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my contribution to "leak day"
#1
my contribution to "leak day"
I see there are lots of leak problems posted. I might as well add mine.
After several months on cpap I have come to the end of my efforts to control leaks. First there was the nasal mask and huge leaks. I changed to nasal pillow and the leaks were reduced dramatically but still more than sleepyhead liked. Every morning I would have smiley faces but also a message that I had too many leaks and should contact my . CPAP advisor.

So I studied this forum extensively and tried one after another of the suggestions I found. Chin strap. Not helping. Taping the mouth, plus chinstrap. No deal. A week ago I started using soft cervical collar and taping mouth. Now that looks much better to me as far as the numbers go, but Sleepyhead still says I am having excessive leaks and should contact my CPAP advisor.

Well, you are "IT". So what do you suggest? Do you think that I am really having excessive leaks? Here are some numbers for you:

[attachment=2294]
[attachment=2296]

Thanks for your help.
Inspired
Bigwink
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#2
RE: my contribution to "leak day"
Do you have excessive leaks, I would say it could be better. Are they messing up your therapy, perhaps not perfect but I also don't see a huge problem.

My guess is that if you went back to your provider they would give you a full face mask. Have you tried one? So many different kinds, I really like the one I use-no sores on the bridge of my nose and nothing covering my nose Smile

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#3
RE: my contribution to "leak day"
(03-21-2016, 10:12 AM)Inspired Wrote: I see there are lots of leak problems posted. I might as well add mine.
After several months on cpap I have come to the end of my efforts to control leaks. First there was the nasal mask and huge leaks. I changed to nasal pillow and the leaks were reduced dramatically but still more than sleepyhead liked. Every morning I would have smiley faces but also a message that I had too many leaks and should contact my . CPAP advisor.

So I studied this forum extensively and tried one after another of the suggestions I found. Chin strap. Not helping. Taping the mouth, plus chinstrap. No deal. A week ago I started using soft cervical collar and taping mouth. Now that looks much better to me as far as the numbers go, but Sleepyhead still says I am having excessive leaks and should contact my CPAP advisor.

Well, you are "IT". So what do you suggest? Do you think that I am really having excessive leaks? Here are some numbers for you:




Thanks for your help.

Also, why are my attachments so small that they are unreadable, after I reduce their size in order to be below the 600 kb maximum allowed?

Oh-jeez
Inspired
Bigwink
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#4
RE: my contribution to "leak day"
Thanks Pool. I am hoping to avoid FFM if at all posslble. In the end I may have to try is though.
Inspired
Bigwink
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#5
RE: my contribution to "leak day"
(03-21-2016, 10:30 AM)Inspired Wrote: Also, why are my attachments so small that they are unreadable, after I reduce their size in order to be below the 600 kb maximum allowed?

You can click on the attachments and they will open up in normal size. Once you do that, you can see the URL (web address) of where the attachment actually is, and then edit your post and put the URL in between two image tags like this:

Code:
[img]http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/attachment.php?aid=2294[/img]

This way, your attached pictures will show full size in the post automatically, without the need to click on them.

Or, an even better way is to host the files outside of Apnea Board (this is preferred), using a free image hosting website like imgur.

Here's some directions for using imgur:

http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...pnea_Board
SuperSleeper
Apnea Board Administrator
www.ApneaBoard.com


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#6
RE: my contribution to "leak day"
Thanks for the info, Supersleeper.
Inspired
Bigwink
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#7
RE: my contribution to "leak day"
Chin straps look deceivingly simple and straight forward. My experience with chin straps was difficult until I started questioning a few things. First, just getting your mouth to stay closed is not sufficient. You must get the tongue seal to work for you. The chin strap needs to help you to maintain that during sleep. Using a chinstrap that merely cups the chin did not work for me. It kept my mouth closed but did not prevent the mouth leakage (chipmunk cheeks).

I finally went with a 3" wide chinstrap with no chin cup and fitted it under my jaw from the chin to the neck. I needed a strap to go around the back of my head to keep it from coming off through the night. From the first night I tried this it corrected my problem enough that I no longer suffer dry mouth with my FFM. My feeling is that with this type of chin strap fitted in this manner the slight pressure on the soft fleshy area under the jaw helps to remind the tongue to stay up against the roof of the mouth. Anyway, that is my story and I am sticking to it.

As far as FFMs are concerned, they get an unnecessarily bad rap from some of the people who have tried them and can not get them to work. It could be the mask or could be the person. Who knows? The full face mask solved a lot of problems for me the majority of which were leaks. Yes you may have to work a little harder initially to tame the leaks and you may not be able to use any old FFM. I would recommend the F&P Simplus or the Resmed Mirage Quattro as being the most adjustable to different facial configurations. What works the best for me so far is the Mirage Quattro with the Simplus running a close second. The Mirage Quattro, once you get it set up properly and the head gear has slowed its permanent stretch can be just put on and you are good to go. No muss, no fuss, no having to adjust the fit every time that you put it on.

Try it or as the P10 cult ( Big Grin Big Grin ) is fond of saying, "Resistance is futile".

Hot dog BananaBananaBananaBananaBananaBanana finally got a chance to say that. DielaughingOh-jeez

Inside joke!


Best Regards,

PaytonA

Admin Note:
PaytonA passed away in September 2017
Click HERE to read his Memorial Thread

~ Rest in Peace ~
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#8
RE: my contribution to "leak day"
i miss the good old days where leaks were spelt differently and were something i tended to in the ground before eating.

My experience is somewhat similar to PaytonA. Getting a chin strap to work with my FFM has enabled me to start controlling the leak beast. It's been a tedious process but well worth it.
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#9
RE: my contribution to "leak day"
My experience has been much the same as PaytonA and Gyddyup. I found by using an adjustable chin strap I could get enough tension on the strap behind the head to help keep the strap from slipping around while not pulling the chin back and was able to adjust the top strap just enough to help me hold my mouth closed. I was finally able to control mask leaks with my FFM.

I have since moved to Nuance nasal pillows and I can see a P10 in my near future because as they say, "Resistance is futile!". Laugh-a-lot
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