Is it always obvious when you have a leak?  I guess I read about them so much I am a little paranoid and run my hand around the edges to see if I can feel anything.  It seems like there is so much air whooshing around it is a little unclear whether you are leaking or exhausting.

I use a pressure of 11 and I really don't notice it after a couple of minutes. I hope that doesn't mean that the leaks make all the pressure go away! (I don't use the ramp feature at all, nor a flex it just doesn't seem to bother me)

Judy

I find that someimes the exhaust port on my mask mimics a leak . . . but if I have a "real" leak, I can really tell.  Try pulling the mask away from your face for a second to see what a leak feels/sounds like -- on my  mask (respironics comfort gel) it is pretty obvious when it's leaking.

I also find that my mask leaks a bit more often at the lower end of the ramp, but not as much at the higher pressure; also I think read here somewhere that some masks fit better and leak less once they warm up on your face.

judyb wrote:

Is it always obvious when you have a leak?  I guess I read about them so much I am a little paranoid and run my hand around the edges to see if I can feel anything.  It seems like there is so much air whooshing around it is a little unclear whether you are leaking or exhausting.

I use a pressure of 11 and I really don't notice it after a couple of minutes. I hope that doesn't mean that the leaks make all the pressure go away! (I don't use the ramp feature at all, nor a flex it just doesn't seem to bother me)

Judy

Hi Judy,

It's usually fairly obvious if you have an air leak, as it will either blast one of your eyes or you will feel it coming out the bottom of the mask.

The 'paranoid' feeling is normal, as you are new to the game. A lot of the noise is made by the exhaust port (which must be kept open to clear out any build up of CO2). You are actually more aware of the noise than your partner, as the cause of the noise is sitting on top of your face   . The fact that you don't notice the pressure after such a short time is good, particularly as you don't use the ramp feature. This is a good indication that you are relatively leak free. I thought only us long term (lifers) users of cpap didn't use the ramp  

You are well on the road to compliance.
Kind regards,

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Daniel,

Thanks, I guess I should just relax about leaks.

I had read a couple of posts where people did not use the ramp feature, and I thought I'd feel more comfortable if I knew it wouldn't leak (there we go again!) at the proper pressure -- thus no ramp.  It seems all I have to do is tell myself to take a couple of good breaths when I start out and I am on the road.  If anything I fall asleep faster with a CPAP which I consider really strange.  Now if I can get past these sore noses, cheeks, etc. I will be in good shape!

Judy

judyb wrote:

Daniel,

Thanks, I guess I should just relax about leaks.

I had read a couple of posts where people did not use the ramp feature, and I thought I'd feel more comfortable if I knew it wouldn't leak (there we go again!) at the proper pressure -- thus no ramp.  It seems all I have to do is tell myself to take a couple of good breaths when I start out and I am on the road.  If anything I fall asleep faster with a CPAP which I consider really strange.  Now if I can get past these sore noses, cheeks, etc. I will be in good shape!

Judy

Judy,

The fact that you don't use the ramp feature will ensure that you become aware of any leak quickly. With the Ultra Mirage (in the event of a leak), just lift the mask off your face and lower it on again. Sometimes you may need to do it a few times.

Speaking for myself, once I put the mask on and start the machine I am fast asleep within 3/4 minutes,

Sore noses and cheeks..........are you referring to the bridge of your nose ? If so it can be a result of straps that are too tight which force the mask down. Sore cheeks, same story.

Straps on the Ultra Mirage should be verging on loose. Allow the bubble (between the two silicone skins) to inflate. This will give you your seal. You also might need to fiddle with the ratchet type thing between the forehead pads and the mask. Off hand there are either 3 or 4 positions. For those whose forehead recedes behind the level of their face you need to position the forehead pads back and vice versa for a forward type forehead...................I hope you can understand this as I'm starting to lose it    Basically it helps to get a good seal if the pads are properly positioned.

Kind regards........also getting confused,

Daniel.


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Daniel,

The sore nose was because the DME convinced me to get a Infinity nasal pillow system.  At the time I told her that there was a sharpness that dug into the area where nose meets upper lip.  After a couple of nights use that caused sort of a crack in the skin and hurt like mad.  That is why I was trying to use the Ultra Mirage which I happened to have though I doubt if it is the size I should have.  Using the Mirage for two nights has given my nose some recovery time so I do think it is good to have a couple of things around.  Last night went better with the Mirage though somehow it still can get pretty leaky.  The sore cheek was because the Mirage sort of weighed down on the top cheek when I was on my side and created a mess.  Somehow that didn't happen last night and I'm not sure what I did, though I did fiddle a bit with straps.

Good news-- I had gotten so distraught by all of this I just went ahead and ordered the Nasal Aire II that was used in my sleep study.  It came in one day!  I am not sure why the DME couldn't get the Nasal Aire to work, possibly because she hadn't read the instructions.  The straps went on far differently than what she did.  It was impossible with her rig but I think this is going to work.  There is no hurting area like there was with the Infinity.

BTW Nasal Aire makes a "starter kit" which is not much more expensive than the basic one and you get a sizer, plus three sizes of prongs.  I splurged and got that just in case the extra small that was used for the sleep study was in fact too small for everyday use, though it seemed to work well.  Cost wise if you just change the prong size once it behooved you to buy the starter kit.

Thanks for your help --

Judy, I guess we both went for the nasal aire. I had the comfort gel nasal mask, but, Monday I received the Nasal Aire. I sure like that a lot better. I only woke up once compared to the many times I used to awake to mask leaks and rain-out. I admit, it does sound a little louder to me, but my hubby says it doesn't bother him. I believe it sounds louder to me because my ears are right there where the tubing is. Any way, I found that I do seem to go to sleep faster. I will start out watching TV and end up out like a light. I hope everything continues to go well for you. By the way, I have been using the CPAP for about three months so I consider myself a newbie.


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My Name is Charlie, but I am a female.

Charlie,

I had my first night at home on Nasal Aire plus CPAP and I was so happy.  First time I didn't wake up due to some sort of pain or leaking from the mask.  The noise doesn't bother me at all, though there is a product, or a do-it- yourself adjustment to the headgear that is supposed to cut down on it.  If you follow this link you will see described how you can do it yourself (or buy it).  http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-boards/viewtopic.php?t=11843
I bought one but it hasn't arrived.  I don't think I need it as I was so comfortable last night.  Somehow I can turn that background noise into something sleep-inducing!

   I also am a newbie on the block. just got my cpap machine. my setting is a whopping 15-i don't  like and don't use ramp-it makes me feel air starved. only notice my pressure for a few minutes-if i wake up find myself thinking-is it working(yes,it is) 'cause it actually feels very comfortable   

I'm not a newbie at all, but have never used the ramp feature. I have chronic sinusitis and using a delay like that just gives my nose all the time it needs to stop up and then I have an uphill battle to fight. The full pressure tends to keep my sinuses opened up all night and it's even better now that I use a nasal pillow system. There was some irritation with that at first, but using Ayr lotion stopped that. The saline gel is available at any drugstore, in the cold remedy section with the nasal sprays.


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Larry