Quattro and putty?

kennethryan · Post by **kennethryan** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:49 pm

I read the post about using the silicone earplug putty, and am wondering if it would help me with my leaks (my biggest problems are the notch between my chin and almost-jowls, and the fact that my cheekbones are asymmetric).

I'm not clear about how the putty is applied - is the putty being put on the surface of the mask cushion in order to glue the cushion to my face, or is it being placed inside somewhere to stiffen the flaps a bit?

Also, does the putty have to be that particular brand, or will other brands work?

I'm probably more concerned about beefing up the lower cheek seals; while I do often get a mark on the bridge of my nose it doesn't hurt and is hidden by the bridge of my glasses.

Thanks in advance!

Perchancetodream · Post by **Perchancetodream** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:40 am

I don't have a Quattro, but I have used the silicone putty to make a gasket to fit the oral cushion of my Hybrid mask. I used Mack's because I figured it was safe for use on human skin.

Split the ear plug in half or in thirds and roll each section between your palms (or fingers) to form a rope about 2-3 inches long. Apply as many ropes as needed to the mask cushion where it meets your skin. It is tacky and will stay on the mask with just a light pressure. The heat from your skin will cause the silicone to mold to your face and help prevent leaks (and the dreaded face farts).

Susan

FLIGHTYONE · Post by **FLIGHTYONE** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:27 am

I use the quattro and I use Mack's ear plugs, I get leaks at the bridge of my nose and my chin so I use the putty all around the mask, it works great, I am having problems with the leaks on my nose it has been going on for 2 nights, I will just add a little my putty and see if that works but try it, I was having problems with months and got the putty and it has been great

kennethryan · Post by **kennethryan** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:54 pm

Thanks - how many nights do you tend to get out of one putty application before it stops sticking? Does rinsing it restore the sticky (like those no-slip cell phone pads for your dashboard)?

Perchancetodream · Post by **Perchancetodream** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:07 pm

I can use mine for three or four nights, taking it off in the morning to wash the mask and then re-rolling and re-applying it at night. Never tried rinsing it.

Susan

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:18 pm

With my Quattro I've just washed the cushion with the putty still on and then took off the putty once a week and washed it

Btw, here's a thread with photo showing quattro with silicone putty:

viewtopic.php?t=26782&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

Mindy

kennethryan · Post by **kennethryan** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:12 am

mindy wrote:With my Quattro I've just washed the cushion with the putty still on and then took off the putty once a week and washed it :lol:

Btw, here's a thread with photo showing quattro with silicone putty:

viewtopic.php?t=26782&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

Mindy

Thanks! That's an interesting thread, I don't know how I missed it. I'm going through much the same issues as Nick.

In fact, I just might look for a lightly used small QFFM...

kennethryan · Post by **kennethryan** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:44 pm

OK, I'm back after a few nights experimenting with the putty ...

First I tried just a line around the chin part. It seemed to work fairly well - the first night my leak rate dropped from 0.44 (by the efficacy results page on the machine) to 0.14. I felt leaks now near my eyes, so I tried putty there the next night. The leak rate actually increased a bit - I may have put too thick a layer on, or left too much of a bead at the edges so air blew around it. Tried again the next night, same setup, and couldn't get a decent seal at all - it felt like I had a fold in the seal that just wouldn't go away! So I got up and tried to remove the putty near the eyes, to try to go back to the first night's experience.

Surprise! I could not get all the putty off. Most of it came off easily, but a line around the edge stayed there and I couldn't get rid of it. I tried anyway, and had leaks in the 0.60+ range. Next day I scrubbed the cushion with rubbing alcohol and at least got the bumps off but it still has a dull pitted look. Last night it was a bit better but still leaking fairly badly (back to the 0.44 neighborhood).

This morning I spent time pulling all the putty off (and the plumber's tape) and cleaning it as best I could with alcohol and baby soap. As I write this the parts are soaking in one of the disinfectant solutions sold on cpap.com.
The seal still looks dull and feels slightly rough, but we'll see how it comes out.

(hmmm... I think I've described one too many nights ... I can't tell, I'm kinda foggy for some strange reason).

So for those who use this earplug putty - how in the world do you get the stuff off once you try it??

Thanks...

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:31 am

Hmm - mine always comes off almost too easily! To create the "string", I pull off pieces of one earplug and then roll it into a string (like we did as kids -- or at least when I was a kid ). Is it possible that using that method makes a difference?

Also, you mentionned using alcohol on the mask -- I'm not sure if that's a good idea.....

Mindy

kennethryan · Post by **kennethryan** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:51 pm

Mindy,

Yes, I pulled pieces and rolled them up between my fingers to make a string (or a "snake" as my daughter calls it) then smooshed it flattish and pressed it onto the cushion. I further pressed the two ends onto the cushion to try to flatten the bumps at the end.

I didn't reach for the alcohol first; it was only after I couldn't get the bits of putty off with the baby soap that I got frustrated. Some of the damage to the cushion (the roughness) could well have been the mechanical process of trying to scrub the bits off - I don't have a feel for how resilient the silicone used in the cushion is to that sort of thing.

Today I got from my DME a size smaller mask to try. I have it set up with only the usual plumber's tape, no putty, so my fingers are crossed that the size is where my real problem lies!

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 10:25 am

Hi,

I hope the smaller size works for you! I have a difficult time getting the Mack's ear plug silicone putty to stick to the flap ... can't imagine why you're having the opposite problem. Haven't heard that one before. Just goes to show we all have different experiences.

Best of luck!
Mindy

kennethryan · Post by **kennethryan** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:37 am

Well the small size mask has made a pretty big difference - I'm thinking now that the RT I've been seeing for the last year and a half has been consistently sizing me too big! I saw a different one this time (I walked in without an appointment, maybe that helped :-) ). I thought those people were supposed to have had training or something?

Oh well. At least there's plenty of helpful people on this forum!

kennethryan · Post by **kennethryan** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:41 am

mindy wrote:I have a difficult time getting the Mack's ear plug silicone putty to stick to the flap ... can't imagine why you're having the opposite problem.

It doesn't really surprise me. Different people have different composition of skin oils; I know mine tends to be fairly corrosive (as evidenced by the trumpet I used to play - I always had to have a leather protector around as much of it as I could, as my hands would eat away at the metal).

Hopefully though I won't need putty with the new mask size (well I'm suspecting I might need a bit at the bridge of my nose but it may be too soon to tell for sure).

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:27 pm

Glad to hear the smaller size is working better for you. I hope that continues!

Mindy

Mask	Humidifier

Mask

Mask	Humidifier

Mask	Humidifier