inexperience - not sure what is happening - air escaping mask

Hi there. Newer user. I have tried pillows, nose, and liked the feel of FF best so have stuck with it. when i go to sleep, all is good. not even the slightest hint of air escaping. all is calm and peaceful. but sometime during the night, it's like a dike that keeps springing leaks. i cant stop it. one side, the next side, back and forth. like a whoopie cushion. i can't imagine what is going on, and why it is behaving so differently from when i first go to sleep. i thought maybe the mask was the issue, so i replaced the mask with a new one, and it didn't help. the fit seems snug and perfect, so i don't think it is a mask/adjustment issue. when i wake up from the air escaping, i feel like i can only do shallow breath, and maybe my lungs are rejecting the air? thanks for your help and insights.

Do you sleep on your front, back, sides, ?? Pressure on one part of the mask against bedding can create a leaky edge on the other side if you know what I mean...

It would help us help you if you posted your equipment and settings, but my guess would be that you have an APAP (auto adjusting machine) and the pressure increases as needed during the night. Typically we need more pressure in REM sleep or when you turn onto your back.

If you get your mask set well for the low pressure when you begin the night it may not be able to hold against the higher pressure later in the night. Depending on the brand of machine you have, there is usually a "mask fit" setting that puts the pressure temporarily up to the highest pressure your machine is set for, and you can adjust the mask to manage that higher pressure.

This is especially important if your machine is set to "ramp"--that is, starting off at a very low pressure and then increasing the pressure 30 to 45 minutes in when it assumes you will be too deeply asleep to notice the higher pressure.

If you tell us the make and model of your machine and your settings, someone here can guide you how to find the mask fit settings and use them to prevent blowouts when the pressure goes up.

dankc wrote: ↑

Tue May 30, 2023 2:35 pm

thanks for your help and insights.

go to you tube. search for mask fit videos. be sure the search terms include whatever mask you are using.

good luck!

i'm using resmed autoset 9. i do have it set to ramp, and i set it to 14 maximum. it would be great if it was as simple as me laying on the hose. i sleep on my side but turn one side to the other a lot. mask is already snug...it would be a bummer if the problem is my auto machine is calling for so much pressure the mask can't handle it. i will ask my doctor for my prescription. i just had sleep study and am not sure what it is. i wonder if i set the maximum pressure to less than 14, so air doesn't escape, maybe i won't get the benefit of the machine at all.

thanks for reminding me of the mask fit feature. i will see if i have that and try it

dankc wrote: ↑

Tue May 30, 2023 7:34 pm

i'm using resmed autoset 9. i do have it set to ramp, and i set it to 14 maximum. it would be great if it was as simple as me laying on the hose. i sleep on my side but turn one side to the other a lot. mask is already snug...it would be a bummer if the problem is my auto machine is calling for so much pressure the mask can't handle it. i will ask my doctor for my prescription. i just had sleep study and am not sure what it is. i wonder if i set the maximum pressure to less than 14, so air doesn't escape, maybe i won't get the benefit of the machine at all.

thanks for reminding me of the mask fit feature. i will see if i have that and try it

Also, look into mask liners, they'll tame the leaks so they won't bother you. padacheek.com makes the best ones.

i didn't know about mask liners. thank you. seems like a no brainer to try. i wanted to circle back and say that the "mask fit" feature solved my issue. it was leaking when i did that test, so i was able to adjust it. it's better now. still leaks when i move and flip flop during the night, but i think i've done best i can - particularly when i try the liner.

dankc wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 01, 2023 9:50 pm

i didn't know about mask liners. thank you. seems like a no brainer to try. i wanted to circle back and say that the "mask fit" feature solved my issue. it was leaking when i did that test, so i was able to adjust it. it's better now. still leaks when i move and flip flop during the night, but i think i've done best i can - particularly when i try the liner.

mask liners were a game changer when I was using a full face mask, the liners don't prevent leaks, but what they do prevent is the noises that leaks make, air blowing in your eyes, so the leaks are less likely to bother your (or your partner's) sleep.