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How To Properly Fit a Mask. From a Techs Point of View.
First get your bed comfortable. Gather all of your creature comforts and make your nest. this reduces unwanted trips out of bed after the you have the mask on. This is important as you could wake your self up.
TURN YOUR MACHINE ON. Your mask should be filled with air when fitting.
Next I prefer to put the mask on sitting upright. Put the mask on just so that it rest on your face. It should be leaking at this time. (if you have a Resmed adjustable mask crank it out so that the forehead is pushed out as far as possible.)
Now I lay down on my back and listen to my mask leak for a second. Doing this trains your mind to hear them. Adjust the bottom straps first. Undue them and pull them straight out from the mask(the mask will want to slide down the straps). this is to even out the straps. If they are not even stop and fix it! Now evenly tighten the mask down just enough to form seal around your mouth(FFM) or the bottom of your nose(nasal).
Next do the sam with the top straps. Remember the top strap is more of an ancher. It should rest on your forehead rather than dig into it.(At this time if you have a Resmed adjustable mask crank it down. it should hug the bridge of your nose and finsh the seal).
Stop listen. you should not be uncomfortable and you should not here any leaks. The mask should be resting on your face at this point not digging or rubbing but resting. If it hurts loosen it.
If you hear leaks you have to options. 1 pull it straigh up off of your face and set it back down. this will sometimes fix it.
2 you can run your finger in between the seal and your skin all the way around the mask to ensure that the seal is folded under to do its job.
once you have these steps down the others are easy. Turn on your right, and left sides and adjust to rid leaks as well. This is important because the seal won't be the same on your sides as it is on your back. Set your self up for success and adjust for all positions.
Remember it only has to be as tight as you can handle comfortably. If you can't form a comfortable seal then you need a different mask.
TURN YOUR MACHINE ON. Your mask should be filled with air when fitting.
Next I prefer to put the mask on sitting upright. Put the mask on just so that it rest on your face. It should be leaking at this time. (if you have a Resmed adjustable mask crank it out so that the forehead is pushed out as far as possible.)
Now I lay down on my back and listen to my mask leak for a second. Doing this trains your mind to hear them. Adjust the bottom straps first. Undue them and pull them straight out from the mask(the mask will want to slide down the straps). this is to even out the straps. If they are not even stop and fix it! Now evenly tighten the mask down just enough to form seal around your mouth(FFM) or the bottom of your nose(nasal).
Next do the sam with the top straps. Remember the top strap is more of an ancher. It should rest on your forehead rather than dig into it.(At this time if you have a Resmed adjustable mask crank it down. it should hug the bridge of your nose and finsh the seal).
Stop listen. you should not be uncomfortable and you should not here any leaks. The mask should be resting on your face at this point not digging or rubbing but resting. If it hurts loosen it.
If you hear leaks you have to options. 1 pull it straigh up off of your face and set it back down. this will sometimes fix it.
2 you can run your finger in between the seal and your skin all the way around the mask to ensure that the seal is folded under to do its job.
once you have these steps down the others are easy. Turn on your right, and left sides and adjust to rid leaks as well. This is important because the seal won't be the same on your sides as it is on your back. Set your self up for success and adjust for all positions.
Remember it only has to be as tight as you can handle comfortably. If you can't form a comfortable seal then you need a different mask.
Views: 10698
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Somnonaut on
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Nice Rock,.
If there is one phrase I have learned that helps cuts through the setup confusion is "Make the straps and mask as LOOSE as possible with the mask not leaking."
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Permalink Reply by Charles McDermott on
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I'm confused. If a manufacturer says that there will be leaks and there is an acceptable level then what is all this preparation of putting on a mask? Is it to have 0 leaks?
Is there some relationship between leaks and AHI?
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Leak means the air is not going into the airway. Ergo, the therapy is not working. The small "allowance" the machine can accommodation is functionally equal to a small amount of air leaking out over one's cheek. The machine can accommodate this by ramping up its blower in an attempt to match the expected pressure output with the known leak (air holes leaking air built into mask) and the real leak. There is only about a 30ml/min window it can do this. Typically, once the machine senses that it cannot match the pressure to the real leak it says to itself, the mask must be intentionally off, and shuts itself down.
At least this is the way the Resmed system typically works when set into smart start and auto shutoff modes.
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Permalink Reply by Ginny Edmundson on
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I did not know this about the resmed machine. You mean if on auto off it will shut down when there is a large leak???
Somnonaut said:
Leak means the air is not going into the airway. Ergo, the therapy is not working. The small "allowance" the machine can accommodation is functionally equal to a small amount of air leaking out over one's cheek. The machine can accommodate this by ramping up its blower in an attempt to match the expected pressure output with the known leak (air holes leaking air built into mask) and the real leak. There is only about a 30ml/min window it can do this. Typically, once the machine senses that it cannot match the pressure to the real leak it says to itself, the mask must be intentionally off, and shuts itself down.
At least this is the way the Resmed system typically works when set into smart start and auto shutoff modes.
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They really add to comfort. And I have used them for 7 days. I am not sure they actually stop leaks but the "feel" is lot better than "plastic" against your face.
Buddy Sysol said:
And if you want some real comfort get yourself a Quietus Liner for the ResMed mask, soft, comfortable, absorbs perpiration, facial oils and most importantly stops air leaks.
BobbieSue
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Ginny & others that have recommended the Quietus liners, thank you! Not sure either if they prevent leaks but definitely enhance the level of comfort. I am only sorry I waited so long to order some! :o)
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Glad you like them too! Do you get a few days out of them?
Louise said:
Ginny & others that have recommended the Quietus liners, thank you! Not sure either if they prevent leaks but definitely enhance the level of comfort. I am only sorry I waited so long to order some! :o)
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I got 3 days out of the first one but I am thinking it may have been the mask cushion as well. It may have been my oldest one and the liner was slipping the third night. I thought I'd wash both and try it again, if still bad the cushion will go in the garbage!
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I did not have luck after I washed it.
Louise said:
I got 3 days out of the first one but I am thinking it may have been the mask cushion as well. It may have been my oldest one and the liner was slipping the third night. I thought I'd wash both and try it again, if still bad the cushion will go in the garbage!
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Doesn't anyone use the software to check for apnea's and leaks? I mean how else would you know when you are sleeping!
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After using Remzzzs for two years I tried Quietus. Wow, no comparison. Quietus are thicker, last longer and can stand up to washing.
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