Those darn leaks
Question:
"Tom Devlin" <tomdev…@ameritech.net> wrote in message
news:ko93dtkgaon2gjl8u40tmeqtjnukig2spi@4ax.com… > CVTroll <negl…@nospamyahoo.com> wrote: > >I’ve currently got a Profile Lite which seemed to work okay for the > >first week or so, but now the leaks are getting more annoying & waking
I wholeheartedly agree with every response as far as having the mask on to tight. It is imperative that you have the mask on lose enough for the silicon membrane to mold to your face. My mask is so loose that the air starts leaking out right away. However, after I lay down and refit my mask to my face that usually ends all the air leaks. Another thing that I feel is very important is to fully wash the oils from your face, especially where the mask contacts the nose area. It makes a whole world of difference. Be Well. . . Bob
Response:
CV…..lot of good advice here, but one thing that noone has mentioned is washing your face. I have found that most masks are very sensitive to facial oils and will not get a good seal unless oil free. I used to get leaks until I started washing my face with a stridex pad and alcohol everynight before putting on the mask. I also wash the mask in warm soapy water everyday to remove any oils from the seal. I would still wake up about 3am with mild leaks as the facial oils would return. Only problem with that is any leak is one to many leaks as far as I’m concerned. I got so fed up with leaks I purchased a breeze setup that came with the pillows and the dreamseal mask. Both work fantastic. My insurance would not pay so I did out of desperation…best buy I’ve made in years! Bob "CVTroll" <negl…@nospamyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ut02dto9lfq12nrl3cvgo39heq7bnkq4bi@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hiya – > Firstly – great group here – I’ve been lurking for a week now and have > found lots of helpful info. > As a newbie to BiPap, I’m having an issue with finding either a mask > or a mold for a mask that doesn’t leak. > My RDI was between 50-60, putting me in ’severe apnea/hypopnea’ range > and I only had one apnea, but the rest were all hypopneas that threw > my O2 sat for a loop (down to either low 80s or high 70’s, can’t > remember which at this point, but enough that I was shocked to say the > least).. I really need to make this work, because I’m not going thru > surgery unless it is the absolute only alternative. > I have an appt Thursday and I’m planning on getting a copy of both > studies for future reference (the sleep study and the titration, that > is). > The settings I have are 20/16 for a normal setting with 12/8 as a ramp > setting, going up to 20/16 within 12-15 mins. > I’ve currently got a Profile Lite which seemed to work okay for the > first week or so, but now the leaks are getting more annoying & waking > me up (blowing in my eyes, and as my wife calls it, the mask "starts > farting" (leaks on the cheeks/vibrates, making a noise much like > passing gas) when the IP jumps to 20 (stops at 16 for the EP)) . I > found it would work okay if I really tightened it down, but I was > discouraged from ‘cranking it down’ by both the sore spot on my > forehead and the technical director at the sleep center. > I tried fitting it and that made it worse – couldn’t even wear it for > more than 1/2 hour. > I work across the street from my DME provider, and when I talked about > the leaks they had me try a Contour Deluxe, but that had same problem > – leaks on the cheeks. They normally work with Respironics for most of > the xPAP stuff, but they do use the Breeze pillows. They don’t > normally carry ResMed or others but ‘can order them’. > They said that with the pressures I have, the pillows definitely won’t > work – would just "blow out" of my nose. > I also have a hard time getting to sleep on my back, and usually sleep > on my side when weaing the mask or on my side/stomach when I’m not > wearing the mask. > What have other folks with that high a pressure found works for them? > Or do I just need to keep trying to refit the mask until I "get it > right"? If I have a rough idea what I would like to try next, the DME > people will try and order it, but obviously, insurance will question > ordering every mask on the market just to see which one works. > 
)))))) > Thanks for any help!
Response:
CVTroll <negl…@nospamyahoo.com> wrote: >I’ve currently got a Profile Lite which seemed to work okay for the >first week or so, but now the leaks are getting more annoying & waking
I think I’ve seen more complaints about that mask than all others combined. Mold to Fit sure looks like a good idea but it doesn’t seem to work out in practice. >I work across the street from my DME provider, and when I talked about >the leaks they had me try a Contour Deluxe, but that had same problem >- leaks on the cheeks. They normally work with Respironics for most of >the xPAP stuff, but they do use the Breeze pillows. They don’t >normally carry ResMed or others but ‘can order them’.
The most popular conventional masks seem to be the ResMed Ultra Mirage series, they come in nasal and full-face versions. For Pillows, it’s the Breeze or the CONJO Custom headgear, with no clear preference either way. >They said that with the pressures I have, the pillows definitely won’t >work – would just "blow out" of my nose.
