CPAPtalk.com

I posted earlier about some strange results I was having with the Liberty. With the Liberty I had no leaks but a much higher AHI (11.1) than on my pillows masks with no leaks (generally less than 1.0).

I used it again last night for 5 hours and had only one hypopnea during that time. The leak rate was similar, not a straight line like night 1 but just those little bumps up one notch and down another, in a very straight line like a zipper pattern. (I've never understood what causes that pattern). The overall leak rate seemed about the same on night 2 as on night 1.

It's possible that I slept on my back on night 1 for part of the night. Even though I wear a backpack with a pillow stuffed in it, occasionally I end up sleeping on my back with the backpack under my arched back . (My body seems to be programmed to want to do this). However, when this happens my AHI has always still been under 5.0, like 3.0 or 4.0.

Last night I wore the Liberty due to congestion from a cold. I'm thrilled that it worked so well! While it's nowhere as good as the Headrest/Aura/Twilight for side sleeping, I think it works better for me than the hybrid for side sleeping, though if the cold goes on for a while, I may try out the hybrid again just to see for sure. I have some chin irritation from this mask.

I'm very happy with it, considering the other options, but I'm sure that their making only 2 sizes was a mistake. The small size cushion was definitely wrong for me, lots of leaks, but the large size is somewhat too large and the mask has to be tightened more than it would need to be with a somewhat smaller size. It would be nice if they would make a medium, but it's advertised as being more convenient for the DME to fit since there are only 2 sizes.

I certainly hope other companies will design hybrid-type masks. If I could find one that fit really well I might use it as my main mask.

but it's advertised as being more convenient for the DME to fit since there are only 2 sizes.

Oh great. And then you-know-who comes and tells us to patronise our local DMEs because we get better service. Resmed must have the same experiece most of us have had of the patience and intelligence of the garden variety DME....

Glad to hear the Liberty worked for you. And goggling at the visual of you sleeping on your back - pack.

O.

My Liberty worked well the first night as far as not leaking. I didn't have any data to look at then since I had the piece of crap first machine my DME tried to pawn off on me. Once I set the range to 8 - 16 on my APAP the mask was unusable as the pressure got higher. Anything over 11 would pretty much blow it off my face. It is unfortunate, because at pressures lower than 11, it was very nice and comfortable.

I very much like my liberty mask. I am on week four and am starting to have good results. I have a beard and high pressure 16 and had real problems with leaks and pillows leaks. I started using Mac's silicon ear plugs to roll and flatten an put on the seal. It really helped with the leaks and creating a great seal. My leaks went from 60s-90s to last night of 12. I am holding the pillows on tight with band aids and I will tonight use some of the creams recommended to help with seal. Right now I am not having any problems with seals after above. I am still working on getting my AHI down. I went from 15-20 ahi with 15 pressure and now I am at 16.4 and last three nights had 4-9 AHI. Since there isn't a seal problem I may up the pressure just a tad to 16.6 to see if any better. Overall I like the Liberty the best of any full face mask I use.

[quote="Idget"]I very much like my liberty mask. I am on week four and am starting to have good results. I have a beard and high pressure 16 and had real problems with leaks and pillows leaks. I started using Mac's silicon ear plugs to roll and flatten an put on the seal. It really helped with the leaks and creating a great seal. My leaks went from 60s-90s to last night of 12. I am holding the pillows on tight with band aids and I will tonight use some of the creams recommended to help with seal. Right now I am not having any problems with seals after above. I am still working on getting my AHI down. I went from 15-20 ahi with 15 pressure and now I am at 16.4 and last three nights had 4-9 AHI. Since there isn't a seal problem I may up the pressure just a tad to 16.6 to see if any better. Overall I like the Liberty the best of any full face mask I use.

Idget wrote:I very much like my liberty mask. I am on week four and am starting to have good results. I have a beard and high pressure 16 and had real problems with leaks and pillows leaks. I started using Mac's silicon ear plugs to roll and flatten an put on the seal. It really helped with the leaks and creating a great seal. My leaks went from 60s-90s to last night of 12. I am holding the pillows on tight with band aids and I will tonight use some of the creams recommended to help with seal. Right now I am not having any problems with seals after above. I am still working on getting my AHI down. I went from 15-20 ahi with 15 pressure and now I am at 16.4 and last three nights had 4-9 AHI. Since there isn't a seal problem I may up the pressure just a tad to 16.6 to see if any better. Overall I like the Liberty the best of any full face mask I use.

I keep reading about "Mack's silicone earplug" thing. Seems like a lot of folks are trying this and it's working. (Wonder if this shouldn't be in the "CPAP FAQ" or "Collective Wisdom" area.) Do you just roll them kinda snake-like and push it up against where the seal meets your skin?

