Should my mask be blowing air away from me all the time?

[DreamOn]

I agree with everyone about the annoying vented air blowing on the pillow, partner and arm! I find the Swift FX most annoying in that regard. The AEIOMed Headrest nasal pillows mask has a fabulous venting system! The air is directed overhead (from around forehead level), so it doesn't blow on anything.

While I'm ranting why can't they all use quick disconnect straps? The activa's straps are GREAT, but the stupid Respironics masks use this crazy clip system, while prone to breaking, are also VERY inconvenient to undo. rant rant rant.

These Respironics Headgear Quick Clips may help you: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Respir ... -Clip.html

The Respironics Quick Clip accessory attaches to the side strap of most of their headgear models, including the SoftCap, Simple Strap, Deluxe and Premium. This optional accessory makes it possible to remove the mask quickly without having to unfasten and readjust the straps each time.

Just my 2 cents -- but I would NOT close up any of the vent holes in my mask as I want to be sure to wake up in the morning.

I wouldn't close up any mask vent holes either. The holes are there to expel a set amount of out-breathed carbon dioxide.

[rested gal]

Just my 2 cents -- but I would NOT close up any of the vent holes in my mask as I want to be sure to wake up in the morning.

I wouldn't close up any mask vent holes either. The holes are there to expel a set amount of out-breathed carbon dioxide.

I agree with both sleepycarol and DreamOn... I would not intentionally block any of the mask vent air holes. Redirecting the exhaust air is fine, but closing some of the vent holes -- I wouldn't do that.

Best placement of a mask vent, imho, is the one on the "Headrest" mask DreamOn mentioned. The "Headrest" nasal pillows by Aeiomed has the vent placed up high at the forehead, and it vents straight upward like a little chimney. The exhaust air never hits anything -- not your arm, your pillow, the bed covers, or a bed partner. I sure love that mask.

[Physician]

I am not sure I would be closing up any holes. The holes are designed for one purpose -- to rid the mask of co2. If you close off part of the vents -- you are defeating the purpose of which they were intended. Even if you feel that there is enough air escaping you may find that might not be the case.

Just my 2 cents -- but I would NOT close up any of the vent holes in my mask as I want to be sure to wake up in the morning.

Agree, but:

1. A reduction in less than 15% of the holes is really quite minimal, and I'm not using this remedy.

2. The holes are NOT occluded when the flow diverter is used.

[echo]

While I'm ranting why can't they all use quick disconnect straps? The activa's straps are GREAT, but the stupid Respironics masks use this crazy clip system, while prone to breaking, are also VERY inconvenient to undo. rant rant rant.

These Respironics Headgear Quick Clips may help you: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Respir ... -Clip.html

The Respironics Quick Clip accessory attaches to the side strap of most of their headgear models, including the SoftCap, Simple Strap, Deluxe and Premium. This optional accessory makes it possible to remove the mask quickly without having to unfasten and readjust the straps each time.

oh that's brilliant! thanks DreamOn! too bad I already placed my next 6 months supplies order from cpap.com two days ago! But this gives me some ideas, I can probably find something like this at the knitting/sewing shop!

[sleepycarol]

How do you know that 15% is insignificant in rebreathing co2? I would think if they could get by with less holes in the masks, the manufacture process would design them that way.

I guess I am unsure how you are redirecting the air if you are closing the holes -- post some pics. If I am confused I know others must be too.

[sleepycarol]

Physician, Can you post a picture or more info on your design to redirect the exhaust flow?

I actually did THREE redirects since the damn air flow on my hands prevented me from falling asleep in my usual 30 seconds.

1. Small pieces of black electrical tape to occlude four holes

2. Epoxy to occlude those same holes

3. A molded "U" shaped piece of plastic re-directing all the flow upward/superiorly.


Are any of you annoyed also by the air flow on your hands or a nearby person ?

Here is the meaning of occlude:

oc·clude/əˈklo͞od/Verb1. Stop, close up, or obstruct (an opening, orifice, or passage).
2. Shut (something) in.

