a quick homemade anti-leak strap that worked great for a ffm

johnthomasmacdonald · Post by **johnthomasmacdonald** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:02 am

Took a sheet and cut out a strip of about 3 inches wide by 3 feet long. Folded it in half and cut a 1 inch by 1 inch X in the middle. Put the plastic hose attachment nosepiece? through the X. wrapped it around the mask and my head and tied it in front. Mask was a fitlife - i had zero leaks all night. Took a bit of effort to ensure that i wasn't blocking the vent. First night i've had yet with a ffm with no leaks.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:09 am

Woven or knitted sheet?
A little stretch would be nice.

BlackSpinner · Post by **BlackSpinner** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:40 am

I use lingerie elastic around my nasal pillows, some people is womens tights.

hyperlexis · Post by **hyperlexis** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:41 pm

Why on earth the manufacturers dont have better, more elastic headgear I cant fathom. It's almost like they never test these masks on real people before marketing them.

News flash to Resmed and the others: when a person moves around while sleeping and whatnot, especially if one's neck bends forward, moving the chin down towards the chest, well goodbye lower seal on a FFM. Then you get woken up from leaks....

And tightening the heck out of the lower headgear straps is not really a solution, because moving the head back in the opposite direction then cause discomfort from overtightening.....

They really need to do something about this. Include something truly elastic that moves with the person -- not just a foam/fabric that has 1/4 inch of give to it.

Rubber bands? Bungee cords perhaps.... LOL

johnthomasmacdonald · Post by **johnthomasmacdonald** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:42 pm

Chunky frog: "Woven or knitted sheet?
A little stretch would be nice. "

I think its 100% cotton and it didn't seem to have much stretch - Blackspinner's idea is probably
a better one

Sheriff Buford · Post by **Sheriff Buford** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:47 pm

johnthomasmacdonald wrote:Took a sheet and cut out a strip of about 3 inches wide by 3 feet long. Folded it in half and cut a 1 inch by 1 inch X in the middle. Put the plastic hose attachment nosepiece? through the X. wrapped it around the mask and my head and tied it in front. Mask was a fitlife - i had zero leaks all night. Took a bit of effort to ensure that i wasn't blocking the vent. First night i've had yet with a ffm with no leaks.

Was the mas a Fitlife Full face or Total Face? Think it will work on the Total Mask? Sheriff

johnthomasmacdonald · Post by **johnthomasmacdonald** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:48 pm

hyperlexis wrote: "
hyperlexis

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Re: a quick homemade anti-leak strap that worked great for a ffm
by hyperlexis on Sat Dec 15, 2012 2:41 pm

Why on earth the manufacturers dont have better, more elastic headgear I cant fathom. It's almost like they never test these masks on real people before marketing them.

News flash to Resmed and the others: when a person moves around while sleeping and whatnot, especially if one's neck bends forward, moving the chin down towards the chest, well goodbye lower seal on a FFM. Then you get woken up from leaks....

And tightening the heck out of the lower headgear straps is not really a solution, because moving the head back in the opposite direction then cause discomfort from overtightening.....

They really need to do something about this. Include something truly elastic that moves with the person -- not just a foam/fabric that has 1/4 inch of give to it.

Rubber bands? Bungee cords perhaps.... LOL"

I'm desperate enough to look into custom made masks - molded to my face. It seems there was one company that made them ( accurest) in Australia that was starting to make them here in the USA. However their web site seems down - http://www.acurest.com.au maybe a victim of the economic downturn.

curest's Custom CPAP Mask Now Available for Sleep Apnea Sufferers in the U.S.
Australian-based company launches in Texas with TrueFIT™ Custom Mask

