Leaks

Joining with Pugsy and RogerSC.

Using nasal pillow mask the whole time.

Okay, just for fun, here's my last year's statistical summary...first image I've posted here, hope that it works *smile*:

I had the lowest leak rates ever when I was wearing my Swift FX nasal pillows mask.
(This is quite common as mask types go.)
I tried the elan on a lark, and was spoiled--totally. (leakage is not nearly as good as with pillows--Oh, well.)
1) I don't think I've ever seen any style of mask worn by a bearded or mustached man in an ad.
(note the image posted by AVI--maybe he can't get a good beard going--envious?)
2) We are all different--go with what works!
3) The inventor of the original Sleepweaver wears his own products--with a furry face.
(a built-in mask liner?)

I say flip the AVI IGNORE BUTTON and call it a day! Not worth posting graphs, etc....he knows nothing about the wonderful pillows that we all love.... and that make our therapy so comfortable and successful!!!

Have a great day all you pillow lovers out there!

Beard envy--such a sad little man.

I have been testing the Aloha for the last 4 nights with good success and thank you pugsy for the recommendation. I have found that, for me, the hose management system is critical with pillows-- as tension on the hose can pull the pillows slightly off the nose and break the seal.

Also Froggie's modification for the Sullivan chin strap is working great.
A T

avi123 wrote:

IMO, no poster on this board can present such envious treatment.

I routinely beat your leak rate with my quattro and everyone knows how bad FFM leak....

Always tired wrote:I have found that, for me, the hose management system is critical with pillows-- as tension on the hose can pull the pillows slightly off the nose and break the seal.

Good point AT -- And I always wrap the velcro Aloha loop (situated on the top strap of the headgear) snug around the mask's hose so it's less susceptible to movements of the machine's hose.

khauser wrote:It isn't mouth leaking ... I'd be aware of that, but I appreciate that advice!

How exactly would you be aware that you are mouth leaking?
You fall asleep, your face relaxes, your jaw drops and air escapes out of your mouth. It happened to me, i was not aware of it. I found out by mouth taping, the leaks completely went away. Then i started to use a papCap chin strap that gently supports my jaw and i no longer get leaks.

Given the time, effort and expense of a sleep study, titration and equipment purchase. Trying to mouth tape or spending a few bucks on a chin strap isn't much if it means you may be able to nail down your therapy.

Uncle_Bob wrote: How exactly would you be aware that you are mouth leaking?

That statement was in reply to someone that woke up to a leaking noise they were able to address by closing their mouth. In my case I am waking up to a leak I can address by moving the nasal pillows.

Hose management is a good point. I will look into that.

kaiasgram wrote:

Always tired wrote:I have found that, for me, the hose management system is critical with pillows-- as tension on the hose can pull the pillows slightly off the nose and break the seal.

Good point AT -- And I always wrap the velcro Aloha loop (situated on the top strap of the headgear) snug around the mask's hose so it's less susceptible to movements of the machine's hose.

kaiasgram,
This was a question that I wanted to ask of Aloha users. If you rotate the elbow 180 degrees and route the small hose straight up the midline of your face, then attach to the loop, do you get irritation from the now downward venting? Perhaps a slight redirection of return air from the vent onto the sheets and back into your face? I could see where that might wake you, but just a little bit--then your head moves--and then the seal is broken etc.
Food for thought, going to test it out tonight and route the main hose from above instead of from the side.
A T

I'm not kaisagram, but yes, there is some downwards draft. It depends where your nose is relative to expose skin ... for me it was only a problem if I slept on my side because it would then blow on my arm...

MyIdaho wrote:I routinely beat your leak rate with my quattro and everyone knows how bad FFM leak....

Comment,

OK, please show me with your graphs!

Pugz,

Notice that you have less than 300 days of data b/c 55 days are missing and additional 17 days are for less than 4 hours sleep.
So why did you say a full year?

kaiasgram wrote:Joining with Pugsy and RogerSC.

Using nasal pillow mask the whole time.

Comment,

IMO, SH data are not reliable for Averages, 95% Percentile, etc., yet. Otherwise, you have fantastic good numbers!

RogerSC also has super results, BETTER THAN MY!