Fit WITHOUT Leaks!

I currently use nasal pillow with my cpap machine, but can't get them adjusted to stop the whistles and leaks. What type/form of mask do you use and have the best luck with so that you're not fighting to stop the leaks all night long? I've just stopped using my machine because I either can't get to sleep in the first place or I'm woken up in the night by leaks and can't stop the leaks to get back to sleep.

I've got to get some sleep. Help!

I have used nothing but nasal pillow type of mask since I first started treatment and I rarely have any significant leak. I would think that these are the easiest to get minimal leak, the other type of masks have even more surface to keep leak free.

Which nasal pillow mask have you tried? What pressure is your machine set at?

I don't remember the names of the pillows and masks I've tried. I know my pressure is pretty high. I'm sure that doesn't help.

Nasal pillows are by far the best at taming leaks because they have the least surface area contact with your face. I suspect if you are having issues your nasal pillows are not fit correctly. DME's often don't know what they are doing when it comes to fitting nasal pillow masks.

It would help to know what kind of nasal pillow mask you are using, and what your machine and pressure settings are. If you don't know, as soon as you are home, LOOK. We can't help you if we don't at least know which nasal pillow mask you are using. Or you can go online to a CPAP supplier like our host at CPAP.com and see which mask looks like the one you are using.

If you are using either the Swift LT or FX mask, take a look at my signature for the Swift FX fitting guide. While they are slightly different, the basic rules of fitting apply to both--fit them LYING DOWN, WITH THE MACHINE ON in order to fully inflate the pillows, and above all, do NOT cram the pillows up your nose, they should seal nicely against the outside of your nostrils. If you still have leakage, you may need a different size of pillows. And there are tips to stabilize the mask so that movement does not pull the pillows away from your nose, which is particularly a problem with the FX.

cybersleepy wrote:I currently use nasal pillow with my cpap machine, but can't get them adjusted to stop the whistles and leaks. What type/form of mask do you use and have the best luck with so that you're not fighting to stop the leaks all night long? I've just stopped using my machine because I either can't get to sleep in the first place or I'm woken up in the night by leaks and can't stop the leaks to get back to sleep.

I've got to get some sleep. Help!

Hi

I had the Swift LT nasal mask when i first started and had trouble with leaks. I could get a good seal to start with, I used to mask fit feature on my machine to verify i was not getting any leaks. But during the night i would get a lot of large leaks, I could see the leak line using the software for my machine.

To help keep the mask in position and the cushions in place I used the side straps on the pur-sleep PapCap. I hooked the straps around the lower sides of the nasal pillow mask on each side and it worked the first night i tried it.

Heres the PapCap, you would need the plus model to get the straps.

http://www.pur-sleep.com/products/produ ... category=6

To help keep the mask in position and the cushions in place I used the side straps on the pur-sleep PapCap. I hooked the straps around the lower sides of the nasal pillow mask on each side and it worked the first night i tried it."

I couldnt quite work that out, could you explain a bit more if you are still looking at this thread