How Tight Is TOO Tight?

DEXSUZ · Post by **DEXSUZ** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 2:31 pm

Celebrated my six-month anniversary of beneficial nights of sleep with my Quattro FX Wednesday. Couldn't be happier with the physiological results.

Am vexed, however, about the deep creases on my face that greet me when I awake in the morning. We've made a gentle chin strap that keeps the mask from rising/falling and am wondering if that's what's responsible for the lines on my cheeks and jowls.

The entire issue, it seems, is how tight is too tight when it comes to the mask? I'm 63 and expect a certain amount of grooves on my face but don't recall this many before the last six months.

Any/all advice would be appreciated.

Sheriff Buford · Post by **Sheriff Buford** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:30 pm

I have redish marks on my cheeks.... you would not believe what the fellas at the station say to me.... you probably would.... I make sure they get lotioned-up on a frequent basis. As far as the mask I use the Respironics Total Face mask and on occasion, I use the Quattro full face. Both masks should be tighten so when you turn on the machine... the mask should "lift" off the face.... when the inside of the mask inflates with air. If it doesn't, I know its too tight. You'll eventually get the feel of the mask and know how tight is tight. I tighten mine just a little bit tighter than the mask would leak if it was a little looser... make sense?

Sheriff

old dude · Post by **old dude** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:32 pm

DEXSUZ wrote:Celebrated my six-month anniversary of beneficial nights of sleep with my Quattro FX Wednesday. Couldn't be happier with the physiological results.

Am vexed, however, about the deep creases on my face that greet me when I awake in the morning. We've made a gentle chin strap that keeps the mask from rising/falling and am wondering if that's what's responsible for the lines on my cheeks and jowls.

The entire issue, it seems, is how tight is too tight when it comes to the mask? I'm 63 and expect a certain amount of grooves on my face but don't recall this many before the last six months.

Any/all advice would be appreciated.

Wulfman... · Post by **Wulfman...** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:56 pm

DEXSUZ wrote:Celebrated my six-month anniversary of beneficial nights of sleep with my Quattro FX Wednesday. Couldn't be happier with the physiological results.

Am vexed, however, about the deep creases on my face that greet me when I awake in the morning. We've made a gentle chin strap that keeps the mask from rising/falling and am wondering if that's what's responsible for the lines on my cheeks and jowls.

The entire issue, it seems, is how tight is too tight when it comes to the mask? I'm 63 and expect a certain amount of grooves on my face but don't recall this many before the last six months.

Any/all advice would be appreciated.

Don't know what pressure(s) you're using, but for all intents and purposes, wearing these masks shouldn't be anything close to torture.
The mask (full face or nasal) should "float" on your face. Tightly cinching down the mask can also lead to more leaks because it can crush the seal. It may also lead to premature wear and tear on the seal, requiring replacement sooner then necessary.
The problem people encounter is when they're using a range of pressures and they have to tighten up their headgear to be able to withstand the highest pressure the machine MAY go to. That can be somewhat of a discomfort at the lower pressures.
This is yet another reason I've been an advocate for single pressure in CPAP use.

Den

.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:56 pm

Google Padacheek.com and get some 'liners' to wear under the mask - makes all the difference! But you shouldn't be uncomfortable from overtightening - not productive as it can generate small leaks in new places, apart from what it's doing to your face.

Captain_Midnight · Post by **Captain_Midnight** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 10:20 pm

I have heard, and read that it's important to not over-tighten.

Maybe I'm somehow "special", however, as I get my consistently best results when I torque that devil down fairly tightly.

.

robysue · Post by **robysue** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 10:34 pm

Captain_Midnight wrote:I have heard, and read that it's important to not over-tighten.

Maybe I'm somehow "special", however, as I get my consistently best results when I torque that devil down fairly tightly.

.

First an observation: Captain_Midnight, your signature shows you are using a gel cushion mask. Over-tightening a gel cushion is less likely to adversely affect mask's seal than over-tightening a mask that uses an air-filled mask like the Quattros. If a person is using a mask with an air-filled cushion, then over-tightening weakens the seal (sometimes substantially) because over-tightening prevents the air cushion from fully inflating. And the OP is using a Quattro with an air filled cushion.

