Amara View Mask leaking excessively

[stevez]

I'm new here and use a Dreamstation with Amara View mask. I've been reading here a lot, but some of it's still greek to me. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea with both obstructive and central. My machine is a BPAP and the pressure numbers are 17/14. It's been 4 months and I'm just not getting better at using this thing. I took my card in to the sleep doc about 6 weeks ago and I don't remember specific numbers, but he said my numbers are looking good. I asked to have the pressure reduced and he said no because I have central apnea. I have had the Amara View and one other FFM they gave me that I tried one night and couldn't stand. Sometimes the AV feels fine and I go to sleep, but I move around a lot and it invariably starts leaking in my eye or all over my face. Feels like someone is standing over me with a leaf blower. I am a large man with a beard and don't know if that's affecting the seal. I've tried both the medium and large masks and for a while the medium improved. I get another mask in August and wanted to know if there are any recommendations for good FFM's that are better at sealing, but not as obstructive on the forehead? Thank you all.

[ChicagoGranny]

leaking

To reduce unintentional mask leak -

- Make sure the mask is fitted properly. (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- Make sure the headgear is adjusted properly (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- If you use a low ramp pressure or a low minimum pressure, you should fit and adjust your mask at the higher pressures it is operating at for most of the night. You would temporarily change the machine pressure settings while you do the fitting and adjusting. It's best to do this well before bedtime before you are tired and ready for sleep. Don't forget to change your settings back to the ones you prefer.

- Make sure to use good hose management - the hose should not pull on the mask. Notice how your hose is positioned between machine and mask. It should be positioned to minimize any pull on the mask. Hose management is an individual practice. How it is done depends on the mask, the position of the machine, your sleeping position and other factors specific to the individual.

- If you still have problems, learn from the forum what mask liners are available.

- If your mask still has excessive leak, try other masks. Many people report trying several masks before they find one that works well for them.

Note: Links to just some of the mask manufacturers' instructional videos can be found on the forum host's website - https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks.php and https://www.youtube.com/

- CG

[stevez]

Thanks for your feedback. I will follow the link and look at the videos. Haven't done that, but I did follow their links for the sizing chart and measured. I was originally fitted with a large and after the fitting I performed, it showed I should have a medium. I ordered that and for a night or two it worked better. I just ordered some liners specific for the Amara View, but haven't received or tried yet.

I do lower the setting while I get it strapped correctly and start off pretty good with no leaks. It's after I move a bit and wake up every single night after 2 or maybe 3 hours. Have trouble getting back to sleep and that's when the excessive leaking seems to be the worst. Seems good when I originally get it set, but if move ( and I do) it won't stay sealed. To stop the leaks I have to have it so tight it hurts.

Thanks again and I'll try the liners and review the videos.

[Pugsy]

The beard presents additional challenges. Have you tried a mask liner?

How come the full face mask? Do you simply have to breathe through your mouth because you can't get your nose cleared up enough to breathe comfortably through only your nose?
If you normally breathe through your nose just fine during the day and night then you might look at one of the nasal pillow masks...they are much more forgiving when it comes to leaks caused by facial hair because they don't really touch the facial hair.

Now if you have chronic nasal congestion where you simply can't ever be comfortable breathing through just your nose then obviously a nasal mask won't work but sometimes people are given full face masks because they think they are mouth breathers and they really aren't.

[stevez]

Thanks. I wanted the nasal pillow mask only and was told initially by the doctor that may be difficult given my high pressures required. I did use one during the sleep study and they said I had some trouble with it. I would like to try again though as it seems so less intrusive. I have no trouble breathing through my nose but I'm guessing I may be a mouth breather as I do wake up most nights with an extremely dry mouth and throat. Every night.

[Pugsy]

I use higher pressures than you every night...sometimes over 20 cm and I have never used anything but a nasal pillow mask.
That's an old wives tale about high pressures and nasal pillows...don't know how it ever got started. It's not like they go flying across the room like a deflating balloon.

You might be surprised. I thought I was a mouth breather also but figured out the mouth breathing was more out of habit from gasping for air from the apnea events.

