Seeking Ultra Mirage Advice

[dkeat]

For the moment I am using an Ultra Mirage FF. For some reason I have a devil of a time getting the thing to:

1. not leak
2. not turn the bridge of my nose into steak tatar

The two goals seem mutually exclusive.

Last night I put on some "artificial skin" over the nose to buffer the pressure and while it did help somewhat I woke up with a very red area there anyway that still has not gone away.

I have looked at the Resmed website and am following their suggestions for fitting the mask. I am of normal intelligence so that should not be the problem.

Perhaps their is a masked man or woman out there who knows the secret of the FF mask and would be willing to impart it to me.

Thanks.

[ozij]

David,
It may be pressure, but you may also be reacting to residues left on the mask from the production process.

I can attest to the validity of the following recommendation:

"For those with sensitive skin, it is a good idea to soak ANY new mask you use for 30-60 minutes in mild soapy water. "

(This is similar to a recommendation made by the makers of the Aura). I had bad red marks from one of my first Respironics masks. It was much better after I did soaked it.

O.

[TXKajun]

David, what pressure are you using? I've been using an UltraMirage FF mask for about 7 months now and when my APAP pressures get up around 13 or 14 cm, the darn thing does tend to leak.

What I've found works best for me in fighting leaks is a combination of adjusting the mask properly (for "properly", read more loose than tight and use the forehead adjustment!! That thing is there for a purpose and it actually serves its purpose pretty good. I lay down, then press the lever and let the mask do a kind of "self-adjustment" on the forehead piece.) and having both the mask and my face clean before putting it on. A good soap (I use Lever 2000) and washrag to clean my face just before putting on the mask, and a good soaking of the mask using Ivory <a style='text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 3px double;' href="http://www.qklinkserver.com/lm/rtl3.asp ... 0detergent" onmouseover="window.status='dish detergent'">dish detergent</a> and warm water then drying the mask (I don't take the mask apart when I soak it, btw) seems to make a nice "sticky" seal. I put the mask on with my APAP blowing and then pull it straight away from my face to let the seal expand and seal properly.

As for the bridge of the nose, 2 things. First, I used some paper tape over the bridge of my nose....2 or 3 layers. It was thin enough to allow the mask to seal. After a few weeks, the skin on my nose seemed to toughen up and there wasn't a problem. Second, I used some Neosporin cream after waking while waiting for the nose to toughen up. I think the main thing is to try to get the mask "just tight enough" to seal, but loose enough so it doesn't rub your nose raw.

I'm a side sleeper, so I roll over several times a night. I still have a bit of a fight with the UltraMirage FF mask, but it's bearable. One note....I have recently purchased a DreamFit mask and it seems to work great. Lower AHI's than with the UltraMirage and lower pressures on the APAP most nights. I always thought I was a mouth breather, but the DreamFit works great for me.

Hope some of this helps. Hang in there.

This therapy WORKS!!! (even though ya gotta tweak it a bit sometimes)

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): AHI, seal, APAP, clean

[tater pie]

I also tried the Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask and had the same results as you. When the pressure gets to around 10 on me, the thing starts to leak like a seive and the bridge of my nose is hamburger. My advice is to try and find some other kind of mask than a full face mask. They all hurt your nose and leak when the pressure goes high. Mole skin helps the soreness a little but no matter what I did to stop leaks, I just couldn't. I might get a seal but then when I drifted off to a deep sleep, the darn thing would start leaking and wake me up. There are several methods to help with mouth breathing and I would try them all. You would think that a country that put a man on the moon could make a decent full face mask but that's just not the case. Priorities I guess. Anyway, good luck.

[dkeat]

Well thanks to all of your for the good advice. I didn't wash the mask out first and I will go and do that now. BUT - the pain is definitely from the pressure and not irritation caused by residues. But I'm going to cover all bases.

I have really tried not tightening it too much and have been using the adjustment for the forehead, but every time I get it right (no leak) and then shift a bit - there it goes again. The only thing that worked so far is to tighten it a bit more - probably that bit too much.

I'm waiting for my wife to bring me home an Aura mask that I ordered from cpap.com. She will be home in about a weak and a half. We'll see if that works any better for me.

The really strange thing was, I woke up with a headache today for the first time in about 2 weeks. Something which I really can't explain as I think the mask kept the pressure more or less contained for the greater part of the night. Maybe it was the tight mask. Go figure.

[Wulfman]

I'm trying to figure out how that mask can be hurting your nose with that soft rubber "seal" it has. I position the upper part of mine ABOVE the bridge of my nose, have the adjustable pad brace in its vertical position (there's hardly any pressure/tension on the top straps, and most of the mask strap tension is on the bottom straps (which is not that tight either). In other words, I wear mine pretty loose. The soft rubber seal puffs out better that way. Occasionally I get a little leakage, but I don't worry about it that much. I'm more concerned that it's comfortable and that the air gets to where it's supposed to go.

Den

[rested gal]

Perhaps their is a masked man or woman out there who knows the secret of the FF mask and would be willing to impart it to me.

It's that a mask that suits one person wonderfully well can be a leaky, nose chewing thing on someone else, no matter how carefully and well it's adjusted. Short of trying other sizes (Small, Medium, Large) AND cushion shapes (Shallow, Standard) for the Ultra Mirage FF mask...all of which can be an expensive trial and error... I don't know what to suggest. Might just not be a good mask for you, unfortunately.

