possibly stay in place and that with a single breath something R-rated will be revealed, they use this tacky stuff to temporarily stick the fabric to the part of the body needing to be covered. I am not sure what it is called but they swear by it. I don't know enough about it to know if it would work for a long-term fix on a mask that was great otherwise but just had a couple touchy places, but it might be worth trying. At least we know it sticks to skin, it sticks to fabric, and it can easily be removed. I'll try to see what the stuff is called.

[always_tired]

There are several body adhesives available but are they safe for the silicon mask? I couldn't find any ingredients listed.

I had some luck last night with the pantyhose leg tied around the middle of my face. Maybe it will get me through tonight's sleep lab.

[alnhwrd]

I have used a product called Mack's Silicone Earplugs to get a consistently great seal almost every night. It is sold at most pharmacy/variety stores like Walmarts, Walgreens, rite-aid, etc. It comes in a six-twelve lump pack, and is a soft silicone product sold as a malleable earplug material. It also works great as a gasket to seal a cpap mask to your face. Just take a lump of the silicone, break it in half, and roll it out into a thin rope (about 1/8 inch wide) between your palms. Do the same with the second half. Lay the ropes on the cushion of your mask wherever it contacts your face, with the ends butting up against each other, to form a gasket of silicone between your face and the cushion. With a FFM you may need to use a couple of lumps to get all the way around. When you are ready to go to sleep just put your mask on like normal and smush it down on your face. This has worked great for me for a long time.

[attagirl]

Okay, I got the Hollywood sticky things and tried them last night. They will take a little practice, but the good news is that they worked well. In my case I think my mask was too large and I'm trying a smaller one tonight. When I told my respiratory therapist about the Hollywood stickies, she mentioned later that she had told her boss (the owner of the med supply company) and he thought it was pretty funny. It kind of is, I admit; using what Jennifer Lopez uses to hold up her 2 Kleenexes of a dress for CPAP is less than glamorous!

As far as the strips being safe for silicone, I don't know. However, I'm not going to worry about it yet for 2 reasons: 1) My ins. company will pay for a new mask (less my deductible) every 3 months, and unless I really have a badly sized mask that leaks all the time, I don't see having to use these nightly, so the mask probably won't be harmed; 2) The strip were on my face all night on the tender skin on the sides of the upper part of the nose, and in the morning I took them off with no evidence they had ever been there at all. If it's safe for delicate skin, it is probably safe for silicone.

I couldn't find rubbing alcohol, so I used Witch Hazel which is 14 per cent alcohol and cleaned my skin and that portion of the mask well to get off oils. I snipped one strip lengthwise, but I think if I ever use them again I will use the entire width of the strip just to be safe. I wasn't sure exactly what part of the mask touched my face in that area, so I stuck them on my face before putting the mask on. They held very well and I couldn't feel them at all.

But the irony: of course I still didn't sleep because I was holding my breath (sorry for the implied pun) to see if there would be any leaks! Sigh. Hopefully tonight will be better.

[always_tired]

Okay, I got the Hollywood sticky things and tried them last night. They will take a little practice, but the good news is that they worked well. In my case I think my mask was too large and I'm trying a smaller one tonight. When I told my respiratory therapist about the Hollywood stickies, she mentioned later that she had told her boss (the owner of the med supply company) and he thought it was pretty funny. It kind of is, I admit; using what Jennifer Lopez uses to hold up her 2 Kleenexes of a dress for CPAP is less than glamorous!

As far as the strips being safe for silicone, I don't know. However, I'm not going to worry about it yet for 2 reasons: 1) My ins. company will pay for a new mask (less my deductible) every 3 months, and unless I really have a badly sized mask that leaks all the time, I don't see having to use these nightly, so the mask probably won't be harmed; 2) The strip were on my face all night on the tender skin on the sides of the upper part of the nose, and in the morning I took them off with no evidence they had ever been there at all. If it's safe for delicate skin, it is probably safe for silicone.

I couldn't find rubbing alcohol, so I used Witch Hazel which is 14 per cent alcohol and cleaned my skin and that portion of the mask well to get off oils. I snipped one strip lengthwise, but I think if I ever use them again I will use the entire width of the strip just to be safe. I wasn't sure exactly what part of the mask touched my face in that area, so I stuck them on my face before putting the mask on. They held very well and I couldn't feel them at all.

But the irony: of course I still didn't sleep because I was holding my breath (sorry for the implied pun) to see if there would be any leaks! Sigh. Hopefully tonight will be better.

What's the brand of the Hollywood sticky things?

[john_dozer]

I was happy with my Ultra Mirage FF until my pressure went up. I do wash both mask and face every day. I can't tighten my mask any more without inducing pain.

I found my Liberty is worse the first day or two after washing. A little skin oil seems to help. I would try going a day without cleaning it and see if that helps. As a counter, I would cleanse your face.

You may also have 'leak anxiety' and over tighten your mask out of the gate which leads it to leaking and requires more tightening to stop. You may try to go super loose. Then slowly increase the tightness to the bare minimum necessary to stop the leak. And take a leap of faith that you may not need all that tightening to maintain a seal.

[always_tired]

I was happy with my Ultra Mirage FF until my pressure went up. I do wash both mask and face every day. I can't tighten my mask any more without inducing pain.

I found my Liberty is worse the first day or two after washing. A little skin oil seems to help. I would try going a day without cleaning it and see if that helps. As a counter, I would cleanse your face.

You may also have 'leak anxiety' and over tighten your mask out of the gate which leads it to leaking and requires more tightening to stop. You may try to go super loose. Then slowly increase the tightness to the bare minimum necessary to stop the leak. And take a leap of faith that you may not need all that tightening to maintain a seal.

I'm sure I have probably over tightened my mask. I can't stand being awakened by that "fart" sound. It also wakes up my dogs which further adds to my problems.

I tried the RemZzzs without too much success. The cloth makes my nose itch.