That is why I am confused.

[FoxNewsFan]

I am not sure I would be closing up any holes. The holes are designed for one purpose -- to rid the mask of co2. If you close off part of the vents -- you are defeating the purpose of which they were intended. Even if you feel that there is enough air escaping you may find that might not be the case.

Just my 2 cents -- but I would NOT close up any of the vent holes in my mask as I want to be sure to wake up in the morning.

I am not sure I would be closing up any holes. The holes are designed for one purpose -- to rid the mask of co2. If you close off part of the vents -- you are defeating the purpose of which they were intended. Even if you feel that there is enough air escaping you may find that might not be the case.

Just my 2 cents -- but I would NOT close up any of the vent holes in my mask as I want to be sure to wake up in the morning.

Carol,
I sometimes wonder about all the people who say things about not waking up in the morning.

This is what happened to me recently. I woke up to go to the bathroom. Went back to bed. Put the mask on and went back to sleep. The problem is I forgot to turn the machine back on.

It only takes me 30 seconds to fall asleep and in those 30 seconds I remember thinking, gee, my breathing sounds a little different. Then I dosed off.

When I woke up at my normal time, three hours later, I realized that my machine was turned off.

I quickly got out of bed and tried to see if I was affected in any way, headache, etc.

I felt perfectly normal and even checked my software to make sure my machine was off for the last three hours.

I don't recommend this for anyone and just wanted to share my experience.

Ed

[Cindy58]

Yes, My arm also gets cold with exhaust air from my Swift FX. If I rotate my head to avoid blowing on myself ( 'cause my AHI is lower when sleeping on my side, I like to sleep with hands under pillow) then I get a stiff neck!
I dread the thought of winter as I like to snuggle with lots of covers around my neck and shoulders. When I wake up now doing that, my eyes usually feel dry and itchy from the exhaust air "splashing back" into my face. That's not good for the eyes. AND it's noisy too!

[sleepycarol]

I am not sure I would be closing up any holes. The holes are designed for one purpose -- to rid the mask of co2. If you close off part of the vents -- you are defeating the purpose of which they were intended. Even if you feel that there is enough air escaping you may find that might not be the case.

Just my 2 cents -- but I would NOT close up any of the vent holes in my mask as I want to be sure to wake up in the morning.

I am not sure I would be closing up any holes. The holes are designed for one purpose -- to rid the mask of co2. If you close off part of the vents -- you are defeating the purpose of which they were intended. Even if you feel that there is enough air escaping you may find that might not be the case.

Just my 2 cents -- but I would NOT close up any of the vent holes in my mask as I want to be sure to wake up in the morning.

Carol,
I sometimes wonder about all the people who say things about not waking up in the morning.

This is what happened to me recently. I woke up to go to the bathroom. Went back to bed. Put the mask on and went back to sleep. The problem is I forgot to turn the machine back on.

It only takes me 30 seconds to fall asleep and in those 30 seconds I remember thinking, gee, my breathing sounds a little different. Then I dosed off.

When I woke up at my normal time, three hours later, I realized that my machine was turned off.

I quickly got out of bed and tried to see if I was affected in any way, headache, etc.

I felt perfectly normal and even checked my software to make sure my machine was off for the last three hours.

I don't recommend this for anyone and just wanted to share my experience.

Ed

You have a full face mask showing in your profile. If that is the mask you are using it should be equipped with an anti-aphyxia (not the right spelling) feature. This feature will allow you to breathe in fresh air so that in case of a power outage, or in your case where you fell asleep prior to turning your machine on, provides fresh air for you to breathe.

This feature is not part of a nasal mask since you can open your mouth to breathe. I know when the electric went out one night while I was asleep, I woke up fairly quickly since it felt like I was suffocating.

[happysleeper]

I agree with everyone about the annoying vented air blowing on the pillow, partner and arm!

My Optilife nasal mask and Comfortgel ffm both vent straight forward (both Respironics). We've solved the partner problem by putting a big pillow between us as we sleep in our king sized bed. I miss the cuddles, but I like breathing.

