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Does anyone else have this problem.
I've had my CPAP for only a month. I put it on and do fine for a few hours (thanks to Ambien) and then wake up in the middle of the night with the mask leaking like crazy. I adjust over and over and finally give up and take it off. When I first put it on it fits fine and doesn't leak. When I'm able to wear it all night I feel so much better, so I want to leave it on. I can't figure out why it starts out with a nice seal and leaks after a few hours. I wear a full face mask. Thanks!
Views: 166
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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this is a common problem. getting the right mask is 90% of cpap treatment. full face masks can be more prone to leaking because there's more surface area to disrupt on the mask and have leaks through. i imagine what might be happening to you is that when you fall asleep, you're on your back, and then during your sleep you turn on your side or stomach, and your face and mask sink into the pillow, dislodging part of the mask. you might try a nasal mask or hybrid mask instead.
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Permalink Reply by Linda on
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Yes...I have been told my features are small around my mouth and nose...I have dimples too! I switched from a ResMed full face mask to the ResMed Liberty Mirage...it is considered a full face. I have a mouth piece with nose pillows attached...I do have minor leakage with the nose cushions, but my mouth piece stays in place (no more horrible sounds). The Liberty gives me more freedom to move around without breaking the seal. This mask works well for side sleepers like myself...
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Permalink Reply by Mary on
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Thanks you guys. Your replies make sense. I do start on my back and the relaxation of the face makes sense too. I tried the nasal mask at the lab and hated it. I'll look at the Hybrid and see what that is.
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Permalink Reply by martin oshea on
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I changed to a nasal pillow and did better. Also I no longer have sleep apnea. I finally took the bull by the horn and had a gastric bypass, lost 90 pds. I am now running and hope to be off all meds. Ambien has been a little rough to come off of. But it was a life saver. I saw you are from wyoming , whats it like . I live in the most densely populated state NJ and its getting old.
Good luck
marty
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martin oshea said:I changed to a nasal pillow and did better. Also I no longer have sleep apnea. I finally took the bull by the horn and had a gastric bypass, lost 90 pds. I am now running and hope to be off all meds. Ambien has been a little rough to come off of. But it was a life saver. I saw you are from wyoming , whats it like . I live in the most densely populated state NJ and its getting old.
Good luck
marty
Wyoming is a far cry from New Jersey. My town has one stop light and you have to watch for deer and antelope (and occasionally Buffalo) when you drive. I love living here. Last night I had a Bald Eagle playing in the wind outside my living room window. I've been to the NJ shore...I loved it.
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Permalink Reply by Mitch Haman on
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Hi. I just started using my cpap this week. The first night which was last Monday: I had the OptiLife nasal pillows for my RemMaster pro M series. Every time I moved I'd lose the seal. I would sleep some, but wake up because of the noise made from the broken seal. I had my mask changed to a ResMed Mirage Swith II Nasal Pillows System. This worked much better, though I have a hard time getting to sleep anyway. I to sometimes will take something to get me to sleep. Benadryl usually.
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Permalink Reply by Jeffrey Donaldson on
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I have had that happen to me from time to time. With my mask, it has a "stiffiner" ring that fits just over the outside of the mask rubber. When my mask is new, I don't need it, but as it breaks in and softens, I have to put that ring on. Your is probably not the same, but I thought I'd let you know.
One other thing. If you put on any facial cream, or some kind of skin cream on your face, get it all off before you go to bed. It can soften the rubber and seems to make the seal less effective.
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this reminded me that when a mask is new it maintains a better seal than when it's even a few months old. hence, the reason medicare and most insurers will pay for mask cushion (not the mask itself) replacements up to a couple of times per month
look into it. i'm overdue for some replacement parts myself and am calling to order some today.
Jeffrey Donaldson said:I have had that happen to me from time to time. With my mask, it has a "stiffiner" ring that fits just over the outside of the mask rubber. When my mask is new, I don't need it, but as it breaks in and softens, I have to put that ring on. Your is probably not the same, but I thought I'd let you know.
One other thing. If you put on any facial cream, or some kind of skin cream on your face, get it all off before you go to bed. It can soften the rubber and seems to make the seal less effective.
