Trying to rigg Ultra Mirage FF for better seal . . .???

divajojo · Post by **divajojo** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:41 am

I am celebrating my first night sleeping all night with my bipap. I went to bed at 11:00pm and with the exception of a bathroom run at 1:00 (and I refused to remove my mask) I woke @10 minutes before my alarm clock went off . . . woo hoo!!! I've even realized that even at my pressure (17/13), I don't even need the ramp anymore and have slept the past couple of nights without even using it.

I only have one problem right now . . . leaking with the mask. Most of my leaks come from the area of the nose right below my eyes. I realized that as I am fitting my mask, if I press my finger on the front of the mask just below the vent at the top bridge of the nose, the seal is perfect, no matter what position I'm laying in. The problem is no matter how I adjust the straps or how tight I make them, I can't get pressure concentrated at that point and lose the security of it.

Does anyone have a suggestion of how I can "rigg" a strap to go across that area. That would be an answer to a prayer.

photogal · Post by **photogal** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:56 am

Diva, I can't answer your question, but I am asking what machine are you on? My doctor just wrote a RX for a bipap and I'm trying to figure out what to order. My pressure is 11, and he talked like I could go as low as 4 on the exhale. I will also get the Ultra Mirage FF. Do you have C flex with your BiPap or is that not possible?
Betty

Pohtaytoh · Post by **Pohtaytoh** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:40 am

Diva,
You might be trying too hard. I have a Mirage Series 2 and have found that if the straps are too tight, it is just as bad as if they are too loose. The top strap on mine is just snug. The middle two are loose enough to fit two fingers between the straps and my head and the bottom two are snug. You just have to experiment with it.

As for a way to rig a strap, you may get all kinds of answers to that one. Judging by some of the suggestions when one user asked about chin straps, it appears this group is very inventive when it comes to making their xPAP treatment work.

Good luck!

Later,
Tater

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:53 am

Diva, I seem to remember reading once about a person who had ordered a chin strap that didn't work well for him. So, he found another use for the otherwise useless chin strap - he ran it across the front of his FF mask and fastened it behind his head.

Said it worked great to stop the minor mask leaks he'd been having with his FF mask.

I'd probably start looking around the house for any cloth that could be made into a long strip to put across the front of the mask and hold it right where you want it. Maybe an Ace bandage across the front? Stretchy sweatband if it didn't pull the mask in too tight?

Perhaps some of those little squares of velcro with adhesive on the other side of them could be stuck to the outer plastic of the mask to help keep a "wrap around cloth" from slipping up or down.

divajojo · Post by **divajojo** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:47 am

photogal wrote:Diva, I can't answer your question, but I am asking what machine are you on? My doctor just wrote a RX for a bipap and I'm trying to figure out what to order. My pressure is 11, and he talked like I could go as low as 4 on the exhale. I will also get the Ultra Mirage FF. Do you have C flex with your BiPap or is that not possible?
Betty

I am using a Respironics BiPAP Pro 2. I'm not sure, but I don't think C-flex is available on BiPAP machines; but others can give you a more learned answer -- I'm just now ending my second week and all of this happened kind of quick for me. I'm happy with my machine though.

divajojo · Post by **divajojo** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:51 am

Pohtaytoh wrote:Diva,
You might be trying too hard. I have a Mirage Series 2 and have found that if the straps are too tight, it is just as bad as if they are too loose. The top strap on mine is just snug. The middle two are loose enough to fit two fingers between the straps and my head and the bottom two are snug. You just have to experiment with it.

I think that's where I'm lacking. Your Mirage Series 2 has middle straps and the ULtra Mirage FF just has two sets: One at the forehead rest (@1.25 inches above the bridge of the nose) and one which lines up just at the bottom edge of the lipline for me. I'm going to work on rigging a middle one, though. Thanks for the input.

divajojo · Post by **divajojo** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:53 am

Thanks so much for the advice, folks. It gives me something to work with and experiment this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:11 am

divajojo wrote:
photogal wrote:Diva, I can't answer your question, but I am asking what machine are you on? My doctor just wrote a RX for a bipap and I'm trying to figure out what to order. My pressure is 11, and he talked like I could go as low as 4 on the exhale. I will also get the Ultra Mirage FF. Do you have C flex with your BiPap or is that not possible?
Betty
I am using a Respironics BiPAP Pro 2. I'm not sure, but I don't think C-flex is available on BiPAP machines; but others can give you a more learned answer -- I'm just now ending my second week and all of this happened kind of quick for me. I'm happy with my machine though.

Cflex isn't available but BIFLEX is on that machine.

BiFlex technology provides pressure relief at the end of inhalation and at the beginning of exhalation for easier, more natural breathing.

It is quite possible that your DME didn't turn it on.

Tampa Tom · Post by **Tampa Tom** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:54 am

How 'bout a little duct tape? Seems to fix just about everything else

ballast949 · Post by **ballast949** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:22 pm

I don't know how the Ultra Mirage compares to the Ultra Mirage 2, but I have the 2 and it has a button where the top of the mask connects to the forhead support that allows you to adjust the forehead support to 4 different angles. My DME DIDN'T BOTHER TO SHOW ME THAT.

Pohtaytoh · Post by **Pohtaytoh** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:26 pm

the ULtra Mirage FF just has two sets

Even though you have less straps, I would still try loosening them. I didn't believe it would work at first, but when I finally got tired of the deep red marks on my face, and the sores on the bridge of my nose, I decided to give it a try. Lo and behold, it worked.

I don't know why, but i end up having to readjust my straps about once every other week or so, sometimes tighter, sometimes looser, but it has become routine.

Again, good luck.

Later,
Tater

Sleepless in New Mexico · Post by **Sleepless in New Mexico** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:08 pm

I too have a leaking problem with my Ultra Mirage FF mask. I started out with a mask over the nose and soon realized that because I am a mouth breather that wasn't going to work so I switched to the FF mask. Then as mentioned here, I began to have more problems with leaking than before. I think I may have the straps too tight as Pohtaytoh pointed out. I will experiment with different strap "settings". My question is: Will a leaky mask cause the cpap to be totally ineffective? As pointed out in earlier posts and as my login name suggests, I still don't sleep well. I'm going for the nasal surgery in about 3 weeks and hopefully I will be able to switch back to the nose only mask as I think that will actually work better for me.
One thing that even the doctos haven't figured out is why all people with sleep apnea are such good hearted people. You have to come to this forum to learn that! I have never seen any forum where people are so supportive and understanding of each other than this one. I'm glad I found it and I am looking forward to getting my sleep under control so I can be one of those providing helpful information instead of always asking. I think I would hang out here even if I didn't have sleep apnea .

53now · Post by **53now** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:21 pm

Full Face Mask Trade ??? I have a new Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask that is too big for me. Yuck ! It's a Standard Medium....I actually need a Standard Small. Anyone want to trade their Small for my Medium ????
Ahhhhh The mask adventure continues.
PM me if anyone is interested

Rich

Trying to rigg Ultra Mirage FF for better seal . . .???

Trying to rigg Ultra Mirage FF for better seal . . .???

your machine

Re: your machine

Re: your machine

Mask fit