Can't find a mask that doesn't leak

On my way to the local CPAP store. I have tried 2 full face masks, the Resmed Quatro and another full face mask. My problem is that unless I have it strapped on my head in a death grip, it leaks around the bridge of my nose or around my cheeks. I am on my 3rd week without a full nights sleep. If I lay flat on my back and do not turn on my side, I can get it not to leak, but hey...who can stay on their back all night? My pressure was set to 16 by the doc. Most are saying that a nasal pillow mask will not work with that high of a pressure. I'm ready to throw the whole thing out the window!

Frustrated in Carolina

So sorry you are having these problems. If you do a search you will find tons of fixes for mask leaks. I don't use a FF mask, but I'll offer a few things I've read about or even tried with my mask. The first thing is that making the mask tighter is not the answer. That can make it leak even more, not to mention what it does to your face! Leaks at the bridge of the nose can be remedied by trying this -- use the cushy blister bandaid across the bridge, or buy the padded mole skin (in the foot care area of the pharmacy) and cut strips to use across the bridge. I did this with my nasal mask and it sealed the bridge leak perfectly. A leak on the face/cheek area might be fixed with a mask liner. There are some folks on here who swear by them, and I am sure one will be by soon to give their advice on where to get them and how to use them.

If you have done your reading on here, you know that back sleeping is a NO NO!! This position is sure to make your tongue fall back in your throat and make your events go up! You must learn to be a side sleeper!!

Do not give up... all these things are capable of being remedied. It takes time and patience. But most importantly, you cannot disregard this therapy....it is life saving therapy. You need this to live so if you 'throw the whole thing out the window,' you may also being throwing your life out with it.

Please do one more thing for us to help you better......go to the User Control Panel (upper left) and then to your Profile.... and then Edit Equipment. Fill in your machine, humidifier, mask and use text only, please. In the are that allows to you add some writing, you can list the other masks you may have or use. This way those here that use that equipment can offer great hints on how to make it work better for you.

Best of luck.... P.S. When you go to see the DME to try on new masks, it is important to do so with the pressure on....so they should hook you up to get the right fit with YOUR pressure. If needed, bring your pillow, lie down and test it out.

Hi there
Who told you pillows won't work at a pressure of 16...there are folks on this forum that have higher pressures and still use pillows. You need to read, read and read some more click on the light bulb at the top of the page, also type in whatever you want in the search category and you will get lots of discussion. Mask leakage is a trial and error problem handled by all of us at some time or another. You can also type in any mask name and add the word fixes to the search, ie: swift Lt fixes or Quattro fixes, you will get lots of info on how everyone has done their own adaption to the mask. Patience and persistance are the keys here or better still failure is NOT an option. Keep at it, things will work out, we all know how frustrating it can be to adapt to this therapy, but believe me it works.
Good luck
Nan

When I first sat down to pick a mask, I was steered away from nasal pillows because my pressure is 14 cm.
"too high", they said.
The Micro and the Quattro were so uncomfortable, I wish I had started with the FX and the LIberty.
The DME probably figured I would get them sooner or later, due to my face shape.
More $$$$$, to be sure.

I also have to lie flat on my back, without moving my head to either side even an inch, to keep the mask from leaking. I have been working on this for three years and tried a two dozen different masks, so it isn't easy to fix. The only thing I have been able to live with is placing a T-Shirt material gasket between the mask and my face. It still leaks but it doesn't make that farting sound that I can't sleep through. I can still feel the cool air blowing on my cheek so I have to keep telling myself that I can sleep through it. It takes an hour or so to fall asleep even with melatonin and an Ambien. It's impossible to sleep through the night without being woken up many times with leaks as I tend to let my head fall to the side when I fall asleep.

The people who can strap on any mask and fall asleep are so lucky and they may think that those of us with the odd shaped faces must be doing something wrong. I used to think that, too, and I came here every day looking for that magic "fix" for my various masks. I have a four drawer chest full of mask, mask parts, glues, ointments, pure lanolin, 5 kinds of tape, Polident strips, Breathe Right Strips, ladies tight legs, PapCap, chin straps, eye masks, every PurSleep oil he makes, you name it. If someone suggested it, I tried it. I've purchased sleep music, brain training CDs and even gone to a hypnotist.

The least painful of all the masks that I have tried is the Softgel Nasal Cushion on my Activa frame. That's with mouth tape,chinstrap and gasket. It still leaks, but it's a quiet diffused leak.

Just keep on trying. What didn't work for me, might work for you.

Bev

Bless your persistent heart, OutaSync!! Yours is a story of tenacity and determination that should inspire anyone having problems with their masks. I harbor some feelings of guilt having had such an easy time of it. Slapped that puppy on and slept like a rock. I will be thankful each night when I mask up....

Is the leaking showing up as a "large leak"? Minor leaks, while they can be annoying may not be such a problem. The book that came with my machine said to fix leaks that blow into the eyes immediately and large leaks, but that small leaks are normal and shouldn't be worried about. I know that a lot of people on this forum will say that's wrong, but I'm just throwing it out there for consideration. I've ended up (for the time being) with a Hybrid which does not go over the bridge of the nose, so I no longer have to worry about those leaks (which I couldn't fix). My leak rate stays below the rate stated as normal for my mask, and my AHI stays below 5, so I'm not worrying about little leaks.

The people who can strap on any mask and fall asleep are so lucky and they may think that those of us with the odd shaped faces must be doing something wrong. I used to think that, too, and I came here every day looking for that magic "fix" for my various masks. I have a four drawer chest full of maks, maks parts, glues, ointments, pure lanolin, 5 kinds of tape, Polident strips, Breathe Right Strips, ladies tight legs, PapCap, chin straps, eye masks, every PurSleep oil he makes, you name it. If someone suggested it, I tried it. I've purchased sleep music, brain training CDs and even gone to a hypnotist.

The least painful of all the masks that I have tried is the Softgel Nasal Cushion on my Activa frame. That's with mouth tape,chinstrap and gasket. It still leaks, but it's a quiet diffused leak.

Just keep on trying. What didn't work for me, might work for you.

Bev[/quote]

Wow Bev, persistance and patience are not a problem with you. I guesse I am one of the lucky ones, good thing too as I could never have afforded all the stuff you have had to try. I do apologise if I have offended anyone who has had to go through that, I certainly did not realize someone could have soooooo many problems with mask fitting. I'm now eating a big slice of humble pie .

Cheers and GOOD LUCK on your quest for good therapy.

Norma

I finally found a mask on my 4th try. The Swift FX Nasal Pillow is MY mask. Very little leaks, nothing around my mouth or nose and finally able to sleep most of the night. This is my 6th week on CPAP and finally one that works. I also found out how to turn my S9 on AutoSet and this helps greatly! I did buy a chin strap and will try that out tonight.
What is the secret to minimizing any leakage with nasal pillows? It's not bad, 16.8 in the 95th percentile, but my AI's are pretty much non-existent w/ this new mask.

I love the swift fx mask too, and you see people with high pressures use it just fine..

If you cant stop those leaks, try a nose pillow mask, they are awesome..



Bev,

good grief, talk about a person who wont give up... youre amazing.. ..
how is your therapy working for you now?

I'm using the FX and a Resprionics Premium Chinstrap. I've found that attaching the mask hose to the chinstrap at the top of my head (straight up between the eyes a la the Swift LT) really helped reduce my leaks. (95% leak was 0.0 last night!) I used a velcro one-wrap to secure the hose. If you're not using a chinstrap, I suggest wearing a headband and attaching the hose to that. I don't think that trying to secure the hose to the FX's silicone strap is a good idea.