Attention lab rats

Kharris · Post by **Kharris** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:07 pm

I thought I was doing battle with the leak monster. Air would blow into
the corners of my eyes, I have struggled with this for over a week.
Well I found out the air is not coming from my mask, it is from the exhale
port.
The port is built into the tube right above where the hose connects. My pressure is 16, with only c-flex for relief. Some times air coming out
follows the mask contours around and BAM right into my eye.
I have extended my homemade hose cover all the way up to the mask.
I have covered the exhale ports completely.
This kinda diffuses the outflow but wont redirect it.
Do I go with goggles under the mask, a blindfold?
My wonderfull humorous wife suggested a paper plate, put a hole in the
middle and let the plate completely block the airflow.
Anyone got a better idea.

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:28 pm

What I've used is an eye mask over my eyes.

RosemaryB · Post by **RosemaryB** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 7:49 pm

If it were me, I'd try a new mask. You should not cover the exhale port. That will cause CO2 to build up in the mask, I believe. That's not healthy. You might try the eye mask idea first if you really love the mask. I'm glad to heard about the eye mask idea, cflame. I'm going to recommend it to someone who is having trouble with this.

wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:11 am

RosemaryB wrote:If it were me, I'd try a new mask. You should not cover the exhale port. That will cause CO2 to build up in the mask, I believe. That's not healthy.

YEP!!!!!!! DO NOT COVER EXHAUST PORTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would recmmend the eye mask.... or maybe try a differant mask.

I have had good luck with the Activa!!!!!!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:33 am

I dunno. Hmmm, the paper plate sounds intriguing to me.

I think your wife would make a great lab rat. Please tell her that's a compliment!! I like the way she thinks, even though she was joking.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 2:36 am

wabmorgan wrote:
RosemaryB wrote:If it were me, I'd try a new mask. You should not cover the exhale port. That will cause CO2 to build up in the mask, I believe. That's not healthy.
YEP!!!!!!! DO NOT COVER EXHAUST PORTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reidan · Post by **Reidan** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:14 pm

Since the exhaust port is on the hose can you not turn the hose to aim the air away from your eyes?

I use the Mirage Activa and the exhaust port is on the hose as well, but the exits aim the air out and down toward the hose and not up towards my eyes. Because of this it blows the air onto my body. I tend to sleep without covers, even in the winter, and it gets a little chilly.

So to solve my windy problem, depending upon which way I am facing, I simply rotate the hose 90 degrees so that it blows up towards the ceiling or down towards the ground. Towards the ceiling if I am facing the wife, and towards the ground if I am facing away.

The wife uses the ComfortGel Nasal. It also exhausts the air out of the elbow and down the hose. She mainly sleeps on her back. She simply rotates her hose 180 degrees and has it blow towards the head board. Sometimes I feel the air rebounding off the headboard, but not enough to cause me any problems.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 4:33 am

I definitely vote new mask.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:24 am

You covered the exhaust ports!
Uh dont do that.......

sleepie · Post by **sleepie** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:42 am

don't know if this will help--but i had the same problem--it was the hose cover that the exhast air was hitting and redirecting into my face--so instead of covering the elbow with the hose cover --i pulled it down about 6 inches short of the elbow.so the air has free flow down the hose as designed--this stopped it for me--good luck --pat

Kharris · Post by **Kharris** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 7:55 am

rested gal wrote:I dunno. Hmmm, the paper plate sounds intriguing to me.

I think your wife would make a great lab rat. Please tell her that's a compliment!! I like the way she thinks, even though she was joking.

Well.........I have since uncovered the exhaust ports......the paper plate
was not sturdy enough to do what I wanted.
BUT.......if you take the lid from a cool whip container and cut the rim off,
put a hole in the center, and put it on the mask then put the hose on...

The prototype is being tested this week, but works well so far. It does block
my vision, but I don't do anything but sleep with the mask on, not even
reading in bed. It is just wide enough that the air goes away from my face.
And it's flexible enough that when I am on my side it bends and fits against my pillow.

I may change masks someday, but I have had so few problems with mine.
It's just little things like this. I don't have many leak issues, no sores,
or skin problems. I don't want to change a good thing.

If someone will tell me how to post pictures I will put some pics of the
" windbreaker 2007 " in this thread.