Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Darillyn Patterson on January 20, 2011 at 9:40pm

It's worth trying.  Thanks, Kathleen.

Kathleen Pearlman said:

I ordered a sample of the RemZzzs CPAP Mask Liners. I wasn't real happy with them, although the ydid help. But they inspired me - I took an old tee shirt and cut a square from it, folded it and cut a triangle, just big enough to fit ove my mouth and nose and over the edges of the mask. It  makes the mask more comfortable and keeps it from leaking unles one of the edges slips off. If you make the hole in the center too big, that might happen. Overall, this helps a lot with a full face mask. I'm using the Mirage Quattro. And a fairtly heavyweight Tee, I might add..

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Permalink Reply by Darillyn Patterson on January 20, 2011 at 9:42pm

I will check it out right now.  Thanks.

Matt Kesner said:

www.Quietusliners.com check them out for a really effective solution. Read their story and watch the video.

David said:

I have the same narrow nose bridge problem and just have to live with being all marked up from overtightening.  More experience with the Remszzzs has made me a convert.  You can wear them for several days which lowers the overall cost.  They will stop all but the largest leak and I couldn't duplicate them with similar cloth from my wifes "rag bag"

Chris said:

That would be awesome. I was about to start a thread with just that very question. I have a very narrow nose bridge and it always leaks there, so I have a balancing act between leaks and pressure sores.

David said:

www.remzzzs.com sells a fabric insert for a dollar or so each.  I don't know if they can be reused I have never tried.  They work pretty good but tend to slide or walk in the AM I know I tug on the mask so that may be my fault.  In my opinion full face coverage is a must and you just have to cinch it tight to lessen leaks.  After more than 20 years of fiddiling with different solutions that all have one failure or another I am looking for someone who will pour a custom mask out of some kind of foam.  If I can afford it that is.

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Permalink Reply by bonesigh on January 20, 2011 at 10:17pm

Hi Danilyn, It's going to be hard to remember all the suggestions in this discussion but I hope some of what I say helps.  I've been on a machine now for 3 years and had my share of all of the above troubles and then some. My pressure on my Bipap runs between 16 and 18 most nights. I hardly ever have leaks now or a sore nose etc. Things are good but I struggled for about 2 years with difficulties. But since I don't want to die I have pushed through.

I also, like someone above, wear a mirage quattro full face mask but mine is sized extra small. I'm a female, 5'3 and very overweight. It helps me to get a new mask every 3 months, the new ones just work better. I have tried the cloth under the mask, a free sample from one of those places. I didn't like the way it created a very small leak around the entire mask. Yeah it helped, no "farting" mask air, but I couldn't stand the coldness of air leaking all around the mask. I thought the silicone ear plug stuff was just a pain but both these things work for some people. It's worth a try.

 

I don't agree with the people that say you need to wear the mask loose like a pillow on your face. I have to wear mine very tight with the angle set just right, there's an adjustable nob on this mask at the nose/forehead brace. I have also attached a night mask to the forehead gear by putting 2 small holes in the cloth of the eye mask and poking the 2 rubber things (on the back of the forehead brace) through the holes and then to the head gear. This way it does not move around. I used to have trouble with my eyes because of small leaks blowing into them all night. Problem solved. Also, now this is very important, when you adjust your mask in the night you must either turn off the machine or unhook the hose while you do so. You will not get a good seal unless you do. After the adjustment turn on/hook up the machine.

 

I think it's a good idea what someone said about having the machine on max so you know if it will leak if it gets up to that pressure. But you have to turn it off every time you adjust your mask and then turn it back on again to check.  I also use mole skin to protect my nose bridge, it's a sheet about 4X4 inch square that is like cloth bandaid material. Don't buy the padded kind, just the regular. It's usually used for foot sores so you will find it in the foot department at your local pharmacy. Just cut 'em in strips as wide as you like. I also put a little dab of lotion or neosporin right on the bridge of the nose in the middle of the strip so that part is not irritated when I remove the moleskin in the morning.

 

The final thing I did was to get a firm foam pillow and cut it like the pictures I saw of the expensive cpap pillows. Plus I lay on my side and put my face very close to the edge of the pillow so the mask fits right into the gap I made (on both sides in case I want to turn over). Make sure you leave room for the air exhaust. I lay another pillow in front of me and "hug" that pillow. Keeps me from rolling off the edge of the head pillow. I wash my mask every night or sometimes I just use a baby wipe on the mask and then around my face. Oh yeah, I put Burt's Bees lip protector on every night. Don't use Chapstick!  Most nights I sleep like a baby now. AHI around 1.5 or less.

 

I think the "key" is different for everyone but maybe you will get some good ideas from everyone here. Stick with it and push through! Gosh, sorry this was so long!

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Permalink Reply by Gary West on January 21, 2011 at 12:49am

I had major leaks at First.

