UltraMirage FullFace - How often do you change your cushion?

I am wondering if I am getting leaks while sleeping. I don't have a card reader or software yet.

I have generally not had a problem taking off my mask while sleeping, but in the past week, I have removed my mask 2 times while asleep. The first time, I woke up within a couple of minutes and put it back on. Last night, I think I may have slept on for an hour or so before waking up to replace it. In my previous 8 weeks, while I have had many issues with my mask, this one hasn't really been one of them.

This is making me wonder if I am getting some sort of leak while deeply sleeping. I have used this seal for about 30 days. When putting the mask on, nothing really feels different than before. Do these cushions generally last only a month or so? I have a couple of replacement cushions, but I am trying to hoard them a bit. My insurance does not cover any replacement parts.

How do I know when it is time to replace the cushion on my Ultra Mirage Full Face?

Thanks,
Tony

The one that I am using right now has been used every night for about 16 months. I am thinking I might replace it soon. Maybe not, it still works just fine. I do clean the cushion and my face every night before I turn in. Dont know what the criteria might be for having to replace it.

To answer your question- the whole thing about replacing your cushion (or anything, really) after only 6 months is myth BUSTED! Several people, like handgunner45 and myself have used the same mask, same cushion for a year, year and a half, with no ill-effects whatsoever.

The thing I'm wondering about though, tonycog, is whether you are leaking at all. Many times removal of the mask in mid-sleep is "something" but not leak-related. It could be a subconscious desire to get the mask off your face, or you think you're not getting air through the mask, so you pull it off, it could be a number of things- or it may well be that you are getting a leak and it's blasting into your eyes, so you remove the mask while you're in a semi-conscious state. Does your mask leak at all when you first put it on? If not, then any leakage that happens later on during sleep may be coming from turning your head and nudging the mask out of position just enough that it does leak. Snug up on the straps and that should take care of it.

I'm still using the same mask and seals I started with in May of 2005. Other than a couple of months' worth of trying some other masks, I've gotten over four years from my original. The head gear lasted till about one month short of four years, but the seals are still doing just fine. I have several spare UMFF masks and a number of extras seals (still in sealed packages), but I haven't had to open up any more. In 2006 I purchased another UMFF from a forum member and then in 2007 I purchased a Quattro from another forum member. I've put less than one month of use on either of them because I went back to my original within a short period of time. It seems like the longer I use my original, the more comfortable it gets and the better it seals.

I'm not sure HOW they wear out or what the signs are, because so far, I haven't experienced it yet.

Losing the "seal" during the night is not necessarily indicative that the mask seal is deteriorating. Sleep positions, bed pillows and tossing and turning will do that.


Den

OK. I am glad to know that these things can last for quite awhile. I'm just trying to eliminate some possibilities.

I hadn't removed the mask for any of the first 4 weeks since starting with the UMFF, and now I've done it twice in the past 5 or so nights. I'm just trying to figure out why.

Tightening up may be the trick. I've been trying to go looser for comfort and I may have gone too loose. When I first lay down I don't get leaks. I'll try to go a bit tighter tonight. I'm also going to get software ASAP. I'm curious if the leak went up significantly right before I removed the mask.

Thanks for your replies,
Tony

tonycog wrote:OK. I am glad to know that these things can last for quite awhile. I'm just trying to eliminate some possibilities.

I hadn't removed the mask for any of the first 4 weeks since starting with the UMFF, and now I've done it twice in the past 5 or so nights. I'm just trying to figure out why.

Tightening up may be the trick. I've been trying to go looser for comfort and I may have gone too loose. When I first lay down I don't get leaks. I'll try to go a bit tighter tonight. I'm also going to get software ASAP. I'm curious if the leak went up significantly right before I removed the mask.

Thanks for your replies,
Tony

AaaaaaHA......THAT'S the problem. Removing the mask during the night in the first few months of therapy is "normal". Almost everyone here could probably tell you they did the same thing (I did, too.). It's not normal to sleep with this stuff on our faces and at some point our subconscious takes over during the night. The trick is to stop it and/or catch yourself doing it and putting it back on. Stick with it.


Den