what mask ? air leaking through my head

[Mark Douglas]

Sleeping with my mouth closed I am woken by internal air leak that makes my cheeks puff up like a hamster with a mouth full of sunflower seeds. Some times I even get a lip fart. Needless to say this is not leaving me refreshed and ready to take on the day. I do not see how a chin strap would help so a FFM seems to me the only way to solve this. Of course that could lead to swallowing air...... If I am awake I can hold my tongue up and stop it but then being awake kinda sorta defeats the whole idea.
(I had sinus surgeries 20 yrs ago and I vaguely remember something making or enlarging a drainage passage.)
Anyone dealing with this air leakage and did you find a solution?

[justMongo]

Go for the FFM... works for me.

[PaytonA]

I actually tried a Quattro FX FFM first and could never keep it from leaking into my eyes and waking me up.

I tried to get a nasal mask to work for me for some time. Tried the chinstrap with the results you have mentioned. Tried the tongue placement trick. I could make it work quite well when awake and for a while thought that I had myself trained. Finally started seeing my data on an old S8 and decided that it was not really working.

An astute RT put me in a Mirage Quattro and I have been a happy camper ever since. My median leak rate is almost always 0 and my 95% leak is less than 10. I have also tried the Simplus and it seems to work OK but not quite as well as the Mirage Quattro for me.

The Mirage Quattro is a mask that people seem to either love or hate. The primary problems seem to be leakage or skin irritation on the nose. If you decide to try this mask, let me know and I will forward to you info on getting it adjusted properly and getting it working. Also some fixes for the skin irritation although I have never had that problem.

Best Regards,

PaytonA

[Sleeprider]

Mark, a chinstrap is not going to prevent air from entering your mouth. You might want to practice controlling air by putting on the machine when you're awake, and learn the mechanics of excluding air from your mouth using your tongue. If you get really good, you should be able to speak and perhaps even drink water with the nasal pressure. If you can't master the pressure, you'll need to go to a FFM option that balances pressure between the nasal and oral. Really the only way to make nasal therapy work is to learn how to control it, and hope that skill translates into your sleep habit.

[Mark Douglas]

Mark, a chinstrap is not going to prevent air from entering your mouth. You might want to practice controlling air by putting on the machine when you're awake, and learn the mechanics of excluding air from your mouth using your tongue. If you get really good, you should be able to speak and perhaps even drink water with the nasal pressure. If you can't master the pressure, you'll need to go to a FFM option that balances pressure between the nasal and oral. Really the only way to make nasal therapy work is to learn how to control it, and hope that skill translates into your sleep habit.

I sleep with a Hall's tucked into my check to keep saliva flowing so I don't gag on massive sinus drainage (BTW this problem has reduced a lot since cpap) so my mouth is well trained to stay shut. Tongue however relaxes now that I actually sleep and that opens path for air bypass. I think this is the source of excessive leakage.

Currently sleeping in a reclining chair (thanks RG!) which is good for my spine and respiration and I cannot hear DearWife snoring and choking. However sleeping in the chair I miss morning snuggles and not helping my love life even a little bit. My spine and my shoulders want me to sleep on my back with a pillow under my knees. DW will soon have her own cpap machine so that will hopefully solve the snoring issue. (I of course never snore and sleepyhead lies about that)
I may need higher pressure flat on my back. FFM is looking like the overall solution.

[retired_guy]

Morning snuggles are fine........... But don't underestimate the value of mid-afternoon snuggles. Plan for it.

[Mark Douglas]

Morning snuggles are fine........... But don't underestimate the value of mid-afternoon snuggles. Plan for it.

Once I take my amphetamines it isn't happening until the next morning and if DW found out I was having afternoon snuggles while she was at work I thinking she would be less than pleased.

[PaulaO2]

I found the PAPcap to be kinda useful for chipmunk face and lip leaking. If you are sleeping upright, it may work for you. Looks dorky as heck so don't sleep in front of a mirror. My problem was I was having to sleeping on my back on a slight incline and moving my head shifted the cap forward, releasing the pressure on the cheeks and chin. But in your situation, this probably won't happen.

[krelvin]

I sleep with a Hall's tucked into my check to keep saliva flowing

That is very dangerous and a choking hazard. Would highly recommend you do something else.

[Mark Douglas]

I sleep with a Hall's tucked into my check to keep saliva flowing

That is very dangerous and a choking hazard. Would highly recommend you do something else.

Been doing this at least 20 yrs - still here. Used to keep a sippy cup by the bed. Peed all night long.

What would be the something else?