Anyone have tips for FF mask seal?

My first 4 nights have been mixed but I am feeling really great in the day time so I'm really trying to perservere! I have worn my mask the entire night each night, but 3 of the 4 nights I've had issues. Last night it took me 5 tries to get my FF mask to keep a seal. At one point I even took it off and cleaned it in the hopes that maybe there was dust on the silicone making it not adhere well to my face. I feel like I'm getting used to sleeping with the air pressure but the darn mask is a real chore! It's also leaving a red, bruised dent on the bridge of my nose. I called the DME and they are going to order me the Mirage Quattro that my doctor originally had prescribed but it won't be in for a few days. The new mask is also a full face mask so not sure if anything can be done to cushion the bridge of my nose and to stop the intermittent leaks. I tried a bandaid on the bridge of my nose, but then couldn't get it to keep a seal.

Do you veterans have any tips for a neophyte c-papper?

SnoozyWoozyCat wrote: Do you veterans have any tips for a neophyte c-papper?

Woozy, it's a journey.
Atleast you're on the road.
Some nights will be better than others.
.....seems like the first nights are the others.

I don't have any experience w/that mask....can't help w/that.
The nose....I call it virgin skin syndrome. That skin has never been
subjected to this kind of abuse. It will toughen up.

I think you are on the right track to make a FFM work from the get'go.
The effort will pay off down the road.
Much better therapy from a FFM.....personal experience and opinion.

You're going to have to try stuff.
Some of it will work, some will not.
If it's not working....move on to something else.
Don't let any person or entity delay you from trying something different.

You say you're already feeling "great".
Focus on that. Focus on that when things are not going well.
It's going to get better.
It's going to get easier.
The "feeling great" will get much better.

It's a journey that no one can take for you or me or anyone else.
It's going to bring amazing changes into your life.
Changes you can't even imagine right now.
You got'a believe.

It's your life.
It's my life.

I had the same problem kept working with it adjust and adjust but finally get it. I also had the problem with the red mark on my nose so my DME suggested the little round band aids on the spot it helped. Good luck I am new to this too started in early sept. but I was so thrilled by the way I felt everyday I got up, I kept going and was in full compliance with it by 30 days. Good Luck you can do it.

I have a similar problem but i am thinking mine is the machine or a setting, part way through the night it seems to jus blow out and leak...by that point I just take it off... bout ready to give up ...good luck to ya.

SnoozyWoozyCat wrote:My first 4 nights have been mixed but I am feeling really great in the day time so I'm really trying to perservere! I have worn my mask the entire night each night, but 3 of the 4 nights I've had issues. Last night it took me 5 tries to get my FF mask to keep a seal. At one point I even took it off and cleaned it in the hopes that maybe there was dust on the silicone making it not adhere well to my face. I feel like I'm getting used to sleeping with the air pressure but the darn mask is a real chore! It's also leaving a red, bruised dent on the bridge of my nose. I called the DME and they are going to order me the Mirage Quattro that my doctor originally had prescribed but it won't be in for a few days. The new mask is also a full face mask so not sure if anything can be done to cushion the bridge of my nose and to stop the intermittent leaks. I tried a bandaid on the bridge of my nose, but then couldn't get it to keep a seal.

Do you veterans have any tips for a neophyte c-papper?

I have a Comfortgel FF as my back-up mask, and had the same sore nose problem you're having. I tried the band aid on the nose, with mixed results. Then I tried putting the band aid on the gel part of the mask. That worked a LOT better, and also made it easier for the silicone layer to make a better seal.
Personally, I can't stand my Comfortgel FF!!!! No matter how I try, leaks are a major problem for me. Funny thing, my everyday mask is a Comfortgel nasal, and I have no problems with that one. You might want to try that one yourself?

I use the Quattro. It seals better than the others did, at least for me.

I use Lansinoh each night, applying it on my face where the seal contacts it. Considering the intended use, it makes me laugh, but the lanolin really does help the seal. I've experimented by trying a night without it. Two hours later, I got up and applied it.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/catalog/ ... sh-product)


Try a Pad-A-Cheek forehead pad. It has a flap that hangs down and protects the nose-bridge area. http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_Nosebridge.html

I find with the Quattro that I get a better seal lying on my side than on my back. You might keep that in mind with any mask you try.

Best wishes,
Tony

tonycog wrote: I find with the Quattro that I get a better seal lying on my side than on my back. You might keep that in mind with any mask you try.

Best wishes,
Tony

I've been using my Quattro for about a week, now. Best sealing FF mask I've tried, but it still leaks some. Definitely seals better when I lie on my side. Hope you find it works better for you.

Jerry

Same thing here when I lay on my back the Quatro doesn't seal at my chin because of gravity - my chin floats down to far for the quatro to reach. Why don't they make them curved? Beside which muscles relax when you sleep and your face shape changes.

BlackSpinner wrote:Same thing here when I lay on my back the Quatro doesn't seal at my chin because of gravity - my chin floats down to far for the quatro to reach. Why don't they make them curved? Beside which muscles relax when you sleep and your face shape changes.

The aggravating thing for me is that my Quattro seals perfectly when I am awake and lying on my back. I can tug on my chin and cheeks and can not make it leak. But as soon as I begin to drift off I get leaks mid-cheek on one side or the other. When I roll onto my side, no leaks. I'd really like to figure a way to keep it sealed when asleep on my back. There are nights when my shoulders really want a break.

Tony

Thanks for all of the suggestions -- I will try them all and take the advice to heart. I'm going in Friday to get a quattro which was the original prescription; hopefully that too will bring some relief!

In addition to pad-a-cheek and lanisoh. also consider moleskin on the mask where it touches the nose bridge, or on the nose bridge, or consider Nexcare gentle paper tape. Different things work for different folks. Hang in there, it gets better.

The old Comfortgel Nasal mask could be boiled and fitted. As I understand it, with the newer Full Face version that's apparently not an option to get a better fit. Three years ago, I got curious and bought a Comfortfull 2 mask because it was like the one I used in my sleep study. I swore I would never own another mask with the name "Comfort" in it. It was not a good experience......I only was able to suffer through three nights with it.

You may like the Quattro. Be sure to not cinch it down too tight. It seals better when it's looser.

Bed pillows can also make a huge difference with regard to mask leaks (or lack thereof).


Den

I've found the silicone cushion is very sensitive to skin oils. A clean cushion and clean face allows the cushion to kinda stick to the skin. In my particular case I have very oily skin so I wash both my face and cushion with diluted liquid dish washing detergent (Joy, or other). To get an even better seal, I've used mask wipes or apple juice on both and put the mask on while still wet.

As was stated before. This is a journey, everynight will be a whole new experience. What works tonight may not work tomorrow. I experience leaks, mask discomfort, none of the above on different nights. As long as I feel good the next day I am thankfull.

I used Lansinoh, and it helped, but it is expensive.

So I found lanolin (Lansinoh is just very highly purified lanolin) for $8.50 a pound.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-lb-100-Pure-Premi ... 334c77d1e6

A pound lasts a long time. I find this lanolin is also a little less stiff than the Lansinoh, and goes on easier.

I have a full beard, and no FF mask seals against it. But a bit of lanolin in the beard where the seal contacts it and my leak line goes flat. It washes out easily with soap and water in the morning.

Good luck.