straps too tight, stuffy nose

I noticed that whenever the straps are too tight with the quattro FFM my sinuses will plug up and I can't breathe through my nose, if I losen the straps my nose clears but then the d@$% thing leaks. The leaking has been a right PITA lately. I don't know why one side of my nose plugs up when using the simplicity. But as long as I can get air through at least one side I guess it's good, just that when I turn over and it's switching sides there's a problem - what with the tape on my mouth and all.

I have the same thing happen with any over the nose type of mask. The pressure from the mask on the sides of my nose where the turbinates are will cause immediate nasal congestion. Even the weight of some glasses will do it also. Take your fingers and gently press on sides of the bridge of the nose and see if you get congested.

Solution...for me...nasal pillow mask to avoid the pressure on the nose.
For full face mask users...either something along the Hybrid line (ResMed Liberty that uses nasal pillows) or one of those masks that covers the whole face like this..https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... dgear.html

Good advice! I hope it might work for others but wouldn't for me. I've tried nasal pillow masks, including the hybrid mask, but they are definitely not for me.

nobody wrote:I hope it might work for others but wouldn't for me. I've tried nasal pillow masks, including the hybrid mask, but they are definitely not for me.

Then you are pretty well stuck between a rock and a hard place. That cover the total face mask sure wouldn't appeal to me either but several members here use it and just love it, I think Sheriff Buford is one. I made a decision early on that I would make the nasal pillows work and fortunately it wasn't difficult for me.

Only thing I can think of to perhaps lessen the congestion caused by pressure from the mask pressing on the nose, would be to add either a mask liner or some sort of anti leak strap to keep the mask more stable without having to be cinched down so tight that the pressure causes congestion.
Either that or the Oracle which would not be appealing to me at all.

What is an anti leak strap? I think I know what you mean I might have to try that. Yeah I wouldn't use the oral one at all. Whenever I breathe through my mouth it gets way too dry even if the humidifier is cranked.

Padacheeks has a anti leak strap. Just an extra level of gentle tension to help keep the mask seated more securely.
http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_AntiLeak_Strap.html

I have a friend who has to use around 18 cm pressure and she made a little different strap to help with her leaks which were mainly near the eyes. Poor image but I think you can get the idea. She took 2 pieces of pantyhose and attached them to the mask and then ties it up behind her head. She says it just adds a little extra pressure but is not painfully tight. She uses the Quattro FX.

Awesome, thanks. I get the leaks near the chin with my mirage quattro. It's so annoying because it always happens half way through the night when I most don't want to get up and fix it. I adjust and adjust and still have the same problem!! Maybe my pillow doesn't work so well afterall and I need to try something different. Not sure if it'd be possible to rig another strap but I'll see what I can do. Whatever works!

I was another one who had problems with mask pressure on the sides of the bridge of my nose causing congestion and even a pressure sore. I ended up going to a nasal pillows mask. If I were using a full face mask and the chin area was the problem with leaks, I think I'd try straps to stabilize the chin area if doing that kept the nose area tolerable. I know I simply could not have continued using the mask with blocked sinuses. Just a word of caution from the voice of experience on adding straps - be very certain they cannot slide and block the exhale vents.