advice for leaks with Dreamwear Full face mask?

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apuaplz
Posts: 15
Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2017 6:53 am

advice for leaks with Dreamwear Full face mask?

Post by apuaplz » Wed Sep 29, 2021 3:53 pm

I'd like advice re: leaks w/ Dreamwear FFmask. I'm using Resmed Autoset for Her. Min pressure 9.5; max 13.5

I've read previous posts on the topic but would appreciate any additional info I could get on this issue.

With nasal masks, despite a chinstrap, I'm experiencing a very dry mouth due to leaks --and I've tried multiple types of chinstraps, the scunci idea, and a cervical collar.

Hence the Dreamwear FFM. The first few nights I tried a medium frame, medium cushion.

Night 1: oscar data not too bad, but poor sleep with multiple wake-ups due to leaks--and received the red-frowny face resmed icon, as I recall.
Night 2: Large Leak, 14%; 95% LR 33, but it leaked for nearly a full hour continuously before morning waking.
Night 3: LL, 38%; 95% LR 39, increased AHI
Night 4: LL, 43%; 95% LR 52. At some points, it leaked continuously for some 3 hrs.
Night 5: LL, 47%; 95% LR 73.

My approach was to start with the mask comfortably loose but not leaking, which worked well as I experimented while awake and reading for an hour. As things went south in the night, I gradually tightened the straps. With loose straps, I heard basic air whoosh sounds, but as the straps tightened, things started to sound like an elephant trumpeting, or a brass instrument, or as my husband thought, an airplane.

I then ordered a small size frame and a small cushion.

Night 1: first half of the night, continuous leaks, despite trying various levels of tightness. 2nd half of the night, it was tightened as much as possible, and the large leaks stopped, though the discomfort from straps increased drastically, making it useless as a long-term solution.

back to the Nasal mask, chin strap, but added somnifix. LL, 0%; 95% LR, 10, at least for a few nights.
without the somnifix: Typical data may be around: Large Leak, 12.7%, 95% Leak rate, 31.2


Obviously, layering up these things on the nasal mask is great, but as the chinstrap tends to hurt my jaw & etc, and I have nighttime reflux, these are not ideal solutions.


So, my question: Is there some level of Large Leak (beyond zero, obviously) that people typically find tolerable?
And is there some way to make the Dreamwear FFM more successful? I haven't tried small frame in combination with medium or medium-wide cushion, etc. (my face does measure Medium cushion.) Due to the extreme fatigue from these experiments, I'm hesitant to keep experimenting without some glimmer of promise.

Oddly, just the slightest bit of pressure from a light touch to the mask from the front or the bottom stops the leaking, but I can't find a gentle tightening of the strap to do the same thing. The tightening usually allows the leaks to continue but with a louder noise. I am also not a restless sleeper.

Since I'm just finishing a year of chemo, etc., I'm already a bit tired and really value good sleep.
Thank you very much for any suggestions you may have. I have learned a lot from the help you all have graciously extended to people over the years.

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CyberSpiff
Posts: 59
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2021 1:47 pm

Re: advice for leaks with Dreamwear Full face mask?

Post by CyberSpiff » Wed Sep 29, 2021 6:23 pm

Try starting here for some ideas regarding fitting the mask and other thoughts.

https://youtu.be/RUwIa3xnsDQ
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