air leaks

joshdog · Post by **joshdog** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 5:52 pm

I have been on Bilevel CPAP for 6 months now and I am not getting a good night’s sleep. I am a light sleeper so air leaks causing whistles, squeals, Clarinet like sounds along with the vibrations and pulsation in the mask seal wake me up. When I wake up because of air leaks I try to tighten the ff mask headgear. If that does not work I remove and reinstall the mask. If that does not work I switch to a different mask shape. All this makes the Resmed MyAir report look good when things are far from good. My DME provider has fitted me with all the ff masks they have and I have even bought a couple on line where I can't return or exchange them.

I hope others aren't having these same problems!

Joshdog

Okie bipap · Post by **Okie bipap** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 6:27 pm

Have you tried using a mask liner? You can make your own from an old, well-used tee shirt. If you would like a pattern for a liner that can be used with your mask, send me a PM with your regular email address and I will send you a copy of the mask liner I used when I was using that mask.

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 6:32 pm

I really have never had that trouble...I have used the Quattro, F20 and Simplus. None of these masks are made to be worn tight...They need to float on your face. The silicone cushion needs to expand..it can't do that if it is too tight. A liner might do the trick for you...but NOT TOO TIGHT.

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Mon Dec 10, 2018 7:33 pm

joshdog wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 10, 2018 5:52 pm
I have been on Bilevel CPAP for 6 months now and I am not getting a good night’s sleep. I am a light sleeper so air leaks causing whistles, squeals, Clarinet like sounds along with the vibrations and pulsation in the mask seal wake me up. When I wake up because of air leaks I try to tighten the ff mask headgear. If that does not work I remove and reinstall the mask. If that does not work I switch to a different mask shape. All this makes the Resmed MyAir report look good when things are far from good. My DME provider has fitted me with all the ff masks they have and I have even bought a couple on line where I can't return or exchange them.

I hope others aren't having these same problems!

Joshdog

Mask liners, as Okie suggested, were a true game changer for me when I had a FFM... they won't make it seal perfectly, but instead of SQWEEEEEEEE FART FART FART TTHHPPPPTTT... you get a (usually) imperceptible fffffffff. I like to say that they tame the leaks.

The best mask liners are made by Padacheek.com, and the owner is a member here, super nice lady.

mom8987 · Post by **mom8987** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 11:20 am

I'm experiencing exactly the same issues with air leaks. All my numbers look good so I'm "fully treated" according to the dr. But I am awake so much because of the leaks. Maybe I have things too tight. I keep trying to make adjustments. I have two types of masks to switch between but I have trouble with both.

Okie bipap · Post by **Okie bipap** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 12:56 pm

mom8987 wrote: ↑
Tue Dec 11, 2018 11:20 am
I have two types of masks to switch between but I have trouble with both.

Which masks do you use? As stated earlier, mask liners help tame the leaks. They don't stop all of them, but they often make them less annoying so you can sleep. If you use a regular full face mask, go here to find a pattern for making your own liners: http://montfordhouse.com/cpap/diy-cotton-mask-liner.pdf

This liner will work for small and medium mask cushions and can be enlarged for large cushions. The hole in the center is for your mouth and nose. It can be enlarged as long as you leave enough material to go under the mask cushion. I have patterns for making liners for the Amara View and Dreamwear full face mask. If you want one one of these, send me a PM with your regular email address and I will send it to you.

Muse-Inc · Post by **Muse-Inc** » Wed Dec 12, 2018 3:16 am

FFM with leaks. Loosening the headgear might resolve the leaks as might adding a mask liner. Other option is a hybrid FFM like mine (click on it in my signature to see it on our host's website).

Chris8243 · Post by **Chris8243** » Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:06 am

joshdog wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 10, 2018 5:52 pm

I hope others aren't having these same problems!

Joshdog

I am! Also using Amara View, been going on for several months. Very frustrating, I feel your pain!

I'm going to start keeping a log so I can really see what's going on. I tend to wake up 1-2 times during the night because the mask is making noise & waking me. If I've had it on "long enough" I will just take it off. If I wake and it's only 12:30 or 1:30 am, I readjust and try to go back to sleep.

