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Permalink Reply by Ginny Edmundson on August 23, 2011 at 5:13pm

I forgot to call them today (DME company)  on my to do list for tomorrow. 

Noreen LaVallo said:

You should be able to get the insert every month.....I found this out after 5 years of struggling with leakage especially around the end of the 3 months.  What a difference!

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Permalink Reply by Amy on August 23, 2011 at 6:05pm

Depending on the mask they usually last 1-6 months.  I have never heard of one lasting only a month.  What are you using to wash it with.

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Permalink Reply by Noreen LaVallo on August 23, 2011 at 6:25pm

The mask lasts but the insert should be changed monthly as it loses it's "stickiness" and ability to stay in place....believe me I have followed all of the washing instructions to a T.  For people who have a high pressure (like me) it is even more important to change them often.

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Permalink Reply by Richard on August 24, 2011 at 12:32am

I had a lot of leaks with my mask, and switched to a Breeze (over the head) nasal pillow headgear. When sleeping on my side, the mask leaked a lot, no matter how hard I snugged up the straps. Between the angle of my head and the depth of my pillow, I could never maintain a seal with my mask.

My recommendation is to try different headgear - masks or nose pillows, I found that I didn't like nose pillows at first and so I had both a Breeze mask and nose pillows, and alternated between them. They both have a band that goes from the nose, over top of the head, and to the back of the head. They also come with straps that can go along the top side of the head, but I've never used them. It depends on the size and shape of your head, the shape of your face and nose, and the amount of pressure you need - whether they work for you or not.

It took me about three months for my nose to get used to nose pillows, and I've used them continuously for the last 2-3 years, and don't bother with the Breeze nose-mask any more.

I know that gear is expensive, but you probably need to try some different gear until you find what works. It's not uncommon to go through 3, 4, or more different types of headgear until you get what fits your needs.

The suggestion of glycerine is a good one - you don't need a lot, but it's good for your skin and is not greasy - it's just *slightly* sticky. You'll find glycerine in a lot of cosmetics, it's a natural moisturiser. I use it on cracked lips and other dry skin in the winter, it works wonders, without leaving me greasy. (It's in things like lipstick, but as a guy, I don't really want to experience that!)

I'm lazy, and only fully wash my nose pillows about once a week (but wipe them nightly), and they usually survive for several (3-4) months. The rest of the headgear gets replaced by the insurance company every six months, but it survives 8-12 months.

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Permalink Reply by Rette Tyrrel on August 24, 2011 at 3:57am

Hi Gary,

 

Can you tell me more about what you do with your hose?  That's my major problem. The Breeze doesn't exactly fit my head, but it's the best I've  found.  However, the least movement of the hose wakes me up because it pulls the pillows out of place. 

 

Thanks.

Rette

Gary West said:

I used to get  a lot of leaks like you, and they seemed to get worse as my nasal pillow aged.

Then i found the real problem it was the way the Hose going to the mask is the absolute most important thing to getting rid of leaks & providing all night sleep comfort and being leak free.

 

I use my Nasal pillow for longer than 6 months since I found this fix, I hope to get to about a year or longer per pillow.

 

I now sleep 7-8 hours every night, Very comfortable and NO Leaks, I mean NO leaks.

 

Holding the tube correctly to get rid of all deflection of mask or pillow is the most important thing.

 

westgl

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Roger James Dutton on August 24, 2011 at 4:55am

HI , Haven't experienced problems yet, but using a mild detergent and warm water every three days or so and after a month there is a slight milky tinge to the mask seal. Quattro FX.

I would suspect that quality control in the formulation of the seal and individual variation and beard growth and shape of face to fit of mask give so much variation that what works is different for each individual.

would love to see some work done to develop individual masks like ski boot liners and a profile that allows the seal to be cut to fit then glued to form the right length, like I used to make 'O' ring seals from a kit.

My curiousity leads me to consider pressurising a room or 'four poster bed type' chamber and then I remembered my basic anatomy and that mouth to backside is a continuos tube ! so that wouldn't work when 'equilibrium pressure' was reached at both ends!

Where does ResMed get it's 20-60% of those 'rich in years' suffer from OSA figures from?

 

Roger D 64 March 2011 diagnosis 12.4 AHI ie 'Mild'

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Permalink Reply by Roger James Dutton on August 24, 2011 at 5:11am

Re-reading the comments, and having spoken to ResMed it seems some countries and providers of CPAP are using the Auto machines to find a fixed pressure to use, this is not the case with me, and my clinicians and the Auto machine gives me pressure as requred, this differs with sleep state, so that is not measured, and with back or side sleeping, so the pressure if fixed means, do not move, put on weight or lose it or go to REM sleep more often or take any medication like sleeping tabs or anti depresants or alcohol or illegal substances WITHOUT a fresh sleep study to give the 'fixed' pressure to suit the changes.

I would take a good guess that my machine is produced for 120GBP in singapore and sold on to NHS /DME in UK/US for twice that and sold for double again, . Plus Mask. So my Auto machine is , in my opinion, cheap enough to chuck out all the fixed machines which may be knocking out seals quicker at a fixed pressure and damned uncomfortable I would think without 'exhalation releif' Claustrophobic or What !

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on August 24, 2011 at 8:20am

This is off topic, but CPAP is usually set at the maximum pressure needed to prevent apneas in any sleep position or sleep stage.  Of course gaining weight may change your pressure requirements, but that is easily fixed.  I believe it is a mistake to think AUTO is better for everybody.  Some of us, me included, do better with straight CPAP.  This is confirmed by my AHI in AUTO versus CPAP mode.

 

As far as changing cushions I changed my Quattro cushions every month to keep the best seal possible.  I always kept the last cushion as a spare.  Now that I use the FitLife Total Face Mask I change the mask- there are no changeable parts- every three months.  Again, I want to keep the best fit and seal possible.

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