Mask Exhaust Port - Question

I use the F&P 431 FFM -- the ONLY mask I've ever used consistently. The exhaust port is up high, on the nose, just below the eyes. I have trained myself not to put the hose upward, thus having it block (or partially block) the exhaust port.

I have gotten my husband using an S9 VPAP (on loan) and he's using the same mask. He said he likes it and it's fine for him. The data confirms this.

Last night, he turned over towards me and I saw that he had the hose turned up, going up the mask and over his head. He said it was easier for him to turn back and forth that way.

Will that block the exhaust port enough to be dangerous or can I let him keep doing it?

The hoses have cozies on them, if that matters.

I don't think having the hose routed up and overhead will block the vent in a dangerous way.

It's great that your husband is using the machine so well!

Thanks for this. I made him stop last night, but I started thinking about it and the hose blocks it some, but not completely. I wasn't sure if it was a problem, but if the consensus is that it's okay, I'll tell him he can keep doing it.

He's doing remarkably well with this, but had a terrible night last night. He slept like a rock for about an hour and a half, but woke up and was restless the rest of the night.

Very common problem, I know. But he didn't give up. He kept the mask on all night, even though he was restless.

He's a trooper for sure!

Maddie
Its okay to route the hose up, been doing this for over a year and a half. The hose is only in front of the exhaust port, not against it. Its like the wind blowing against a fence, it doesn't stop it but it forces it up or around. The hose does the same thing, the air just goes around it not blocking it.

nanwilson wrote:Maddie
Its okay to route the hose up, been doing this for over a year and a half. The hose is only in front of the exhaust port, not against it. Its like the wind blowing against a fence, it doesn't stop it but it forces it up or around. The hose does the same thing, the air just goes around it not blocking it.

Thank you! We looked at it this morning and kind of came to the same conclusion. The hose is in front of it, but not actually touching it. And since he says it's easier for him that way, he's got my blessing now to continue on!

No problem, that's how my husband's hose is routed, up over the headboard and down. One thing I've noticed is that the exhaust tends to be a little bit noisier that way so I keep the cozy pulled back a little so it's not completely in front of the exhaust. Seems quieter that way? Tell Mike I'm proud of him!!

DoriC wrote:No problem, that's how my husband's hose is routed, up over the headboard and down. One thing I've noticed is that the exhaust tends to be a little bit noisier that way so I keep the cozy pulled back a little so it's not completely in front of the exhaust. Seems quieter that way? Tell Mike I'm proud of him!!

The Ventilator & Oxygen (my stuff) make such a racket, any noise from his side would be muffled anyway.

I had to get downright nasty with him over this because he kept making a joke of it. He loves doing this thing where he promises to do something "tomorrow" but obviously, it never is "tomorrow" as it's always "today."

But once I got mad -- and boy did I -- he took it more seriously and gave it a try. Having the snoring stopped is fantastic. He DID comment that he thought he might be a tad less sleepy during the day after a night on the machine....

I am being very careful about giving him positive reinforcement so that he will continue doing it.

Now all I need to do is find a machine for him! This one goes back to it's owner next month...

I agree it's not dangerous, but my Hybrid is noisy if the vented air hits anything...hose, pillow, hand, etc. That's enough for me to sleep with the hose "down".

When I do use a full face mask, which I admit is as rarely as possible, it's that same F&P 431. I often have the hose running up that way and it doesn't seem to block the exhaust at all. However i don't use any kind of hose cover so I'm having trouble visualizing that part. Is it thick enough to actually touch the holes? If it does then pulling it down so it doesn't might be a good idea. If not, I can't see why it would make a difference.

I'm glad it seems to be working for him.

well if in doubt just get a little dry ice and place it in front of the intake. seal the mask over your forearm( do not breathe it in ) and see if the "smoke" moves around the hose or if it gets stopped.(the answer is it will move around it.) as an alternative if you plug the hose completely,run the machine for a few minutes. then put the mask on the hose and seal the mask. there should be enough difference in the leakage to show up on the software.
i ave seen on the software where i suspect my face burried in the pillow. nothing else could give that low of a leak that i can think of.
the leak rate for that mask is :35lpm@9cmh20 , 43 lpm@15cm

Thank you for all the input on this. I really appreciate it.

He's still using the machine. I didn't notice last night, but I told him that he can put the hose up if it's easier for him. His numbers still look great, but he's waking up 1-2 hours in and having trouble going back to sleep. Bless his heart -- he keeps the mask on anyway.

He's also using this as a way to "blackmail" me when I get an attitude and threaten not to use mine. He says -- "if you don't use yours, I won't use mine" --

Hmm...didn't see that one coming. It's effective I have to say.

How about some Tylenol? If Mike wakes up during the night he'll take one to relax him a bit and he'll fall asleep again. Of course he does have some pain in his hip area at times. As for the "blackmail", I'm sure that was a well-planned response!

DoriC wrote:How about some Tylenol?

He takes ibuprofen every night for arthritis in his knee. And I give him a benedryl as well. I hate to give him anything more.

DoriC wrote:As for the "blackmail", I'm sure that was a well-planned response!

LOL -- perhaps. I hate to admit this, but I still resist using my machine sometimes and threaten NOT to. And he says if I want HIM to hook up (thus not snore) I have to hook up as well.

Dang it -- he calls my bluff now.

Please tell him for me that if YOU don't hook up consistently, he should double your life insurance policy.

LinkC wrote:Please tell him for me that if YOU don't hook up consistently, he should double your life insurance policy.

LOL

Seriously -- when you consider my situation -- I do very well. Perhaps one or two nights every couple of months, I get pissed off and won't use it. It usually happens when I've had "issues" with my kids (teenagers) and I just say "screw it" and don't use it.

But on those nights, I struggle to breathe and can feel how much different it is all night long. By the next night, I'm usually back to my normal self and hook up. Struggling to breathe IS a motivator and those pissed off nights only happen (to that degree) once in a while.

I threaten way more than I actually do it...