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From: Ken on 22 Apr 2006 14:46
As a new member of this group, my subject may have been covered before
but I can't find the info. I was diagnosed with sleep apenea 2 months
ago and placed on a bipap machine with a full face mask (I'm a mouth
breather). Because my pressure on the machine is so high (25/19), I
have to tighten the mask very tight to prevent leaks. The mask is a
Fisher & Paykel Flexifit431 and the problem is the headgear strap on
the back of my neck. Every morning when I get up, my neck is sore to
the point of the skin being almost raw and pretty much remains that way
all day long. I have contacted my medical equipment supplier and they
suggested using a lotion or powder on my neck before putting on the
headgear but this does not seem to help. Am I the only person with
this type of problem? Any suggestions?

From: David Ruether on 23 Apr 2006 09:42



"Ken" <kwberry(a)mindspring.com> wrote in message news:1145731606.097683.123910(a)j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> As a new member of this group, my subject may have been covered before
> but I can't find the info. I was diagnosed with sleep apenea 2 months
> ago and placed on a bipap machine with a full face mask (I'm a mouth
> breather). Because my pressure on the machine is so high (25/19), I
> have to tighten the mask very tight to prevent leaks. The mask is a
> Fisher & Paykel Flexifit431 and the problem is the headgear strap on
> the back of my neck. Every morning when I get up, my neck is sore to
> the point of the skin being almost raw and pretty much remains that way
> all day long. I have contacted my medical equipment supplier and they
> suggested using a lotion or powder on my neck before putting on the
> headgear but this does not seem to help. Am I the only person with
> this type of problem? Any suggestions?

It may be that with such a high pressure, the F&P may be one of the
very few options. I'm not familiar with it, but the ResMed and Respironics
FF masks operate by using a very flexible gasket that achieves the seal
by having the air pressure inside the mask press the gasket against the
skin - the mask itself sits away from the face, and the pressure needed
to hold it on and make the seal is thus reduced. The ResMed mask uses
wide, stretchy strapping that is also quite comfortable; the Respironics
strapping is narrower and has little give, but it permits more precise
adjustment of tension. Remember to try adjusting the angle at the joint
to the forehead pad - this controls the top-bottom angle of the mask
on the face and the relative pressures at the nose bridge and below the
lower lip.
--
David Ruether
ruether(a)verizon.net
rpn1(a)cornell.edu
http://www.ferrario.com/ruether


From: helco on 23 Apr 2006 10:14

"Ken" <kwberry(a)mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:1145731606.097683.123910(a)j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> As a new member of this group, my subject may have been covered before
> but I can't find the info. I was diagnosed with sleep apenea 2 months
> ago and placed on a bipap machine with a full face mask (I'm a mouth
> breather). Because my pressure on the machine is so high (25/19), I
> have to tighten the mask very tight to prevent leaks. The mask is a
> Fisher & Paykel Flexifit431 and the problem is the headgear strap on
> the back of my neck. Every morning when I get up, my neck is sore to
> the point of the skin being almost raw and pretty much remains that way
> all day long. I have contacted my medical equipment supplier and they
> suggested using a lotion or powder on my neck before putting on the
> headgear but this does not seem to help. Am I the only person with
> this type of problem? Any suggestions?
>

I don't know if this would work for your system, but ... When I started
using the ResMed Nasal Pillows System I found that the straps that went
across my cheeks were uncomfortable and left imprints that lasted for hours.
Eventually I made little "jackets" for the straps using quilt batting, which
can be found in any fabric store. I cut strips that were wide enough to
cover the length of the straps and wrapped them around the straps twice,
securing them with a few basting stitches. (Since the pressure of your
straps sounds greater, you might want to make more turns of the batting.) I
no longer have a problem with marks or discomfort. The strips are soft and
fluffy, and since they're nylon they dry very quickly when I wash the
headgear. I don't know where the buckle is located on the strap for your
gear, but the jacket can be left loose enough to be "accordioned" to one
side for access.

The quilt batting looks delicate but lasts an amazingly long time, and one
package probably provides enough for a few lifetimes of CPAP. I may
actually have to make a quilt one of these days (which is why I had the
stuff around in the first place).

helco


From: Jim Nugent on 23 Apr 2006 20:40
In news:1145731606.097683.123910(a)j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com,
Ken <kwberry(a)mindspring.com> wrote:
> As a new member of this group, my subject may have been covered before
> but I can't find the info. I was diagnosed with sleep apenea 2 months
> ago and placed on a bipap machine with a full face mask (I'm a mouth
> breather). Because my pressure on the machine is so high (25/19), I
> have to tighten the mask very tight to prevent leaks. The mask is a
> Fisher & Paykel Flexifit431 and the problem is the headgear strap on
> the back of my neck. Every morning when I get up, my neck is sore to
> the point of the skin being almost raw and pretty much remains that
> way all day long. I have contacted my medical equipment supplier and
> they suggested using a lotion or powder on my neck before putting on
> the headgear but this does not seem to help. Am I the only person
> with this type of problem? Any suggestions?

It's disappointing that your supplier didn't invite youto come back in for
another fitting. I think you should get a chance to show the respiratory
therapist what is happening, and let them try to solve the problem.

In any case here are my tips for countering leaks on my ResMed Ultra Mirage
FFM:
1. Be sure to wash and dry your face and the mask cushion before bed. It's
amazing what a difference that makes.
2. When you tighten the headgear loosen and pull both left and right straps
at the same time. That way the force will be balance.
3. Tighter is NOT always better. Play around with it. If your machine has a
leak test feature use it.
4. If you are awakened by a leak, don't just push the mask around on your
face. Sit up, take it off, wipe dry your face and the mask cushion
completely then put it on all over again. I know it's a pain and it gets you
wakened up but it's worth it.

I usually learn of severe mask leaks when it tries to play a John Philip
Sousa march and my wife twacks me and says "You're having face farts, dear."
FWIW my max pressure is 15cmH20.
--
Jim
"Remember, an amateur built the Ark; professionals built the Titanic."


From: Bob Myers on 24 Apr 2006 09:26
Ken;

You might want to see about getting another type of FF mask.

I had the F&P 431 mask for the last 1-1/2 years. Originally, I was
told by the technician at the DME that I was using that leakage around
the bottom of the mask was ok...NOT!!!

Recently, I had tried getting a replacement mask. The 431 evolved to the
431A -- there is now small air vents(?) along the top of the mask, and it
appears that the bridge area has changed in angle as well. I tried using
this
mask and found that the same size mask/gel combo had air shooting into
both of my eyes.

Long story short: I switched to Respironics ComfortFit II FF mask last
week. I went in for a 9 yr follow-up sleep study this last weekend and was

told that there was hardly any leakage by the tecnician.

I'm finding myself now sleeping straight on my back and no longer tossing
and turning at night. I'll be getting the results of the sleep study in a
few
days from the sleep specialist.

-Bob

Ken wrote:

> As a new member of this group, my subject may have been covered before
> but I can't find the info. I was diagnosed with sleep apenea 2 months
> ago and placed on a bipap machine with a full face mask (I'm a mouth
> breather). Because my pressure on the machine is so high (25/19), I
> have to tighten the mask very tight to prevent leaks. The mask is a
> Fisher & Paykel Flexifit431 and the problem is the headgear strap on
> the back of my neck. Every morning when I get up, my neck is sore to
> the point of the skin being almost raw and pretty much remains that way
> all day long. I have contacted my medical equipment supplier and they
> suggested using a lotion or powder on my neck before putting on the
> headgear but this does not seem to help. Am I the only person with
> this type of problem? Any suggestions?

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