Then i tried the tighten it till it hurts method, well that did not last long and it still leaked.

 

Then I found the problem, And I had NO MORE LEAKS. I made a mast that sits about one foot above your head, then a piece of Velcro rapped around the top of the mast, and then loops around the air tube coming out of your mask.

 

The Cause of my leaks were that the tube coming out of your mask is not held at the same height all the time, and the extra weight of the tube would cause the mask to sag, creating a leak.

 

I have not had any leaks since I made my CPAP Mast Tube Holder.

 

It is relatively small, and made out of 1/4" round solid Stainless steel rod. 

 

Like I said about one foot higher than the mattress, following the edge of the mattress, making a 90 degree turn and going between the mattresses and held between the mattresses. It is 1/4" diameter so it cannot be felt while sleeping. At the top of the mast is a Loop, this is where the Velcro is threaded through like a Big Sewing Needle, after threaded then the other end of the Velcro raps around the air tube coming out of your mask about 10" back from your mask, on the other end of the Velcro that raps around your mask tube is a clip that gets clipped on to either your bed spread, or your clothes,  and this holds the weight of the tube while you are sleeping and the tweight of the tube moving all over the place while sleeping also causes the mask to get distorted and this is when the leaks occur.

 

I have built about 4ea of these for people that i know, My local CPAP dealer want me to bring one by so he can look at it and maybe offer it to his customers, ( I'am one of his customers).

 

Gary

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Permalink Reply by Bill Pilgrim on January 21, 2011 at 2:20am

Mary T said:

Hi everyone.

I have solved my problem of a leaking full-face Resmed mask by purchasing the thinner type of fleece material from our local fabric store and cutting it out in the shape of a gasket to fit around the seal part of the mask. I tried the RemZZZs and found that they worked fine for a while but then I began having to tighten my mask and I was still getting mask leaks (or mask 'farts' as I call them) The fabric for the RemZZZs is a thin cotton. It's a good product but no longer worked for me and I was tired of waking up with deep indents/grooves in my face. The thicker fabric seems to have eliminated that problem. Since the fabric is a little thicker, I think that helps for me and I don't have those dreaded deep grooves on my face and I am sleeping more soundly and for longer stretches of time (which isn't easy with that mask on anyway as all of you know).

I was getting extremely frustrated with trying to sleep with this mask on. I am not a back sleeper. I am a side sleeper and the problem was that when I would turn on my side I seemed to push the mask away from my face, especially on the side that was away from the pillow. Then the mask 'farts' would happen and wake me up. The fabric only costs about $3.98 per yard so you will get a lot of these 'gaskets' out of the fabric. They can be re-used over and over. Just wash it in warm soap and water every so often and let it air dry. I suppose they could be machine washed and dried but I haven't tried that yet. I made one about 4 months ago and it's still going strong. Just an occasional handwash is all it needs. Heck, if I can save some money making my own, I will. You just have to trial fit ones that you cut out until you can cut one that will exactly fit your mask. Just a little trial-and-error and then you will have one specially fit for you and a template you can use again and again to cut more out.

Good luck everyone. Hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Pilgrim on January 21, 2011 at 2:59am

Hi Mary, I can't remember if I have mentioned my experience or not.  I have been battling against poor doctor response for years, taking over 6 or 7 years to convince the trainee specialists that the money I spent on a CPAP was wasted.  Now by going to a private fully qualified Specialist with Au & USA quals, I am told that because my Apneas dissapear, when I sleep on my side other than a few episodes Central Apnea, that I may not require any machine at all.  I am about to have another test where I amplaced in a darkened room for 4 periods over 8 hrs and I must stay quiet with no stimulation and see if I can stay awake.  I don't know what that will prove, but the thought of no more sore face because I don't have a mask to fit decently is wonderful.  Have you heard of any others with this experience.

\Regards

Bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iexcept for some small bouts of C

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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on January 21, 2011 at 8:45am

Bill, that sounds like a MSLT (multiple sleep latency test).  You sit for two hours then nap for 20 minutes four times. Unless they are doing a different test.

Bill Pilgrim said:

Hi Mary, I can't remember if I have mentioned my experience or not.  I have been battling against poor doctor response for years, taking over 6 or 7 years to convince the trainee specialists that the money I spent on a CPAP was wasted.  Now by going to a private fully qualified Specialist with Au & USA quals, I am told that because my Apneas dissapear, when I sleep on my side other than a few episodes Central Apnea, that I may not require any machine at all.  I am about to have another test where I amplaced in a darkened room for 4 periods over 8 hrs and I must stay quiet with no stimulation and see if I can stay awake.  I don't know what that will prove, but the thought of no more sore face because I don't have a mask to fit decently is wonderful.  Have you heard of any others with this experience.