That goes against everything I’ve read here, most folks on higher pressures seem to prefer pillows. The Breeze manual says that it’s good up to 35Cm, I assume that would be the case with any pillows setup. Start with the large (minty green) pillows, almost everybody prefers them. >I also have a hard time getting to sleep on my back, and usually sleep >on my side when weaing the mask or on my side/stomach when I’m not >wearing the mask.
I have a Breeze and can sleep in any position, usually on my stomach. Like many here, I have the hose suspended from the ceiling via some rubber bands and string and find it a great help, do a search for "rubber bands" or "bungee" in Goggle Groups for more details. http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&group=alt.support…. >What have other folks with that high a pressure found works for them? >Or do I just need to keep trying to refit the mask until I "get it >right"? If I have a rough idea what I would like to try next, the DME >people will try and order it, but obviously, insurance will question >ordering every mask on the market just to see which one works.
I’m only on 10Cm but I’d start by dumping the Profile, it’s obviously not working for you. I like pillows, but I titrated on a Breeze so it’s really the only mask I know. I’m sure you’ll get other suggestions. Please let us know how you make out. Tom – Sick of Spam? Join CAUCE. http://www.cauce.org
Response:
I believe that your DME is wrong about pillows ‘blowing out’. I have used pillows at pressures of 18cm without any problems. At higher pressures they definitely work better than masks. Both pillows and masks depend on the air pressure expanding the soft silicone against your skin to form a proper seal. If they are too tight, the silicone gets scrunched and cannot properly expand. It helps to think ‘Is the mask loose enough?’ rather than ‘Is the mask tight enough?’. It’s not what you would expect, is it? I don’t recall ever having pillows leak. On the other hand, I had problems with masks because it was so easy to dislodge them enough to cause a leak when changing positions. I switched from masks to pillows years ago and have been happy ever since. I sleep on my side most of the time. I have a friend who also uses pillows and he sleeps on his stomach. I wish you success with your BiPAP. Most folks have a lot of startup problems, but there are many old-timers here that can advise you on how to overcome them. One additional tip about fitting masks – try adjusting them while you are lying down rather than seated. Your face changes shape slightly when you lie down because gravity is pulling it in a different direction. Kent Taylor – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -CVTroll wrote in message … >Hiya – >Firstly – great group here – I’ve been lurking for a week now and have >found lots of helpful info. >As a newbie to BiPap, I’m having an issue with finding either a mask >or a mold for a mask that doesn’t leak. >My RDI was between 50-60, putting me in ’severe apnea/hypopnea’ range >and I only had one apnea, but the rest were all hypopneas that threw >my O2 sat for a loop (down to either low 80s or high 70’s, can’t >remember which at this point, but enough that I was shocked to say the >least).. I really need to make this work, because I’m not going thru >surgery unless it is the absolute only alternative. >I have an appt Thursday and I’m planning on getting a copy of both >studies for future reference (the sleep study and the titration, that >is). >The settings I have are 20/16 for a normal setting with 12/8 as a ramp >setting, going up to 20/16 within 12-15 mins. >I’ve currently got a Profile Lite which seemed to work okay for the >first week or so, but now the leaks are getting more annoying & waking >me up (blowing in my eyes, and as my wife calls it, the mask "starts >farting" (leaks on the cheeks/vibrates, making a noise much like >passing gas) when the IP jumps to 20 (stops at 16 for the EP)) . I >found it would work okay if I really tightened it down, but I was >discouraged from ‘cranking it down’ by both the sore spot on my >forehead and the technical director at the sleep center. >I tried fitting it and that made it worse – couldn’t even wear it for >more than 1/2 hour. >I work across the street from my DME provider, and when I talked about >the leaks they had me try a Contour Deluxe, but that had same problem >- leaks on the cheeks. They normally work with Respironics for most of >the xPAP stuff, but they do use the Breeze pillows. They don’t >normally carry ResMed or others but ‘can order them’. >They said that with the pressures I have, the pillows definitely won’t >work – would just "blow out" of my nose. >I also have a hard time getting to sleep on my back, and usually sleep >on my side when weaing the mask or on my side/stomach when I’m not >wearing the mask. >What have other folks with that high a pressure found works for them? >Or do I just need to keep trying to refit the mask until I "get it >right"? If I have a rough idea what I would like to try next, the DME >people will try and order it, but obviously, insurance will question >ordering every mask on the market just to see which one works. >:-))))))) >Thanks for any help!