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Mike said:this reminded me that when a mask is new it maintains a better seal than when it's even a few months old. hence, the reason medicare and most insurers will pay for mask cushion (not the mask itself) replacements up to a couple of times per month
look into it. i'm overdue for some replacement parts myself and am calling to order some today.
Jeffrey Donaldson said:I have had that happen to me from time to time. With my mask, it has a "stiffiner" ring that fits just over the outside of the mask rubber. When my mask is new, I don't need it, but as it breaks in and softens, I have to put that ring on. Your is probably not the same, but I thought I'd let you know.
One other thing. If you put on any facial cream, or some kind of skin cream on your face, get it all off before you go to bed. It can soften the rubber and seems to make the seal less effective.
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Maybe I do need a new cushion . I'll check with my insurance company. I also do wear moisturizer at night. Last night was awful. It was like my machine decided to go from a comfortable 11 or a hurricane light 100 million. I called my company and they're going to send someone to look at it today. This sure can be discouraging. I was diagnosed with "Mild" sleep apnea and I don't know which is worse right now, dealing with the mask or having the apnea. I'll plug away at it though.
Mary said:Mike said:this reminded me that when a mask is new it maintains a better seal than when it's even a few months old. hence, the reason medicare and most insurers will pay for mask cushion (not the mask itself) replacements up to a couple of times per month
look into it. i'm overdue for some replacement parts myself and am calling to order some today.
Jeffrey Donaldson said:I have had that happen to me from time to time. With my mask, it has a "stiffiner" ring that fits just over the outside of the mask rubber. When my mask is new, I don't need it, but as it breaks in and softens, I have to put that ring on. Your is probably not the same, but I thought I'd let you know.
One other thing. If you put on any facial cream, or some kind of skin cream on your face, get it all off before you go to bed. It can soften the rubber and seems to make the seal less effective.
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it can be discouraging when you're struggling to get it to work, but when it works, it's the best night's sleep ever.
also, a mild case is serious enough, but sleep apnea is a degenerative disorder that only gets worse with time, so you're doing the right thing getting on top of your treatment now
Mary said:Maybe I do need a new cushion . I'll check with my insurance company. I also do wear moisturizer at night. Last night was awful. It was like my machine decided to go from a comfortable 11 or a hurricane light 100 million. I called my company and they're going to send someone to look at it today. This sure can be discouraging. I was diagnosed with "Mild" sleep apnea and I don't know which is worse right now, dealing with the mask or having the apnea. I'll plug away at it though.
Mary said:Mike said:this reminded me that when a mask is new it maintains a better seal than when it's even a few months old. hence, the reason medicare and most insurers will pay for mask cushion (not the mask itself) replacements up to a couple of times per month
look into it. i'm overdue for some replacement parts myself and am calling to order some today.
Jeffrey Donaldson said:I have had that happen to me from time to time. With my mask, it has a "stiffiner" ring that fits just over the outside of the mask rubber. When my mask is new, I don't need it, but as it breaks in and softens, I have to put that ring on. Your is probably not the same, but I thought I'd let you know.
One other thing. If you put on any facial cream, or some kind of skin cream on your face, get it all off before you go to bed. It can soften the rubber and seems to make the seal less effective.
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Are you laying down when you put your mask on? Do you have your CPAP turned on to your set pressure, not a lower Ramp pressure BEFORE you adjust your mask fitting for sealing?
You SHOULD lay down, turn your CPAP on w/o Ramp to your set pressure, lay your mask on your face, allow it to fill w/air, tighten the top straps first but still fairly loose, then tighten your bottom straps. Run your fingertip along the seam line between mask cushion and face. If still some leaks lift your mask SLIGHTLY off your face, let it refill w/air and then lay it on your face again and do the fingertip along the seam line again.
You might need a different pillow. Either one so soft you can punch it into a comfortable shape w/a "dent" or "hollow" for your mask when sleeping on your side. Or maybe something like a PAPillow where you can sleep w/your face to the edge of the pillow and your mask off the edge.
Hanging your hose above your head or clipping it to your PJs to reduce the drag of the hose on your mask when you change positions can be a big help to reducing leaks when you change positions.
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