Dry mouth can be an indication of mouth breathing but it takes very little mouth breathing to dry out the night (I have had it happen with maybe 10 minutes of mouth breathing) or it could also be related to medications.

My suggestion is to try a nasal pillow mask when you can get one and your machine is a full data machine so if you do much mouth breathing it will show up as excessive leak and then you can deal with it if you need to. You won't ever know unless you try. There are ways to limit/reduce/prevent mouth breathing if it is a problem.

[stevez]

Thank you Pugsy. I will try that. Steve

[EdNerd]

I had a hard time with the Amara View until I read the adjustment tips given in the link in my signature.

Ed

[Comfortably Numb]

I'm new here and use a Dreamstation with Amara View mask. I've been reading here a lot, but some of it's still greek to me. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea with both obstructive and central. My machine is a BPAP and the pressure numbers are 17/14. It's been 4 months and I'm just not getting better at using this thing. I took my card in to the sleep doc about 6 weeks ago and I don't remember specific numbers, but he said my numbers are looking good. I asked to have the pressure reduced and he said no because I have central apnea. I have had the Amara View and one other FFM they gave me that I tried one night and couldn't stand. Sometimes the AV feels fine and I go to sleep, but I move around a lot and it invariably starts leaking in my eye or all over my face. Feels like someone is standing over me with a leaf blower. I am a large man with a beard and don't know if that's affecting the seal. I've tried both the medium and large masks and for a while the medium improved. I get another mask in August and wanted to know if there are any recommendations for good FFM's that are better at sealing, but not as obstructive on the forehead? Thank you all.

I went through the same experience with the Amara View and eventually settled on the Resmed F20. I can't imagine a more comfortable full face mask, and my leaks have disappeared. You should give this one a try.

[stevez]

Thanks Ed and Numb. I'll check these out.

[bigdave36]

When I first started using the Amara View I was using a Large cushion. It leaked horribly. I downloaded a sizing chart and it turns out I needed a medium. Big surprise as they don't call me Bigdave for nothin:). It made a huge difference. Few leaks after getting used to it, by far my favorite of the 3 masks I have tried thus far.
Good luck.

[stevez]

Thanks Dave. I'm a big man too and they gave me a large, but I later measured my nose bridge and it came up medium. Ordered that and it did improve dramatically for a few days. I am still struggling with it staying fit while I'm sleeping and moving around. I am going to try the nose only mask and just see how I do on that. Thanks.

[Comfortably Numb]

Thanks Dave. I'm a big man too and they gave me a large, but I later measured my nose bridge and it came up medium. Ordered that and it did improve dramatically for a few days. I am still struggling with it staying fit while I'm sleeping and moving around. I am going to try the nose only mask and just see how I do on that. Thanks.

Dude, nothing personal, but when you finally land on the F20, you're going to be so happy and you'll wish, like I did, that you could get these minutes back.....

[stevez]

Thanks! I ordered the Airfit F20 today. I have to do something as I'm getting less and less sleep with Amara View. Seems to be leaking more than ever if I move ever so slightly. Thanks for the recommendation and I'll let you know.

[Comfortably Numb]

Thanks! I ordered the Airfit F20 today. I have to do something as I'm getting less and less sleep with Amara View. Seems to be leaking more than ever if I move ever so slightly. Thanks for the recommendation and I'll let you know.

Good move. Make sure you use the template (available on cpap.com for the F20) to get the correct size. Their sizing doesn't necessarily hold true from one model to another. I was using the N20 size medium and it was a good fit--just too much leakage thru the mouth. When I decided to try the F20, I remembered a post where someone had commented about getting the wrong size in this mask. I went to cpap.com and cut out the F20 template. Just like the other guy, I was a size large.

I think you'll be surprised at how your leak rate is significantly lower with this mask as compared with the Amara View. Keep in mind that because it is a larger mask, you may have to go into the clinical settings on you machine and slightly increase your pressure. I was doing great with the N20 set at 5>9. When I changed to the F20, I had to increase my pressure to 7>13 to get the same results. But the end result is I'm sleeping much better because I'm no longer awakened throughout the night with bursts of air leaking out of my mouth.