Also, I use this below (rounded shoelace) for the Hybrid pillows to keep them in place. (Tie it around the strap in the back that has the label on it.) Don't know if it would help the Liberty pillows or not, or if it would be tight enough to help at higher pressures (I'm only at 8.5), but just thought I'd throw it out there in case. So far, I haven't had trouble with the Liberty pillows.




Pam

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): AHI, seal

I looked and found Idget's description from another thread. Here's the quote

Idget wrote:I took suggestion of using Mac's silicon ear plugs to mold a flat bead of silicon putty around the mask. This has made a great improvement to my leak rate keeping under 20 most nights. Only makes clean up a bit longer, but the silicon just comes off like putty in one piece but some will stick to mask. Comes off easy enough with soap and water though.

I hope they have them at Walgreens or someplace like that.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, clean

Wearyone, did you also try a little rubber band?
I love the pillows before they are cut apart so much that once i find the sweet spot, I put a little rubber band to hold in place.

Idget, my liberty broke in two places within the first 2 weeks

viewtopic/t25812/Be-very-careful-with-e ... -Mask.html

For the Mac's silicon, I take two of the ear plugs and mold together, than on a flat surface (marble counter top works great), I roll the silicon putty to a long snake like around six inches or so. I then use some thing round like a rolling pin (but something smaller) and flatten the "snake". I then put it around the mask. I make sure that there is an edge to the mask on the inside rim that is no covered so the silicon isn't coming inside the mask. Just a precaution, while I don't think a piece of the silicon would break off, you wouldn't want to enhale it. Some of the silicone will be pressed out and you will see it on the outside of mask. That is fine. It really sticks well, but in the morning it comes off in one piece off my face. No pieces sticky on my face and I have a beard. It will still be sticky rather well to the mask, but by gently pulling at the silicon on you can pull it off in one piece. There shouldn't be much sticking on the mask. Maybe some tiny pieces but you can clean them off easily with soap and water. I then just roll the silicon up in a ball and put it back in the plastic container for the next night to do the whole process over again. Not sure how long you can use each piece but I have been using the same piece for a week and still works fine. You can buy the Mac's in a larger size 12 pack for about $5 at most any pharmacy. Thanks for the trick on the shoelaces for the pillows. I will try that. I am using band aids right now, but would like to find something that is cheaper in the long run. Will let you all know how that works.

A four pack looks like this - I use them to keep water from entering my ear when I swim (they're for that and for noise protection).


O.

Right - spelling mistake on my Part it is Mack's not Mac's

Night 3: I tried the Mack's silicone ear plugs seal tonight when I put the mask on. It worked great! I was able to leave the straps quite a bit looser without any leaks. Highly recommended!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got to sleep just fine, but then I woke up with a coughing fit! I'm going to use the Headrest for the rest of the night since my nasal passages seem clearer, but the Liberty does seem to make my throat drier and I think more prone to coughing. I didn't tape or poligrip, though, since I don't want to wake up coughing with my mouth taped shut! Instead I'm wearing a chinstrap and my first aid tape over my mouth. That's the tape that sticks to itself but not to your skin. It's an experiment born of necessity. Maybe I'll find something new.

Idget, just to make sure I've got this straight (I'm a little slow sometimes )

After you get the earplugs rolled out and flattened in a long piece, you put it on the cushion that normally goes against your face, making sure that nothing will be on the inside of the mask. Then put the mask on and the flattened "earplug snake" will be between your face and the mask, kinda like a "glue" holding face and mask to each other. Is that right? For some reason, I was picturing it that you put the mask on and then wrapped the "snake" around the edge of outside of the mask where it meets your face, rather than being between the mask cushion and your face.

Do you have to do it all around the mask, or just in certain areas you might have problems with leaking?

Neverbetter, I tried the rubber band thing, and for some reason, that didn't work for me.

So, here's how I made the snake. I have some of those flat thin veggie chopping mats that are like sheets of plastic and come 4 in a package. One of them I've never used in the kitchen. I rolled out the snake on that. Then I rolled it flat with the side of a stainless steel water bottle. I liked the mat for that since it was very easy to peel off the flattened snake.

I put mine all around the inside of the mask seal (mouth part only). It did peel off very easily, though I only slept with it on for a couple of hours at most.

Also, I slept very well in the Headrest with the Topaz chinstrap and first aid tape that doesn't adhere to your skin instead of regular-taping my mouth shut. I coughed a bit at first, which would have blown any regular tape right off.

RosemaryB is right that is how I did it, I made a snake out of the putty, then used something to flatten it. Best use on a mat or something the putty will not stick. I then put on mask before putting on mask. I find that to get the best seal, put on your face and then don't fuss with it. I you start moving it around after put mask on it may screw up seal a bit. I still have leak rates of anywhere from 12-20 but my AHI has come down to 4 last night which is best ever.