About 2 weeks ago I tried Dreamwear, didn't work for me for a couple reasons. So I went from a Medium size Amara mask to a small size mask, that seemed to help at first but now it doesn't make a difference. I do use a light cotton liner, template courtesy of Okie BiPap (thank you again!) and that is nice for comfort but not the overall problem.

joshdog · Post by **joshdog** » Wed Dec 19, 2018 6:43 pm

to answer some questions here is more info:
For full face masks I have tried Air Touch (foam) F20 large and medium, Air Fit F20, Air Fit F30, Mirage Quattro, DreamWear large and medium wide, along different frame sizes, Amara View, Simplus. In trying to get the CPAP therapy to workout I also tried Pad-A-Cheek mask liners for each of the listed masks except the Mirage Quattro. Currently I am using Air Fit F20 with a band aid on my nose (otherwise it cuts into my nose) and a Philips Respironics premium chin strap. I start out with masks only tight enough to pass the ResMed air leak test. After a little while the masks start leaking and I only tighten enough to silence the air leaks. Then a little while later the leaks start again. Sometimes if I wash and dry the mask seal and dry my face again it will seal for a while. As the night goes by the masks end up so tight they leave groves and indentations in my face (not just red marks). With Pad-A-Cheek mask liner and chin strap at the same time it was too hot.

Joshdog

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:05 pm

joshdog wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 19, 2018 6:43 pm
to answer some questions here is more info:
For full face masks I have tried Air Touch (foam) F20 large and medium, Air Fit F20, Air Fit F30, Mirage Quattro, DreamWear large and medium wide, along different frame sizes, Amara View, Simplus. In trying to get the CPAP therapy to workout I also tried Pad-A-Cheek mask liners for each of the listed masks except the Mirage Quattro. Currently I am using Air Fit F20 with a band aid on my nose (otherwise it cuts into my nose) and a Philips Respironics premium chin strap. I start out with masks only tight enough to pass the ResMed air leak test. After a little while the masks start leaking and I only tighten enough to silence the air leaks. Then a little while later the leaks start again. Sometimes if I wash and dry the mask seal and dry my face again it will seal for a while. As the night goes by the masks end up so tight they leave groves and indentations in my face (not just red marks). With Pad-A-Cheek mask liner and chin strap at the same time it was too hot.

Joshdog

Why do you need a chinstrap with FF masks?

joshdog · Post by **joshdog** » Thu Dec 20, 2018 3:01 pm

Answers to questions: I have environmental allergies so with the volume of air from my bilevel machine causes my nose to plug up. I am using prescription nasal sprays and getting allergy injections for years. The chin strap does help (sleep doctor recommended).

Joshdog

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Thu Dec 20, 2018 3:21 pm

joshdog wrote: ↑
Thu Dec 20, 2018 3:01 pm
leaks

Have you watched several videos?

----------------------------->

To reduce unintentional mask leak -

- Make sure the mask is fitted properly. (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- Make sure the headgear is adjusted properly (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- If you use a low ramp pressure or a low minimum pressure, you should fit and adjust your mask at the higher pressures it is operating at for most of the night. You would temporarily change the machine pressure settings while you do the fitting and adjusting. It's best to do this well before bedtime before you are tired and ready for sleep. Don't forget to change your settings back to the ones you prefer.

- Make sure to use good hose management - the hose should not pull on the mask. Notice how your hose is positioned between machine and mask. It should be positioned to minimize any pull on the mask. Hose management is an individual practice. How it is done depends on the mask, the position of the machine, your sleeping position and other factors specific to the individual.

- If you still have problems, learn from the forum what mask liners are available.

- Start a thread in cpaptalk asking for help. Subject: Need Help with Mask xxxxxx

- If your mask still has excessive leak, try other masks. Many people report trying several masks before they find one that works well for them.

Note: Links to just some of the mask manufacturers' instructional videos can be found on the forum host's website - https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks.php and https://www.youtube.com/

- CG

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Thu Dec 20, 2018 3:23 pm

joshdog wrote: ↑
Thu Dec 20, 2018 3:01 pm
The chin strap does help (sleep doctor recommended).

Helps what? Generally, chin straps interfere with the headgear of FFMs and tend to cause leaks.

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Thu Dec 20, 2018 7:05 pm

joshdog wrote: ↑
Thu Dec 20, 2018 3:01 pm
Answers to questions: I have environmental allergies so with the volume of air from my bilevel machine causes my nose to plug up.

I use an AntiBacterial filter in the hose with my bilevel, my allergies are better when on the machine, than off, thanks to that.

accrn · Post by **accrn** » Thu Dec 20, 2018 8:11 pm

I have had the same problems with every FF mask I've tried. I can get them leak free when I'm awake, but when I relax and my face melts, it's fart city. I've tried loose all the way to uncomfortably tight and everywhere in between.

I've switched to nasal pillows and they're working for me at the moment. If I ever have to switch back I will definitely try a liner.

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