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Tom:

It sort of sounds like the same thing. I don't really call them mouth leaks, because they happen even when my mouth is closed--in fact, i only notice it when my mouth is closed because i have to let the bubble (air) out. i don't remember if my cheeks billow--they might have-- since it's been a while since i've used activa. it sort of feels like i'm a goldfish gulping, except that i don't really know what a goldfish feels like. with me, the only thing i know to do is open my mouth to let the air escape. which, obviously, shouldn't go on all nite.

do you have any idea what causes this? what do you do about this? And with which mask(s) do you have this problem?

caroline

I have it with all Nasal masks. I haven't gotten to try my UMFFM but I suspect it wouldn't be an issue there.

Air escapes when my tongue is relaxed. I notice it mostly in the morning after I've been relaxed. When I wore a chin-strap for a while it stopped happening because of the pressure the strap wold exert on the soft tissue under my tongue - it would push everything just enough to make a difference. It is very much related to the tongue not sealing well against the back of the throat. At least that's my situation.

Best Tom

Tom-

Hmmm. Maybe I should try another nasal mask and see. Activa is the only nasal mask I've used recently, so I've come to think of it as an Activa problem.

Question is: what do you do during the night? You're not going to press your tongue hard against the roof of your mouth all night to prevent it, right? And your mouth has to open to let the air escape, right? Or wrong? Isn't this the equivalent of mouth breathing?

Caroline

If you are mouth leaking it is not the mask.

You might try a FFM. I just got a UMFFM but it is a bit leaky compared to the Activa- I could hang upside down with the Activa and not leak.

Tom

Tom--

I understand that mouth breathing is not the fault of a nasal mask. I just meant that I have limited experience with a nasal mask, since I am primarily a full-face mask user.

I get leaks even with UMFF sometimes because I don't get a tight seal in the mouth area. I wake up during the night with the F&P 431 and it feels like a straitjacket at times. I may need to try the Comfort Full 2.

Caroline

I'm still fiddling wiht my UMFF. I just got it and tried it for 2 days then went back to the Activa.

The UMFF was leaking and it seemed a lot tougher to manage vs. the Activa which is the beast mask I've ever had.

I'll try harder with the UMFF but for now unless my jaw drops I'll stay witht he Activa.

Tom

when i tried the umff at the RT's office it leaked worse than any of the full face masks that i tried, the 431 is a comfy but leak prone mask, the comfortfull 2 is the one i have been using almost all the time now, i just added a strap around the middle of the mask and the minimal leaks it had around the mouth area disappeared, so i would go with that one and keep an extra strap handy in case those little leaks show up, you will have to give the bridge of your nose a little time to adjust since the cf2 is not very nosefriendly out of the box, but once it breaks in, it's great.

red thunder--

thanks for the review. maybe i'll try it.

caroline