[Equipment] AirFit F40: Hurting when good seal; Leaky when loose

[efaj]

Hi all,

I'm nearly starting my third week in CPAP. I feel I've narrowed down good settings, and I'm around 2.7 AHI in good nights (mostly from CAs). But the lingering issue is mask fit and leaks.

When I get a good seal, it's so tight that the surrounding of my mouth hurts... which is not the worse part. But the main issue is the columella hurts, and near the tip, I even got a minor wound, like a small scrape.

Last night, I tried loosening the fit, and yes, I don't feel hurt. But I got 13% of Large Leak.

I'm hoping anyone has any tips on how to improve this. I'm already sleeping with a pillow for CPAP mask (it has holes on both sides). I'm also clean shaved. I also wonder... the instruction booklet says to set the machine to nasal pillow, even though the F40 is a full face mask, I wonder if I should try with the full face setting?

[Deborah K.]

Some folks do like it better when set for full face. It's also possible the mask is not the right size. You might need to size up.

[car54]

I have tried the mask with the same problems. I think many people experience the same but also many people have success with it. What works for one doesn't mean it will work for you. I use the F30 which is very similar but it is more "cushiony" than the 40

[Big Guy]

I have an AirFit F40 and it's okay. The extra bit of hose that comes with it though, makes it a bit more cumbersome, at least for me.

[efaj]

Thank you all for the responses.

Now, a few days later, I think I've come to a solution, so just wanted to share. Basically, it seems _slightly_ looser was what worked. No pain when waking up, nor leaky (to a degree where myair complains at least).
Because I move while sleeping, I do end up getting woken up by the sounds of leaks to adjust or tighten while sleeping, that's the one disadvantage vs my painfully right method.

For now, it seems at a good enough point, so I'll stay some months (up to the year) like this. I'll try a "f&p evora full face mask" next

[mecutl3r]

It is a very fine line between too loose and too tight, but it sounds like you have found the sweet spot for you. Mine is  strange - sometimes I can go 6 nights in a row with no leaks, and then suddenly have a few days of high leaks, with no discernible difference in what I am doing. 

I used the F&P Evora for montrhs before the F40. I hated it. Awkward connectors instead of the easy magnets. No easy way to disconnect the hose for a middle-of-the-night bathroom trip. Extra strap that always hit my ear, leaving my ear hurting when I woke up, and usually my nose was also hurting when I woke up. I find the F40 far and away more comfortable and far less leakage, even though not perfect. But different strokes for different folks...

[TomH FW]

I really like the F40, but the medium cushion was jamming up the end of my nose.  I bought and switched to a large, which helped with the nose discomfort.  I had to tweak my strap adjustments all over again, but am getting a good seal, and little or no leaks.  I have a F&P Evora sitting on the nightstand waiting to be used, but am trying to get my settings dialed in with the F40 first, and do not want to be changing too many things at once.  Hope you get yours sorted.

[kkvdogmom]

The F&P Evora was the only one that didn’t hurt my nose and gave me a good seal at my nose! I do miss the magnetic connectors. The tube does come off easily at the mask for night visits to the bathroom. I apparently have a slim nose and the others leaked terribly.