DALLAS, May 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Acurest, the world's only provider of custom-made Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) nasal masks for the treatment of sleep apnea disorder, announced that the solution is now available to sleep apnea sufferers in the U.S. Made specifically for each individual from the mold of the patient's face, Acurest's TrueFIT™ Custom Mask features hypo-allergenic materials which will not produce skin reactions, is leak free and fits comfortably, allowing for ease of movement during sleep. The new mask lasts three times longer than off-the-shelf masks.
For Robert Couch , a sleep apnea sufferer who resides in Irving, Texas, purchasing the TrueFIT™ Custom Mask from Acurest proved life-altering.
"I was deep into my stages of sleep apnea and was resigned that I would have to undergo multiple intrusive surgeries that were not guaranteed to work," said Couch. "I continued to purchase uncomfortable, leaking masks which forced my wife to sleep in another room so she could get rest at night. The first morning after using the mask, I woke up refreshed and for the first time in years, felt like I finally knew what a good night's sleep was."
"Sleep apnea, a condition that occurs when the upper airway collapses during sleep which then causes the sufferer to stop breathing, has been tied to heart attacks, strokes and even death in severe cases," said Acurest Managing Director, Scott Coulter . "TrueFIT™ delivers the solution, many say salvation, from these terrible consequences and allows sleep apnea sufferers to get back to a healthier lifestyle."
Derived from a long collaboration between CPAP users, technicians and engineers, Acurest was formed in 2008 to further develop custom-made solutions as an alternative to conventional off-the-rack masks that often do not fit correctly . After specific refinements, the TrueFIT™ Custom Mask now represents the state of the art in custom-fitted nasal CPAP mask design and enjoys a growing reputation as the CPAP mask of choice among sufferers.
"Since 1964, I have been studying and treating patients who suffer from sleep apnea," said neurologist and credentialed sleep physician, Dr. John Lawrence Corbett . "Everything patients voice to me that they want: comfort and effectiveness, the TrueFIT™ Custom Mask provides. It's apparent that the attention to detail, implementation of user feedback, integration of medical innovations and engagement with renowned prosthetics company, Medical Art, make the mask the best product on the market."
Acurest has partnered with Dallas' Medical Art Prosthetics to build state of the art, revolutionary, TrueFIT™ masks that are contoured to each individual and provide maximum sleep satisfaction. Customized masks can be found by visiting http://www.acurest.com.au and clicking on the TrueFIT™ Custom Mask tab.

johnthomasmacdonald · Post by **johnthomasmacdonald** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:51 pm

sheriff bufford wrote: "

Was the mas a Fitlife Full face or Total Face? Think it will work on the Total Mask? Sheriff

It was a Fitlife and i think that it would work fine on the Total mask - it's a bit claustrophobic but i actually kind of like that feeling - and depending on where your leaks are you can adjust the placement of straps before tying it.

Stormynights · Post by **Stormynights** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 2:13 pm

I use those cheap little fabric stretchy headbands from the dollar store. They are perfect for me.

Jay Aitchsee · Post by **Jay Aitchsee** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 3:46 pm

Is what you are describing similar to this?
http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_AntiLeak_Strap.html

2 B Sleeping Soundly · Post by **2 B Sleeping Soundly** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 3:58 pm

johnthomasmacdonald wrote:I'm desperate enough to look into custom made masks - molded to my face. It seems there was one company that made them ( accurest) in Australia that was starting to make them here in the USA. However their web site seems down - http://www.acurest.com.au maybe a victim of the economic downturn.

John,

I was interested in checking out the company in Australia that you posted about and it seems down just like you said (I did believed you but had to see for myself ). For fun, I left off the 'au' part of the web site address and was surprised to see that it is a product for snoring, or at least it claims to be... it might work , but if it does so will a band-aid Check it out for a good laugh: http://www.acurest.com/. Hopefully the 'real deal' will come back as I find the idea of custom made masks to be very intriguing!

John

Pap365 · Post by **Pap365** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 4:16 pm

Sherif, If I understood John’s directions correctly, the ‘X’ would go over the part where the hose connects to the mask. I’d be afraid that the sheet would cover the exhalation vents on the total face mask. I’ve had some success with an old fabric headband over the top of my mask by my eyebrows.

johnthomasmacdonald · Post by **johnthomasmacdonald** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 4:52 pm

Stormynights: " I use those cheap little fabric stretchy headbands from the dollar store. They are perfect for me. "

Do you cut them or just fit them around your head and mask?

Jay Aitchsee: "Is what you are describing similar to this?
http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_AntiLeak_Strap.html"

Yes, very similar but i actually think i like mine better since it is much wider , goes around twice, and is tied rather than using velcro which i think gives better control and allows a tighter seal

Sheriff Buford · Post by **Sheriff Buford** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:27 pm

Dang... I get all excited....then I realize I don't have a leak problem... usually at the end of the mask life... I start to leak around the temples. May o the headstrap way if I want get a little more mileage out of the mask...

Sheriff

BlackSpinner · Post by **BlackSpinner** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:51 pm

Yes, very similar but i actually think i like mine better since it is much wider , goes around twice, and is tied rather than using velcro which i think gives better control and allows a tighter seal

I don't like tieing things. Either my hair gets tangled in it or it jams in a knot when I am in a rush.