When I wake up now doing that, my eyes usually feel dry and itchy from the exhaust air "splashing back" into my face. That's not good for the eyes.

The reason that I like the venting straight forward is that I keep my eyes relaxed by keeping a soft dark t-shirt over my head and eyes as I sleep. That way my head stays warm and I don't get dry eyes from air blowing in them. I used to get migraines from waking up with light in my eyes, but no more. When I tried the venting-up masks the t-shirt got in the way of the exhaust from the mask.

I'm just gorgeous when I sleep--bite guard in place, CPAP mask on, t-shirt over my head!

Happy Sleeper

[Physician]

How do you know that 15% is insignificant in rebreathing co2? I would think if they could get by with less holes in the masks, the manufacture process would design them that way.

I guess I am unsure how you are redirecting the air if you are closing the holes -- post some pics. If I am confused I know others must be too.

RE: Hole closures. Not true. Closing a few holes increases air flow through the remaining holes giving an increased pitch.

Anyway, I'm simply redirecting the flow and have requested ResMed investigate doing the same redirect.

[felinefanatic]

I cannot understand why the air release has to be right on the mask. Can't they design a tube release that is away from the face? I suffer constantly tearing eyes from the air blowing in my eyes after I turn several times during the night. I have tried satin sleep masks but they cut off the oxygen to the eye completely. I am in agreement - most doctors are not cpap users and cannot relate to the patients problems. Also, why can't they test you for both the cpap and bypap machine during the same sleep study? You have to have seperate sleep studies for each machine type. Sleep studies are raking in big bucks for these testings and the patient is left out of the process except the bill. Problem solving is left up to the consumers to find their way through the darkness that is CPAP which can improve your sleep and health but only if the patient is dedicated to finding ways to make it work for them. I cannot understand why they cannot put a tube extender for the air release instead of having it blow from that facial vent. Hope the manufacturers read our comments and respond accordingly. Better yet, it would be great to deal with an informative doctor.

[Krelvin]

1) This thread was last used on Thu Jul 29, 2010. More than 4 years ago.

2) Not all masks have exhaust on the front of them. Some have it down lower to the hose connection.

3) Just a guess, but there most likely is a good reason why they don't have an extended tube for exhaust. You would have to ask one of their developer teams that question.

4) Most likely air in your eyes is from a leak, not mask exhaust.

5) Your experience with your sleep study was much different from my first. They tested 3hrs without mask, and the rest of the time with mask and switched modes while I was sleeping from CPAP, to Bilevel all in the same test. So you should ask your Sleep Dr/Sleep Center/Insurance those questions. BTW not all testing is conclusive. So further testing might still be needed.

6) Doubt any MFG's are reading this. Mask development is a long expensive process.

This is a user forum for providing some of what you say you didn't get. Hopefully you will find answers to your questions here.

Register and join the converstation.

[Wulfman...]

I cannot understand why the air release has to be right on the mask. Can't they design a tube release that is away from the face? I suffer constantly tearing eyes from the air blowing in my eyes after I turn several times during the night. I have tried satin sleep masks but they cut off the oxygen to the eye completely. I am in agreement - most doctors are not cpap users and cannot relate to the patients problems. Also, why can't they test you for both the cpap and bypap machine during the same sleep study? You have to have seperate sleep studies for each machine type. Sleep studies are raking in big bucks for these testings and the patient is left out of the process except the bill. Problem solving is left up to the consumers to find their way through the darkness that is CPAP which can improve your sleep and health but only if the patient is dedicated to finding ways to make it work for them. I cannot understand why they cannot put a tube extender for the air release instead of having it blow from that facial vent. Hope the manufacturers read our comments and respond accordingly. Better yet, it would be great to deal with an informative doctor.

That's where your nose is and where you're inhaling therapy air and exhaling the air that's got CO2 in it. You want to exhale the CO2.

My guess is that you haven't given all of this a whole lot of thought and don't "understand" very much about it.


Den

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