Night 3.....fail

Last night was my third night with a cpap. I couldn't for the life of me get my mask to not leak. Spent 20 min trying, had it all but a tiny leak near my eye, tipped my neck and laid into the pillow to stop it. That lasted for 1/2 hour, then I had a stiff neck and I abandoned the thing for the night.

Only thing different from first two nights, was I put a small Band-Aid on my nose bridge as there is a red, tender spot, and what appears to be a small pimple forming. I don't want an open sore on my nose so I tried the Band-Aid. I see reference to a 3m tape in other posts, would a drug store have that?

Those with more experience will know better, but it sounds like you might not have the right mask for you, or maybe not the right size. Maybe you could try a different mask?

Drug stores do sell 3 m tape.

I like your screen name....I utilize a small DME named...SNORE NO MORE CPAP STORE.

Try one of these for your nose problem....

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Gecko-Nasal-Pad.html

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/boomer ... -pack.html

I had the same problem with my nose. Gave up after 5 days (it got progressively worse) and ordered a nasal pillow mask. Used it for the first time last night and loved it!

I myself could not find a full face mask that would fit my face contour, without leaking. I have tried more than a dozen. A pad on the nose bridge did not help much. So I ended up with a traditional nasal mask plus a chinstrap. But my chinstrap is rough on the face. I also get some dry eyes from air leaking into them. I am not consistent using the eye lubricant that I got from my ophthalmologist. So I just rub over the eyes some faucet water when I go the bathroom. But if my water supply was coming from a well as it was in my wife's past home in Wilmington, VT, I would not do it then. You might want to explore those nasal pillows masks that go into your nostrils.

Called Sleep management Solutions, and they are going to send me a new mask Fisher & Paykel FlexiFit™ 431 Full Face, it apparently comes with all sizes of cushions.

I'm a little concerned it goes below the chin, but perhaps it won't affect my jaw this way.

Snore_nomore wrote:Called Sleep management Solutions, and they are going to send me a new mask Fisher & Paykel FlexiFit™ 431 Full Face, it apparently comes with all sizes of cushions.

I'm a little concerned it goes below the chin, but perhaps it won't affect my jaw this way.

Comment,

I tried those F&P #431 and #432 in the past but the leak was too hi. My Resmed machine can't tolerate more than 24 L/Min unintentional leak. In your Respironics hardware it's done differently. IMO, F&P don't use the more advanced technology in the cushions of those masks of the double silicone flaps as do Resmed and Respironics in their full face masks. But several posters on this board are happy using those F&P FF masks. I know of about 5 of them. They also like the chin support which is also available in F&P "Forma" FF mask. This mask also has a forehead adjustable support, but the #431 and #432 don't. This adjustable support could adjust the fit of the seal all over your face.

avi123 wrote:

Snore_nomore wrote:Called Sleep management Solutions, and they are going to send me a new mask Fisher & Paykel FlexiFit™ 431 Full Face, it apparently comes with all sizes of cushions.

I'm a little concerned it goes below the chin, but perhaps it won't affect my jaw this way.

Comment,

I tried those F&P #431 and #432 in the past but the leak was too hi. My Resmed machine can't tolerate more than 24 L/Min unintentional leak. IMO, F&P don't use the more advanced technology in the cushions of those masks of the double silicone flaps as do Resmed and Respironics in their full face masks. But several posters on this board are happy using those F&P FF masks. I know of about 5 of them. They also like the chin support which is also available in F&P "Forma" FF mask. This mask also has a forehead adjustable support, but the #431 and #432 don't.

Yeah, I tried to get them to send me the Forma, but customer service was set on 431, probably because it costs them less.

Keep trying different masks until you find the right one. I didn't do well with gel type masks because the pressure tends to need to be evenly distributed over the entire contact surface of the mask so it doesn't necessarily flex to fit every facial contour. For that reason I much prefer air cushion masks, and if you get one see my fitting tips in my blog in my signature.

For side lying I adjust the mask unevenly--loosen the straps on the pillow side to
Compensate for the pressure from the pillow and tighten them on the other side slightly but this works best if you don't move side to side during the night.

With air cushion masks, start LOOSE with the air ON. Then tighten only as much as needed to stop leaks. Let the air cushion fill with air and contour itself around your face--don't mash it down. Especially around the bridge of your nose it must be very loose so the cushion can fill up around your nose.

Thanks Janknitz , I was using your awesome fit details last night, but it wasn't meant to be.

I'll try the mask again, tonight until the new one arrives, to try and get use to the whole process. My nose bridge is a little better this AM as I only wore for 1 hour last night.