mask won't stay on

ladytonya · Post by **ladytonya** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:12 am

I'm getting really frustrated with my ComfortLite 2. I absolutely love the thing. I have tried nasal and full face masks and other nasal pillows and this is the most comfortable one I've found. Most nights I am keeping it on I think for most of the night, but it just won't stay on all night. I wake up and it's usually either laying at the top of my pillow or off to the side. I've tried it on top of my hair, under my hair, putting my hair in a ponytail to try to hold it in place. I have had the most luck with the ponytail, but even with that it has just pulled the ponytail holder out of my hair. I've read a lot of the threads on the CL2 and that's where i got the ponytail and under my hair ideas. Oh, yeah, i also tried twisting the headgear in the back as was suggested somewhere and that didn't work either. Please help! I love this mask and want to be able to use it!

Krelvin · Post by **Krelvin** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:20 am

Sounds like you are removing the mask, rather than from it falling off?

ufo13 · Post by **ufo13** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:21 am

ladytonya:

Did you try the search feature on this site? RestGal has a good fix for this interface by adding an extra strap or piece of "panty hose" etc! She also has some interesting deconstruction ideas also ref the connector at the back of the mask!

Hope this helps you,

Steve,
ufo13

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:08 am

Tonya,

Many are swearing by using the Tincture of Benzoin as a "tacky" substance to hold their masks in place, including the CL2 ... Here's the thread:

viewtopic.php?t=10126&highlight=benzoin

ladytonya · Post by **ladytonya** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:38 pm

That sounds interesting, Linda, but I just don't see how it can work with the CL2. My problem isn't that I'm not getting a seal or that the pillows aren't staying in my nose. In fact, sometimes I'll wake up and the headgear will be all over the place and the pillows will still be pretty much where they're supposed to be. I think my problem is the headgear itself, not the pillows.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 3:20 pm

[quote="ladytonya"]That sounds interesting, Linda, but I just don't see how it can work with the CL2. My problem isn't that I'm not getting a seal or that the pillows aren't staying in my nose. In fact, sometimes I'll wake up and the headgear will be all over the place and the pillows will still be pretty much where they're supposed to be. I think my problem is the headgear itself, not the pillows.

Pad A Cheek · Post by **Pad A Cheek** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 3:28 pm

A few years ago when I started out I tried the breeze and had the same problem with the headgear and my hair. I finally fixed the problem by using a large barette and I clipped the headgear to my hair. That solved my problem with the breeze. I do not have experience with the Comfort Lite 2.

Good luck with that. It is pretty frustrating to get the nose part to work to have the headgear give you fits. So close to perfect, yet so far away still.

Take care, I hope this helps somehow.

Karen

sleepless_in_ny · Post by **sleepless_in_ny** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 5:38 pm

I had a similar problem and moved the straps. I found to ti make a big difference, though it still will slid a little

ladytonya · Post by **ladytonya** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 10:07 pm

Sleepless, do you mean moving the top strap to the other eyelet? I tried that when I first got it, but I didn't think it felt like it would work so didn't try it there for the night. Tonight, I fell asleep without the mask on and now my nose is all stuffy. I'm trying to get my nose cleared out so I can go back to bed with the mask. I don't want to have any other issues, so I will wait on trying that until tomorrow night, Right now, one challenge at a time!

Linda, I have seen the pantyhose fixes and though about using one of those, but in the pics with the Aura it looks like the pantyhose is over Rested Gal's mouth. Even though I'm supposed to sleep with my mouth closed, that would still make me unbearable claustrophibic. Having anything across my face just doesn't work. The straps seem to just totally mess with my mind. Ugh! I have to find something that will work here, but like I said above, one challenge at a time. Right now, I have to get my nose clear so I can go to sleep. Why does this therapy have to be so difficult for some yet so easy for others? My husband has been on bi-pap for 5 years. He has slept like a baby every night (except when he has issues with GERD) every night with the machine and nasal mask he walked out of the DME with. Never had to adjust pressure or anything. Then there's me.............. Ugh! Goodnight, all!

linda b · Post by **linda b** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 10:32 pm

I've been using the CL2 with the simple cushion for 6 weeks. Had the problem of the headgear riding up during the night until I used a ponytail. Since then I haven't had a problem with that.

