mask adjustment questions. software

im going on 3 or four weeks now, and think im adjusting fairly decently.
I use a swift lt nasal pillow mask, and for the most part i think it's going ok. but the past few nights ive been having problems.

at first it felt like it was too tight, and my nose was being scrunched up into my face. last night i loosened it a bit, but found that i woke up so many times to adjust it for leaks. i woke up about 5 am and discovered that I had taken it completely off.. i have no recollection of doing this. i put it back on and went back to sleep.

so im guessing, tighter is better and my nose will adjust?

Also, how big of a deal is it if i *occasionally* wake up because my mouth is open. i really want to avoid chinstraps or taping, and i think that my mouth is shut 98% of the time. is it really bad to have some leaking because the mouth is open? i don't sleep with my mouth open, i don't wake up with a dry mouth as a matter of habit, ive just found that maybe 2 or so times a week ive opened my mouth.

While i haven't tried one (except for a few mins at the sleep lab), i just don't think a FFM would work for me. I really want to make this type of mask work. I've solved the problem of pushing my teeth together wrong, i think, so just need to iron out these last few kinks.

I got my new machine, the M series Pro on Monday. have the software and purchased the card reader just tonight. so hopefully within a week or so ill get the card reader and actually be able to see my data. I'll likely be asking you for help on interpreting it.

thanks

This article will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about leaks:

wiki/index.php/Mask_Leaks

Hi, well a couple of things I could mention here... for one thing, there is no earthly reason you have to put up with a badly fitted mask, or one that hurts or one that doesn't really address your needs. There are so many out there and it seems that all the DME's fit newbies with the one you have (been there long ago) and I can't fathom why, especially as they're noisy apart from anything else. I don't know why you think a FF mask wouldn't work, considering you haven't tried any, and because it really does sound like you might need one but are possibly, just maybe fooling yourself that you don't. I went through the whole mask thing at the beginning (5+ yrs ago) and got very frustrated just finding something to fit that would stay on all night, never mind anything else, but now have used the UltraMirage FF for years and can't imagine doing without it. It's no harder to adjust to than a nasal one (or prongs/cushions which are definitely not my thing) and if it's more comfortable and effective for you, you'll feel so much better. Give yourself a chance - try others in a variety of sizes, and don't let others who might have had bad experiences influence you to the point of not even letting yourself try something else. Good luck, I'm sure you'll do fine.

Julie wrote: I don't know why you think a FF mask wouldn't work, considering you haven't tried any, and because it really does sound like you might need one but are possibly, just maybe fooling yourself that you don't.

I tried a couple different ones on at the sleep lab and felt very claustrophobic. Quite possible it's something i would adjust to, but my initial reaction was that I didn't like the way they felt.

Julie wrote:no earthly reason you have to put up with a badly fitted mask

I guess I assumed that the problem was just strap adjustments. I've changed them a few times over the last couple weeks, so I don't know that I can blame the DME.

With the Swift LT tighter is not better. Your nose shouldn't have to get used to what you describe in order to stop leaks. You might try loosening everything up and restrapping. Try different angles of the pillow or different pillow sizes. Some people use Ayr Gel or Lansinoh lanolin to help the seal. I use a little Ayr Gel--not 100% sure it makes a difference, but its use coincided with a leak improvement for me.

When you get your software you'll be able to better tell whether your dry mouth episodes correspond to long enough leak periods to severely compromise your therapy. I think the only way that would not be happening is if you wake up very shortly after opening your mouth. In any case, only the software will let you know whether you are spending much of your night essentially untreated. If that happens two of seven nights you might very well be, as Julie suggested, fooling yourself.

I have a nasal pillow mask and am balancing its comfort with my leak profile and therapy results. I use a chin strap and a little tape. I'm doing well for the moment but have not ruled out a FFM in the future.