Earplugs as sealant
In a quest to conquer my leaks last night I used silicone earplug material for the first time. The results were not dramatic, but encouraging. Normally my leak rates average 34.4 L at 95% and highest at 41.2 L. Last night my 95% rate was 27.6 L and highest was 31.2 L. It's only one night, but at least it's an improvement.
I'm currently in my ninth mask, and all have leaked just as bad. The problem is not the mask, it's that I'm all over the bed all night long - too much movement. Every time I roll from one side to the other (every 15-20 minutes) the mask dislodges.
I had a big problem with the silicone material. I rolled it between my hands into a thin rope, then tried to place it on the mask cushion (Wisp nasal mask). The silicone just fell off the cushion. It is not sticky, and the cushion is not flat, so there is no way to get it to stay on the cushion as I place it over my nose. Bear in mind that the part of the cushion that is in contact with the skin is just a very thin film so that it will conform to the shape of the face when pressurized. If it was hard plastic I could have stuck the silicone onto it, but the flimsy flap makes it impossible.
Finally, I leaned my head back and placed the silicone around my nose, flattening it down a bit. It still did not stick, but at least it stayed in place long enough to put the mask on. But when I took the mask off this morning the silicone had disappeared. I finally found it on the floor next to the bed.
I bought Mack's ear plugs from a local Walgreen's pharmacy.
For those of you who use silicone ear plug material as a mask sealant, can you give me suggestions for getting it to stay on?
RE: Earplugs as sealant
JJJ, the earplugs are hard to use as you said. I have used the mask sealant. It's very sticky, glues the mask to your face- a little goes a long way.
That said I have found for me (not anyone else) there is not substititute
for a properly size and fitted mask. I had help from a great DME tech with my quattro fx and am surrprised- it is not at all tight, the cushion fills with air and provides a seal as it's supposed to do.
It took me four years and countless masks to get to this place.
RE: Earplugs as sealant
If I were an admin (and praise be I am not), I would change your username to HoneyPot.
JJJ, I was looking into this a while back when I thought I may have to change masks due to higher pressure. Every nasal mask I have tried always leaked into my eyes.
Anyway, I've not looked in the local SCUBA shops but I did poke around online. Google "scuba sealant". I found two different types. One looked to be in a lip balm kind of dispenser and another was in a jar. Trident is one brand name but some SCUBA shops make their own. Google "Dive Right In SCUBA gear" (or "DRIS gear") for a one that does this.
I've not tried any of them as the Breeze is still working out for me.
PaulaO
Take a deep breath and count to zen.