I got a taste of heaven - now it's gone!

[FreeIndeed]

3/30 chart:

[Pugsy]

Have you seen the hybrid modification hints?
wiki/index.php/Hybrid_Mask_Modifications
You might try some small bit of something elastic just around the pillows and your head to help the pillows from popping out. It would help you rule out or in that the problem is in the nasal pillows.

[FreeIndeed]

One more thing I've noticed: When I first started therapy my mouth was super dry. After I got things working well, I didn't have that problem. Now, I'm back to having a super dry mouth all the time. I even upped the humidity a little. I'm guessing maybe with a bad leak the humidification can;t do it's job??

[FreeIndeed]

Thanks Pugsy. I read the link. I was thinking myself about restraining the pillows somehow, so that seems like a good next step. Ive watched the manufacturers video so many times I can practically lip sync to it. The odd thing is that that mask and that size pillows worked before, so I'm pretty sure the sizes are right... even though I constantly second guess that now.

[OkyDoky]

Do you still have your F10 or another mask to try and see if it makes any difference with your leaks?

[Pugsy]

I don't know how long you have used the Liberty or your cleaning routine but the cushion and nasal pillows can get tired after a while and not keep the seal but to be honest...that much leak doesn't look like a tired cushion or tired nasal pillow leak to me....it looks like major movement of either the pillows or cushion causing a significant break in the seal.
And my first suspect would be the nasal pillows simply popping out and I know that we can sleep through major displacement.
I once woke up to find one of my nasal pillows in my ear and from the looks of the leak graph it was there for about an hour.

I think BlackSpinner uses the other Hybrid and uses a small bit of elastic lace to help stabilize the pillows.
You know the kind found in the material/craft section...I think it comes in various widths and a person would want something wide enough to stay in place yet be thin enough to not be overly intrusive. My thinking would be something around an inch or so in width might do the trick.
If you know of a place that offers it in bulk so you just buy a small length you might pick up multiple widths to try.
You want something that offers support but won't squish the pillows while supporting. Pantyhose might also work well. I think that Rooster (who wrote those hints) used tights.

[FreeIndeed]

Do you still have your F10 or another mask to try and see if it makes any difference with your leaks?

I don't. I only have a nasal mask, which I tried, but I'm too much of a mouth breather - I couldn't do it.

[FreeIndeed]

I tried twisting the nose pillows around last night and while it felt like they fit better, my leak was horrible. I'm going to try the elastic band thing next I guess.

[Julie]

I would recommend that you try a soft cervical collar (not expensive at all) because it'll do a couple of things I feel would help you - it keeps your head up more - therefore your airway's clearer (fewer flow limits), and keep your jaw closed a lot better (less chance that mouth breathing will dry you out).

[Wulfman...]

I tried twisting the nose pillows around last night and while it felt like they fit better, my leak was horrible. I'm going to try the elastic band thing next I guess.

This statement reminded me of some "rubber band tricks" that some have done with certain nasal pillows masks in the past.
You might check out this link to see if there's a modification to some nasal pillows mask that might help you with yours.
No guarantees, but lots of reading there......and also in the "master list": viewtopic.php?t=17435


viewtopic.php?t=15104


Den

.

[FreeIndeed]

I've had charts like the following for about a week now!


Amazing! I think I finally solved the mystery of the deathly leak. The key is actually bending the top of the mask down/inward a bit, which sort of over-exaggerates the angle of the nasal pillows. What was happening is that the top of the mask would start out more or less flat and would be right under my nose. Then I'd tuck the pillows in and all was fine. UNTIL the pressure got above 10 or so. The pressure blows my top lip and cheeks out (like those rollercoaster pictures) and the top of the mouth cushion raises and changes the angle of the nasal prongs. That's when they'd start to leak and eventually pop free of my nostrils. I also did have to tighten the straps more and the mask is pretty darn tight. It's tighter than what they tell you in the Resmed videos and literature, but I might be stuck with it. For now, it's working and it's repeatable, so I'm sticking with it. This week I might try to start loosening the straps a little and see how tight it actually needs to be. OR I might be able to leave the straps looser if I start my pressure out higher right off the bat instead of starting at 6 with the ramp on.

Thanks again for the help. I hope maybe this can help someone else. There's nothing more frustrating than losing the benefits of the treatment after you've had them!

[yaconsult]

Wow, that looks like a terrific improvement! Congratulations on staying with it and finding a solution that works for you. These solutions are the kind of thing that the forum is great for.