So my next question is.......

I appreciate the feedback I received on my first topic. Now, what does one do to improve mask seal? This has consistently been a problem for me of late. I wear a full face mask and I use mask liners. I cannot tolerate the plastic against my face. I've also discovered that blowing in and out of my mask after I have put it on helps improve mask seal but not always. I have to use a full face mask because I am an open mouth sleeper. I also wonder if a poor mask seal means more events. I used to consistently have fewer than 2 events/hour now I am seeing spikes of 9, 10, once I even had 28 events/hour. TIA

One tip is to make sure the straps aren't too tight:

"The proper way to put on a CPAP mask, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association, is to secure it loosely to your face while you’re sitting in bed. Next, turn your CPAP machine on. After lying down in your typical sleep position (back, side, or stomach), tighten your straps until you get a good seal, but don’t overtighten. Lastly, seat your mask by pulling it an inch or two off your face until the outer layer inflates. Then lower it. The dual layers of cushioning ensure a more secure seal."--https://www.cpap.com/blog/cpap-mask-lea ... solutions/

Also:

https://www.resmed.com/en-us/sleep-apne ... -or-leaks/

beautyandthebreath wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2024 9:51 am

(snip)
Now, what does one do to improve mask seal? This has consistently been a problem for me of late. I wear a full face mask and I use mask liners. I cannot tolerate the plastic against my face. I've also discovered that blowing in and out of my mask after I have put it on helps improve mask seal but not always. I have to use a full face mask because I am an open mouth sleeper.

Open mouth means your tongue is free to cause problems... mouth-breathing also causes other problems, your nose is just better to breathe through if yours is open. I use a FF mask because I hate anything touching my nose (Vitera)... but I also mouth-tape to prevent mouth breathing, jaw-drop, and drooling. Chin straps are another alternative, I've discovered that having a fat neck doesn't let chin straps work very well... and maybe I'm a bondage freak! In any case mouth taping works for me... I use Cover Roll Stretch Tape.

I also wonder if a poor mask seal means more events. I used to consistently have fewer than 2 events/hour now I am seeing spikes of 9, 10, once I even had 28 events/hour. TIA

I'd like to see Oscar graphs of your sleep of course (we love that here) but bad leaking can mask or even allow events... you're not getting the full therapy if the mask is leaking.

Never heard of Oscar graphs before - researched it a little - will look into that -

If you're going to ask a question, it's a good practice to give folks some sort of clue as to what the question is about by the title of your post.

Just sayin'...