I also use a leg from pantyhose, not the tights that Rested Gal uses, but regular pantyhose. I actually tied it onto the down tube just above where the cushion attaches. Then I take the ends of the pantyhose leg and tie them BELOW the ponytail, pull kinda snug, then push the "strap" above my ears. This sounds weird, I know, but it really works. This places most of the pantyhose strap just below the interface's lowest strap, but going under the ponytail seems to give me enough extra pull to hold the mask in place on my nose. This is nowhere near the mouth, but it does go in front of my eyes -- not touching, though. I've also noticed that using the extra pantyhose strap allows me to have the CL2 straps a little looser which helps keep it from riding up.

I never thought about using a large hair clip to hold the back down, so I may try that to avoid that "wave" the ponytail holder puts in my hair!!

Are you absolutely sure you are not subconsciously taking the mask off during the night?

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 11:14 pm

All right, you folk. Just when I am a few days away from FINALLY picking up my ComfortLite 2 mask, NOW you all start this thread.

I was SO looking forward to getting my hair cut once I no longer needed the ponytail to hold the ComfortLite (older one, borrowed from DME provider).

Now, when I pick up the CL 2 on Wednesday--I cannot get my hair cut on Thursday? I personally vote for velcro head implants. After that, zip-lock lips would be nice. (Invisible, of course.)

There are folks out there with implanted skull things for connecting devil horns--and forked tongues, others tattooed to look like tigers with piercings for artificial 'whiskers'. Velcro head implants don't sound so bad now, do they?

winknblinknnod · Post by **winknblinknnod** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:08 am

I had slippage with the CL2 as well. I took my NasalaireII headstrap (which is basically a stretchy 1" band about 10 " long with velcro at either end) and use it either across the bridge of the nose (runs over the swivel adjustor connection) and around to the back of my head right over the ponytail scrunchie! It hold things togther nicely and i don't worry about the strap being too close to the exhalation ports.

alternatively, I also used it under my chin and up over the top of the head, serves to stop mouthbreathing and again seems to hold the headpiece on nicely.

I then switched back to the Swift because the hotter weather made the CL2 seem too warm on my head.

If I hadn't found this forum, I never would have thought of cannibalizing different pieces or rearraging the masks in any way!

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:50 am

Lady,
Are you using the 'Simple Cushion' or the 'Nasal Pillows'. There is a big difference in how they 'anchor' to your face. A ponytail should work with the nasal cushions. Just attach the straps to the two lower slots on the head-piece. Put the head-strap under the ponytail. Adjust the straps a bit, and then swing the pillows in place. Next, using the adjuster knob, bring the pillows into position. If the head-strap can be anchored by the ponytail, I see no way for the pillows to get loose.

As for the simple cushion, I've had very little luck with it, and as others have said the 'Simple Cushion' absolutely needs another strap..

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:00 pm

Having borrowed the ComfortLite, I have had a somewhat similar experience to the ComfortLite 2 with all of the basic connections and their workings.

One way, I will be lucky because I have the size 4 direct seal for the CL 1. This is a bit big, but I have had to learn the basics of swing into the nostrils, swing it out and twist to raise or lower the tube.

With my CL 2, I asked for nasal pillows and the simple cushion. Even though the direct seal size 3 is for me, I do have some experience with the feeling of "Mommy, Mommy--my nasal interface is too high!" I also know the feeling of "Mommy, Mommy--my nasal interface is stretching my nares!"

For those of you chronically short-haired, that is a take-off on an old kindergarten joke: The girl (usually) pulls back on the outside corners of both eyes and says, "Mommy, Mommy--my pigtails are too tight!"

So, I am hoping that I will definitely like one of the three choices best and will be able to avoid the "pig nose" syndrome. Keeping the ponytail is the worst, but compared to the alternative....

Another benefit of CPAP: I am thinking of being an elephant next Halloween. Has anyone tried this? I would hate to scare someone and put them off using the xPAP. I am thinking ahead, because Rested Gal made me think of Christmas with her pantyhose/tights straps--so I will have to get the gray (or off-black).

That is, unless I do have velcro implants in my hair. Y'know, that could be a styling aid, as well. Maybe I should quit now, just in case I am still ahead.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:13 pm

winknblinknnod wrote:If I hadn't found this forum, I never would have thought of cannibalizing different pieces or rearraging the masks in any way!

I totally agree! If it weren't for rested gal sharing her lab-ratting, I would never have tired cannibalizing masks either. Thanks to her I'm now able to use 3 masks that I couldn't get to work in the their original form and were just collecting dust. With the rested gal fixes I can now sleep with them. She's a genius!

mask won't stay on

mask won't stay on

Securing the headgear of the Comfort Lite2

OK, OK, I'm Picking Mine Up...

ComfortLite 2--Which Interface?