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I have had 2 different CPAP machines and tried several different face masks but either have to pull masks so tight they hurt or have leaks that wake me up (although machine records these as being within the acceptable range).  Have not used CPAP for over a week now as bridge of my nose got so sore I couldn't stand it.  Am waiting for gel liner to arrive from USA and hope it helps as I do seem to feel and sleep better when I use the CPAP machine.  I seem to need a FFM.  Any  suggestions?

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Ellen, don't know if you have tried it but I do find less leaks if you have the hose coming from above your head rather than by your side.
I have hooked the hose up over the bed head. It does help with regular masks but I think now that it may be contributing to the problem with the Sleepweaver as it is so soft. I have been instinctively pulling the hose down but perhaps it shifts while I sleep so I will let it hang down instead next time I use it.

Terry Vella said:
Ellen, don't know if you have tried it but I do find less leaks if you have the hose coming from above your head rather than by your side.
Ellen, re the pillow, I do have a memory pillow but to save knocking the mask, I turn it horizontal rather than vertical (up and down vs across the bed) so there is less real estate to knock the mask.
Thanks for another good suggestion!
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Terry Vella said:
Ellen, re the pillow, I do have a memory pillow but to save knocking the mask, I turn it horizontal rather than vertical (up and down vs across the bed) so there is less real estate to knock the mask.

Thinking back I remember I had a lot of trouble with mask fit in the beginning.  I settled on the Quattro and the doctor kept complaining (this was before I learned to use the software to check data) that I had to get my leak down.  I remember the advice about not putting the mask on too tight, but my prescribed pressure was high and it didn't seem like anything else helped.  The skin on the bridge of my nose broke down from the hard frame of the quattro and I never could get it to heal despite transderm, wound pads, moleskin on the mask, shaving down the hard plastic (ruined the mask- luckily a spare), bandaids, etc.  After I finally took 20 days off CPAP to let my nose heal and the same problem started right up again I realized I needed a new style of mask.  MY DME helped and I must of tried 20 masks- some just trying on in the living room and some for a few weeks.  I finally found what I thought was the mask for me- the Respironics FitLife Total face mask.  It goes around my face, doesn't touch my nose, but I'm finding the bottom straps are pulling my bottom jaw back and my bottom teeth are beginning to crowd together.  It's back to the drawing board for me and I'm not looking foward to finding a mask that works.  I need a FFM.

      I really wonder if the SleepWeaver would work for you.

      I used it last night and noticed an additional bonus: I didn't wake up with the extra bags under my eyes. All my other masks seem to deliver extra "baggage", some days worse than others.

      btw, I started with a nasal mask and had to stop using it due to the skin break-down. I switched to a nasal pillow style so that my skin could heal and found that I liked the pillows. Next, I tried the SleepWeaver and do like it.

      Reminder: If the S/W doesn't work for you, you can return it within 30 days, according to CPAP.com, where I made my purchase. Here's more detailed information: http://www.cpap.com/productpage/sleepweaver-advance-improved-zzzeph...

Mary Z said:

Thinking back I remember I had a lot of trouble with mask fit in the beginning.  I settled on the Quattro and the doctor kept complaining (this was before I learned to use the software to check data) that I had to get my leak down.  I remember the advice about not putting the mask on too tight, but my prescribed pressure was high and it didn't seem like anything else helped.  The skin on the bridge of my nose broke down from the hard frame of the quattro and I never could get it to heal despite transderm, wound pads, moleskin on the mask, shaving down the hard plastic (ruined the mask- luckily a spare), bandaids, etc.  After I finally took 20 days off CPAP to let my nose heal and the same problem started right up again I realized I needed a new style of mask.  MY DME helped and I must of tried 20 masks- some just trying on in the living room and some for a few weeks.  I finally found what I thought was the mask for me- the Respironics FitLife Total face mask.  It goes around my face, doesn't touch my nose, but I'm finding the bottom straps are pulling my bottom jaw back and my bottom teeth are beginning to crowd together.  It's back to the drawing board for me and I'm not looking foward to finding a mask that works.  I need a FFM.

I tried the Sleepweaver last night with the hose down and the pillow turned sideways but the leaks were totally hopeless. Then I tried a nasal gel mask for a while but couldn't settle. Slept rest of nite with no mask. Tried Sleepweaver again this afternoon and recorded o.7 AHIs but unhappy face yet again and was conscious of heaps of leaking. It has been suggested that the cloth mask cannot withstand higher pressures. My machine is set to range from 12.5 to 15.5 at the moment.
Ellen, you are on a high pressure setting, Im surprise your starting at 12.5, mine starts at 4 and goes to 12 using the autoset. Each person has different settings depending on their need. I would try a Full Face Mask maybe even with a chin strap on top that's what I do. I've never tried the sleep weaver, I didn't really like the look but have heard it can't be used with high pressures so you may have answered your own question. Are you leasing the masks or buying them. Here in Aaustralia, we can lease them first before you buy, I went throgh 5 masks in a couple of masks before I finally settled on the one that suited me and even after that it took months to get all the leaks out and get it right. Even last night, my chin strap came off in the middle of the night and I got some leaks.

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