Nexcare Foam spot bandaids have been reported as padding the bridge of nose pretty well. Or you might try removing the straps completely, top and bottom, and using homemade straps. That might put the "strap" tension at a little different angle to make things better...or worse.

I vaguely recall reading about one fellow who was using a FF mask who had an expensive chin strap, discarded and thrown back in a drawer. He got that out, put it around the muzzle of his FF mask, and fastened the chin strap at the back of his head. Not using it as a chinstrap at all, but as a stabilizing strap to keep his FF mask from shifting and leaking. He said that worked great for him.

[Severeena]

Ultra Mirage, Small one size fits all, Medium, one size fits all, Large one size fits all. See the problem? Not everyone can use the Ultra Mirage.

I threw mine out and I am using the Hans Rudolph.

This mask comes in 7 sizes and they have other pieces to customize the mask for your face.

I am picking up my petite HR in the morning.

I am also a side sleeper and it works perfect.

Can't wait to get the right size for me.

[jdacal]

I've used it for a couple of years and my nose is hamburger and it leaks as soon as my face starts to relax during the night.

At high pressures putting it on the ridge of the nose doesn't help because it leaks really bad there. So the tendency is to place it lower on the nose and tight which causes the damage to the skin.

I put up with it for two years (it was the best full face out there for me). The only good news is that during the two years I somehow got rid of my open mouth breathing problem... so I switched to the swift a few weeks ago and am sleeping like a baby, the nose scar is starting to disappear now. Luckily I wear glasses so the glasses kind of covered it up most of the time.

[Grabraham]

I run at 14 CMS and when I have MaskFart issues with my ultra mirage (real ones not the ones Peg makes up) I find that washing my face again and wiping down the seal with a warm wet face cloth (sometimes a squirt of windex on a paper towel but dont tell anyone) really helps seal things up. Once I have myself and the mask cleaned up I fire the cpap up throw the mask on and LOOSEN the straps out and slowly tighten things back up until I get a seal without pain. Some nights I just cant get it perfect and ignore the small leaks as long as they are not the eyeball piercing type and if all else fails I switch to my activa and tape

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, seal

[joey]

What size do you have? I am a large person but the large mask does not fit me. I use the medium. I also wash mine frequently using baby shampoo. The adjustments also should not be too tight but more loose.
I hope this helps some way. Rested Gal is right when she says that a mask might work perfectly for one person but be terrible for another.

[stunned1]

I use the Ultra Mirage F/F Mask and did have some problems at first with lots of leaks.

I figured out what works for me. I noticed if I skipped a day of washing my mask it would have an oily film on it from my natural oil on my skin. This would stop the mask from sealing properly and air would leak out. I now wash the mask with soap daily, wash my face and no longer use facial cream at night. Also it is important to adjust the angle on the bridge of the nose for a good fit.

I got those headaches sometimes and found out it was when I tried to tightened the mask so tight trying to stop air leaks but found out it is better left a bit loose and wash the mask daily.

[dkeat]

I'm trying to figure out how that mask can be hurting your nose with that soft rubber "seal" it has.

Well, that is a fair question, the answer, if I had it, would solve my problem. It is pretty soft, the mask. The bridge of my nose still got so irritated that it started bleeding. I mean no danger of death through blood loss, but bleeding none the less.

I think it may be due to the depth of my nose. It is rather high. And the technicians at my sleep slab may have incorrectly classified me as a medium due my otherwise normal head dimensions. My Jimmy Durante schnozz though, probably makes me a candidate for a large, I discovered today and took one home to test tonight.

Thanks for your reply.

[dkeat]

Perhaps their is a masked man or woman out there who knows the secret of the FF mask and would be willing to impart it to me.

It's that a mask that suits one person wonderfully well can be a leaky, nose chewing thing on someone else, no matter how carefully and well it's adjusted. Short of trying other sizes (Small, Medium, Large) AND cushion shapes (Shallow, Standard) for the Ultra Mirage FF mask...all of which can be an expensive trial and error... I don't know what to suggest. Might just not be a good mask for you, unfortunately.

Nexcare Foam spot bandaids have been reported as padding the bridge of nose pretty well. Or you might try removing the straps completely, top and bottom, and using homemade straps. That might put the "strap" tension at a little different angle to make things better...or worse.

I vaguely recall reading about one fellow who was using a FF mask who had an expensive chin strap, discarded and thrown back in a drawer. He got that out, put it around the muzzle of his FF mask, and fastened the chin strap at the back of his head. Not using it as a chinstrap at all, but as a stabilizing strap to keep his FF mask from shifting and leaking. He said that worked great for him.

Thanks for the tips, RG. As always worthwhile. I don't doubt for a minute that the additional straps you suggest against leakage (pantyhose etc) don't work. I just find it bizarre that modern engineering is losing out to pantyhose. These %&//((* masks should work.

[dkeat]

Ultra Mirage, Small one size fits all, Medium, one size fits all, Large one size fits all. See the problem? Not everyone can use the Ultra Mirage.

I threw mine out and I am using the Hans Rudolph.

Now that is a brand that I haven't heard of in my long 30 days on the hose. I already got the URL at Google and will check it out in the morning.

Many thanks for that one!