Response:
I had that exact problem with my profile lite, and it drove me nuts. It also kept waking me up. I hung in with it for a month or so, and was so miserable with it, but it was a new mask and I wanted to give it every chance, beside I am so stubborn. I had the contour before. Now, thanks to this group, I changed to the ultra mirage, which DOES NOT leak at all. Thankfully I did listen to the folks here who recommended the mirage, and also told me that the profile lite does not accept the pressure of 18 which is mine. Just listen to the people here cause they know firsthand, and the dme’s very often are dumb and uncaring. I suggest that you go to the ultra mirage asap. Good luck, Deb
Response:
My problem was that I thought the mask had to be tight to not leak. Wrong! They are designed to be loose. Try loosening it up until it just barely stays on. It may not leak then, but if it does, tighten it (symetrically!) slowly until it stops leaking. If you can’t stop the leaking this way, being too tight was obviously not the problem!! <:) (:> – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -CVTroll wrote: > Hiya – > Firstly – great group here – I’ve been lurking for a week now and have > found lots of helpful info. > As a newbie to BiPap, I’m having an issue with finding either a mask > or a mold for a mask that doesn’t leak. > My RDI was between 50-60, putting me in ’severe apnea/hypopnea’ range > and I only had one apnea, but the rest were all hypopneas that threw > my O2 sat for a loop (down to either low 80s or high 70’s, can’t > remember which at this point, but enough that I was shocked to say the > least).. I really need to make this work, because I’m not going thru > surgery unless it is the absolute only alternative. > I have an appt Thursday and I’m planning on getting a copy of both > studies for future reference (the sleep study and the titration, that > is). > The settings I have are 20/16 for a normal setting with 12/8 as a ramp > setting, going up to 20/16 within 12-15 mins. > I’ve currently got a Profile Lite which seemed to work okay for the > first week or so, but now the leaks are getting more annoying & waking > me up (blowing in my eyes, and as my wife calls it, the mask "starts > farting" (leaks on the cheeks/vibrates, making a noise much like > passing gas) when the IP jumps to 20 (stops at 16 for the EP)) . I > found it would work okay if I really tightened it down, but I was > discouraged from ‘cranking it down’ by both the sore spot on my > forehead and the technical director at the sleep center. > I tried fitting it and that made it worse – couldn’t even wear it for > more than 1/2 hour. > I work across the street from my DME provider, and when I talked about > the leaks they had me try a Contour Deluxe, but that had same problem > – leaks on the cheeks. They normally work with Respironics for most of > the xPAP stuff, but they do use the Breeze pillows. They don’t > normally carry ResMed or others but ‘can order them’. > They said that with the pressures I have, the pillows definitely won’t > work – would just "blow out" of my nose. > I also have a hard time getting to sleep on my back, and usually sleep > on my side when weaing the mask or on my side/stomach when I’m not > wearing the mask. > What have other folks with that high a pressure found works for them? > Or do I just need to keep trying to refit the mask until I "get it > right"? If I have a rough idea what I would like to try next, the DME > people will try and order it, but obviously, insurance will question > ordering every mask on the market just to see which one works. > )))))) > Thanks for any help!
Response:
Hiya – Firstly – great group here – I’ve been lurking for a week now and have found lots of helpful info. As a newbie to BiPap, I’m having an issue with finding either a mask or a mold for a mask that doesn’t leak. My RDI was between 50-60, putting me in ’severe apnea/hypopnea’ range and I only had one apnea, but the rest were all hypopneas that threw my O2 sat for a loop (down to either low 80s or high 70’s, can’t remember which at this point, but enough that I was shocked to say the least).. I really need to make this work, because I’m not going thru surgery unless it is the absolute only alternative. I have an appt Thursday and I’m planning on getting a copy of both studies for future reference (the sleep study and the titration, that is). The settings I have are 20/16 for a normal setting with 12/8 as a ramp setting, going up to 20/16 within 12-15 mins. I’ve currently got a Profile Lite which seemed to work okay for the first week or so, but now the leaks are getting more annoying & waking me up (blowing in my eyes, and as my wife calls it, the mask "starts farting" (leaks on the cheeks/vibrates, making a noise much like passing gas) when the IP jumps to 20 (stops at 16 for the EP)) . I found it would work okay if I really tightened it down, but I was discouraged from ‘cranking it down’ by both the sore spot on my forehead and the technical director at the sleep center. I tried fitting it and that made it worse – couldn’t even wear it for more than 1/2 hour. I work across the street from my DME provider, and when I talked about the leaks they had me try a Contour Deluxe, but that had same problem – leaks on the cheeks. They normally work with Respironics for most of the xPAP stuff, but they do use the Breeze pillows. They don’t normally carry ResMed or others but ‘can order them’. They said that with the pressures I have, the pillows definitely won’t work – would just "blow out" of my nose. I also have a hard time getting to sleep on my back, and usually sleep on my side when weaing the mask or on my side/stomach when I’m not wearing the mask. What have other folks with that high a pressure found works for them? Or do I just need to keep trying to refit the mask until I "get it right"? If I have a rough idea what I would like to try next, the DME people will try and order it, but obviously, insurance will question ordering every mask on the market just to see which one works. )))))) Thanks for any help!
