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I love my F20 full face mask - it fits well, makes a good seal, is comfortable - but when I turn over at night, I would end up with a high leak, so my average for the month would be 10-15.
What really worked for me is a 30" length of a 2" wide foam strap that goes around my the mask and my head, in addition to the straps that come with the mask. I cut a hole it it for the tubing to go through, which also holds the strap in place. It's connected in back with Velcro so the length can be adjusted. I put my strap under the regular face mask straps so that it stays in place.
Result: average leak consistently less than 3 for the past year.
I'm not a manufacturer or engineer, so I can't tell anyone else that it's the right thing to do. But it worked for me so I thought I'd pass this on.
I found the same problem. And I purchased a strap with a hole in it for the hose and elbow.
But I found that it slipped down on my neck if it was positioned under my ears and slipped upwards if it was positioned above my ears. Where does your strap sit on the back of your head? --over the ears??
Machine: ResMed AirCurve 10 Mask Type: Full face mask Mask Make & Model: AirFit F30 Humidifier: None CPAP Pressure: Unsure CPAP Software: Not using software
pad a cheek "anti leak strap" $23
Seemed expensive to me but any port in a storm!
I found it didn't work for me because I didn't like it going over my ears and it cut into my ears if I pulled it down into the crevice between my ears and my head. but I kept it anyway---and I keep it handy too.
Sometimes I safety pin the straps to take the strain off the velcro (older headgear)---but then in the middle of the night if the mask starts to leak, it is a real hassle to readjust etc. so I just put on the "anti leak strap" over the ears and all. This has only happened to me once and the fix seemed to work----ymmv. Recently I broke out a new headgear---so I am not currently using the safety pins.
available from any supplier who carries the pad a cheek line, I suspect, like cpap.com
I found my Airfit F20 leaks a great deal less than my F&P Simplus. However, I know they say to not tighten the straps too much - pull mask away from face and allow the seals to nflate against the face etc.. -- But I have found in practice, that a fairly tight fit is actually required for the F20. Might just be the shape of my face, ofcourse.
“Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children, brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grandchildren are once more slaves.” - DH Lawrence
(06-12-2023, 08:47 AM)snorin2 Wrote: @ kingsway: I recommend you at least try the air touch cushion version---but it is exceptionally expensive.
... And they don't even specify if it has gold or platinum fittings!
BTW They ALL seem to be crazily over-priced to me! I wonder if any of the Chinese made ones are any good?
“Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children, brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grandchildren are once more slaves.” - DH Lawrence
I used a length of Rolyan SoftStrap, which is used for making splints- I picked up a piece at the hospital where I work. It looks like if you get it online, you have to buy 10 yards!
I looked up the pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap online. It looks essentially like what I made.
The pictures on the pad-a-cheek website show pretty much how I wear it. It goes up at an angle, covering the top part of my ears. HOWEVER, I put my strap UNDER the face mask straps. That keeps it from slipping.
Sorry I should have explained that the reason the F20 touch is expensive is that it seems to only last a month or two---whereas I have had an F20 fit last 6 months easily.