Second: No mask should have to be tightened to the point of discomfort. It's hard (if not impossible) to get a high quality night's sleep if you are in pain. So to Captain_Midnight: As long as you're not in pain when you "torque that devil down fairly tightly", then fine, tightening your mask exceptionally tight works for you. But no newbie should be lead to believe that the best way to deal with leaks is to keep tightening the mask until the newbie is in pain.

Wulfman... · Post by **Wulfman...** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 10:54 pm

Another item occurred to me as I was reading the responses and realized I hadn't mentioned previously......that is having the proper mask size. Mask size is another one of those things that the (new) users may not know about and just try to use what was given to them. If the user has the wrong size, they may feel they have to cinch it down to get the leaks to stop.

When I originally sized myself for a full face mask, my measurements fell exactly halfway between the medium and large. I selected the large Ultra Mirage Full Face and everything was fine. In 2007, I purchased a large Quattro from a forum member and found it to be a bit larger than the UMFF in the same size......and almost too big. It worked OK, but I didn't actually use it very much and have kept for another "backup".

In 2006, I acquired a UMFF in medium size and found I can also use that one, too. It's not quite as comfortable and for some reason the leak rate is a bit higher, but it DOES work for the most part.

Anyway, the point is to make sure you get the proper size mask.

Den

.

Captain_Midnight · Post by **Captain_Midnight** » Fri Sep 06, 2013 11:15 pm

RS writes...But no newbie should be lead to believe that the best way to deal with leaks is to keep tightening the mask until the newbie is in pain.

There was no suggestion of getting anywhere near the threshold of pain.

.

robysue · Post by **robysue** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 12:08 am

Captain_Midnight wrote:RS writes...But no newbie should be lead to believe that the best way to deal with leaks is to keep tightening the mask until the newbie is in pain.

There was no suggestion of getting anywhere near the threshold of pain.

.

"Torquing" suggests pain to me.

DEXSUZ · Post by **DEXSUZ** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 7:23 am

Thanks to all of you. I appreciate your hints and helps.

In no way is there any pain or discomfort with the wearing of my mask and there are very few leaks. It's just those damned creases I see in the morning that are unpleasant. At 63 I know the fresh face of 23 or 33 isn't going to greet me in the mirror but still....

I purchased a Pad-A-Cheek product that covers the perimeter of the mask but that doesn't seem to be the answer. Is it possible that my long Swedish face should have a Quattro FX that's more than a medium?

Thanks again.

squid13 · Post by **squid13** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 7:40 am

I wear my Forma snug plus a hair more and then when I go to sleep and my face relaxes it's just right. Everybody is different, what is snug to me maybe way to tight for you.

nanwilson · Post by **nanwilson** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 10:23 am

If you purchased the padacheeks mask liner, did you notice the strap covers on the same web site. Padacheeks makes several comfort items to help us put up with the face farts, and strap marks... . I am almost 71 so have a "few" more creases on my face than you do and I use strap covers and liners to "minimize" the extra creases. Oh damn, lets just say the "word" instead of creases.... WRINKLES
Cheers
Nan

DEXSUZ · Post by **DEXSUZ** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 1:10 pm

OK, I'm taking the advice of you folks:

1) Ordered a pair of strap liners today from Pad-A-Cheek. They'll help to buffer my temples from the Quattro FX upper strap.

2) After examining and fidgeting with one of my wife's, ah, um, well, you know, gee......female adhesive products (unused!), I decided to place one between each of the lower straps where they come down the lower side of my face and angle toward my chin.

My sleep has been great, the mask doesn't cause pain or discomfort, and I haven't snored since the last day before that magical occasion of March 3 when I first went all-night with the mask.

I'll let you folks know how the feminine thingamajigs work tonight. Can you imgaine me telling the CPAP-uninitiateds of the world about this? ("You put WHAT on your face?????") Not a chance.

Again, thanks so much!

robysue · Post by **robysue** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 3:53 pm

DEXSUZ wrote:I'll let you folks know how the feminine thingamajigs work tonight. Can you imgaine me telling the CPAP-uninitiateds of the world about this? ("You put WHAT on your face?????") Not a chance.

This is, ahem, funnier than the fact that a lot of us put "nipple cream for nursing mothers" on our noses each night.

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