\Regards

Bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iexcept for some small bouts of C

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Permalink Reply by Bill Pilgrim on January 21, 2011 at 9:11am

Mary Z said:

Bill, that sounds like a MSLT (multiple sleep latency test).  You sit for two hours then nap for 20 minutes four times. Unless they are doing a different test.

Bill Pilgrim said:

Hi Mary, I can't remember if I have mentioned my experience or not.  I have been battling against poor doctor response for years, taking over 6 or 7 years to convince the trainee specialists that the money I spent on a CPAP was wasted.  Now by going to a private fully qualified Specialist with Au & USA quals, I am told that because my Apneas dissapear, when I sleep on my side other than a few episodes Central Apnea, that I may not require any machine at all.  I am about to have another test where I amplaced in a darkened room for 4 periods over 8 hrs and I must stay quiet with no stimulation and see if I can stay awake.  I don't know what that will prove, but the thought of no more sore face because I don't have a mask to fit decently is wonderful.  Have you heard of any others with this experience.

\Regards

Bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iexcept for some small bouts of C

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Permalink Reply by Bill Pilgrim on January 21, 2011 at 9:15am

Bill Pilgrim said:

Mary, after I read your reply I looked through what I have been given and it appears that they call this one a 'MAINTENANCE OF WAKEFULNESS TEST" and I do 4 periods of 40 minutes in 8 hours.  I know they want to see if I can stay awake, but I don't know what it proves.

Bill

Mary Z said:

Bill, that sounds like a MSLT (multiple sleep latency test).  You sit for two hours then nap for 20 minutes four times. Unless they are doing a different test.

Bill Pilgrim said:

Hi Mary, I can't remember if I have mentioned my experience or not.  I have been battling against poor doctor response for years, taking over 6 or 7 years to convince the trainee specialists that the money I spent on a CPAP was wasted.  Now by going to a private fully qualified Specialist with Au & USA quals, I am told that because my Apneas dissapear, when I sleep on my side other than a few episodes Central Apnea, that I may not require any machine at all.  I am about to have another test where I amplaced in a darkened room for 4 periods over 8 hrs and I must stay quiet with no stimulation and see if I can stay awake.  I don't know what that will prove, but the thought of no more sore face because I don't have a mask to fit decently is wonderful.  Have you heard of any others with this experience.

\Regards

Bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iexcept for some small bouts of C

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mary Z on January 21, 2011 at 9:25am

A google of the term came up with many descriptions

http://www.sleepeducation.com/Topic.aspx?id=36

Bill Pilgrim said:

Mary, after I read your reply I looked through what I have been given and it appears that they call this one a 'MAINTENANCE OF WAKEFULNESS TEST" and I do 4 periods of 40 minutes in 8 hours.  I know they want to see if I can stay awake, but I don't know what it proves.

Bill

Mary Z said:

Bill, that sounds like a MSLT (multiple sleep latency test).  You sit for two hours then nap for 20 minutes four times. Unless they are doing a different test.

Bill Pilgrim said:

Hi Mary, I can't remember if I have mentioned my experience or not.  I have been battling against poor doctor response for years, taking over 6 or 7 years to convince the trainee specialists that the money I spent on a CPAP was wasted.  Now by going to a private fully qualified Specialist with Au & USA quals, I am told that because my Apneas dissapear, when I sleep on my side other than a few episodes Central Apnea, that I may not require any machine at all.  I am about to have another test where I amplaced in a darkened room for 4 periods over 8 hrs and I must stay quiet with no stimulation and see if I can stay awake.  I don't know what that will prove, but the thought of no more sore face because I don't have a mask to fit decently is wonderful.  Have you heard of any others with this experience.

\Regards

Bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iexcept for some small bouts of C

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gary West on January 21, 2011 at 11:16am

To Get Rid of Leaks,

 

Try laying on your back in bed turn your CPAP on, and with your face mask on.

 

Then hold on to the air hose with your hand (coming out of your face mask) back about 10 inches from your mask.

 

Move your hand that is holding the air tube about about 2  inches above your body, see if it leaks more or less, Then try moving the tube in your hand up an inch higher, you should be able to here if it leaks or not, raise the tube either up higher or down lower till most all leaks are gone

 

Do this test, it's very easy and quick

 

After I did this I was able to back off most of the strap pressure that made my face hurt while sleeping

 

It should Not Hurt to wear your face mask, If it does then there is a PROBLEM!!!!

 

The soft silicone rubber can distort very easily.

 

You are trying to take the weight of the tube off of your mask (That SOFT silicone rubber, cannot hold up the weight of the air hose).

 

Gary

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Permalink Reply by Brian Judy on January 21, 2011 at 4:01pm

Making sure the mask is the appropriate size is really important.  Also, one mask style may work well for one person but have major leak issues with another.  So, trying different masks in the appropriate size is a good thing.  I got my hands on some demos of the brand new Resmed Quattro FX full face mask and have good feed back on it. 

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