It's time to replace your mask when...

Hello, good folks!

For about the past several weeks, I can't get my 8+ month old mask (ResMed F30) to seal worth a darn and I'm having to really crank down on the straps. It used to seal well enough to at least not get the frowny-face on my AS10. Cranking down the straps *REALLY* aggravates my nostrils & septum to where I wake up feeling like I got punched on the nose, and then someone set my nose on fire for good measure.

My mask *looks* fine, but as with most anything, looks can be deceiving. Lacking the depth of experience you guys have, I'm left guessing that the rather sudden onset of otherwise unexplained & completely uncontrollable large leaks is a sign the mask is fatigued and needs to be replaced.

Good guess or no?

Are there other typical signs that your mask -- which may look fine & dandy from all outward appearances -- is actually "worn out" needs to be replaced?

Thanks,
-JD

Good guess I would think.

For me it never was so much the silicone though but instead the headgear that got really tired.
But then I never used a mask that had so much silicone touching the skin either.
I know I would often think "time for a new nasal pillow" and change it only to find that the new pillow didn't stop the leak and when I changed the head gear that's when the excessive leak stopped.

It is just like everything else cpap related....comes with a big YMMV sticker.

This might be obvious, but try just replacing the cushion and not the whole mask.

https://www.cpap.com/en/ca/productpage/ ... -cpap-mask

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 29, 2019 8:13 am

This might be obvious, but try just replacing the cushion and not the whole mask.

Absolutely - It pays to be specific in this case.

Thanks,
-JD

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:50 am

Good guess I would think.

For me it never was so much the silicone though but instead the headgear that got really tired.
But then I never used a mask that had so much silicone touching the skin either.
I know I would often think "time for a new nasal pillow" and change it only to find that the new pillow didn't stop the leak and when I changed the head gear that's when the excessive leak stopped.

It is just like everything else cpap related....comes with a big YMMV sticker.

Yep - I'm looking at the cushion and it "looks" fine, but I don't have a new one to compare the silicone to see if there's noticeable difference in "resilience"(?) to confirm my suspicions. In my case, the headgear is likely stretched out, considering I've been cranking down on it, but because it's adjustable I don't think it matters. Out of frustration, I have it tight enough to (for lack of a better description), seemingly "tourniquet" the bottom of my nose. I know over-tight can also cause leaks, but with my current cushion, it's somewhat better than loose(er). I just want it tight enough to stop blowing in my eyes and making cheek raspberries (two leak types that wake me up).

So based on this "lesson learned", I'm ordering a replacement cushion plus a spare cushion & headgear just to have on hand. I imagine they can sit on the shelf unopened a good long while and still be good as new.

This must be "CPAP Lesson" number... um... I've lost count...

Thanks,
-JD

I have always had "spares" of just about everything on hand "just in case something happens".
Best insurance I have found because I have rarely needed something due to some unfortunate accident.
Once the cat knocked the drying nasal pillow off the counter and the dog decided it was a wonderful new plastic chew toy.
Twice I dropped the water chamber and broke the seal on it despite it "looking ok but it leaked like a sieve".
I always had more nasal pillow spares than I would ever use but as the years have gone by I have managed to at least reduce those numbers somewhat since I learned that they last a lot longer than I anticipated and a new mask is likely to come out sometime that would make me want to change and then stockpile different stuff.

I am doing better with my cpap hoarding but I still keep stuff that I will likely never need. The force of the "just in case" reason is still very strong with me.

jaydee, this kind of reminds me of when i have to figure replacing my cervical collar or my scunci hairbands.

they seem to work just fine for a certain amount of time, then suddenly i'm getting mouth breathing and dry mouth.

i've taken to writing the first use date on my cervical collar. don't have enough data yet, but it, at least, has lasted me two months. will have to see how much longer it goes.

so far, the mask itself (P10) has lasted 2 plus years, so i'm REAL happy about that!

zonker wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 29, 2019 9:46 pm

so far, the mask itself (P10) has lasted 2 plus years, so i'm REAL happy about that!

Wow! Is that 2 years on the same mask cushion?

-JD

I will get approximately 8 to 10 months out of my Mirage Quattro. Usually the mask will not seal well. I will then replace it.

Roger

K5MOW wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2019 6:55 am

I will get approximately 8 to 10 months out of my Mirage Quattro. Usually the mask will not seal well. I will then replace it.

Roger

When I used that model, I could not get more than 4-5 weeks out of a cushion.
My DME at the time (crooks) refused to dispense a cushion separate from the frame,
limiting my replacement interval to one every 90 days.
I quit the DME and the mask.
You only need to replace the cushion--but spares of anything that can break is advisable.

I finally changed the cushions on our masks about a month ago. I had two cushions on hand, so I went ahead and changed both masks. The cushion on mine was the one I got from ResMed in April or May of 2018. I agreed to use the cushion for thirteen weeks straight. After the test period, I just continued to use the mask cushion. The cushion on my wife's mask was two or three months older than mine was. I broke down and went to the DME last week and got a new mask and one spare cushion for each of us. I wanted to just get two cushions and a head gear, but our local DME does not carry the head gear. The only way to get one, was to accept a full mask. With our insurance, we get our supplies free (Medicare and Tricare for Life). With what I have on hand right now, I doubt I will be going back to the DME for another year or two.

Normally someone pops in and asks this question, since that hasn't happened, i will.

Been on a diet? Lost some weight?

Been binge eating and put on some pounds?

I've lost weight, over the past few years. Was looking at some older pictures. The shape of my face is much different now.

djams wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 30, 2019 5:18 pm

Normally someone pops in and asks this question, since that hasn't happened, i will.

Been on a diet? Lost some weight?

Been binge eating and put on some pounds?

I've lost weight, over the past few years. Was looking at some older pictures. The shape of my face is much different now.

A qualified "Yes". Started low-carb'ing recently and I'm losing weight, but I would not think it's enough to make that much of a difference, yet. I would say the increased leaking was well underway before I started low-carb'ing. Time flies these days and more and more I find myself thinking I should pay attention to something after the fact (which don't do me much good).

Thanks,
-JD

hey, that's a thought. I have been on a low carb diet since May & have lost weight. Maybe that is why the dreamwear mask now seals for me? I am using a small frame & a year ago I had a medium frame which was too big, and at the time in 2018, the small was too small. I was an "in between" small & medium. That's what made me search for a new mask for the past year & a half. Now, the small fits me great. I still want to lose a lot more weight. I hope a small frame doesn't become too small in the future, but if it does, I may have to go to to Bleep or P10 mask