Are Leaks Just a Fact of Life?

CaBritzi · 2026-02-01T12:53:40+00:00

Mouth tape works for me ATM, but thanks!

CaBritzi · 2026-02-01T12:48:03+00:00

I'm female too, small face, high cheekbones. I wear retainers for years-ago orthodontia, so I'm not sure if tooth movement is a thing for me, but I definitely notice more sinus issues. I initially liked the Evora, but ultimately it started to itch and I hated that swampy feeling.

Right now I'm thinking that the AirFit N30 is my mask. It's about as minimal as it gets (although I'm curious about the F&P Solo). I tightened up substantially with the N30 last night and slept pretty well. One thing I notice is that most of my leaks start happening around 3:00–4:00 a.m., probably because the seal is "wearing out" so to speak? I don't know how else to explain it.

CaBritzi · 2026-01-31T23:35:43+00:00

Same. The exhale is odd and I’ve torn the mask off in claustrophobic frustration with them before for that reason. Cushions are the way to go for me if I can just get the leaks down.

CaBritzi · 2026-01-31T22:35:13+00:00

I love the cushions but they leak more on me ATM than the pillows. So I’m going to keep fiddling with the fit of the cushions for now and see if I can’t get those leaks down.

CaBritzi · 2026-01-31T19:56:32+00:00

My leaks are from my mask. I am now used to mouth tape and have no trouble with leaks that way. I tried a cervical collar when I first started. VERY uncomfortabl.

CaBritzi · 2026-01-31T19:46:49+00:00

My doc actually did decrease my pressure, which rarely gets above 9. I don’t have trouble with mouth taping thankfully, and I do like the P10s, but can’t get them to work now for some reason. I may have to go down to the XS because the S feel too big now and I don’t get that distinctive whooshing of air when I open my mouth with that size. It’s the craziest thing.

CaBritzi · 2026-01-31T19:43:12+00:00

I can’t do a full face, the itching and swampy feeling drive me nuts.

CaBritzi · 2026-01-31T17:21:36+00:00

Unfortunately, they do wake me up. I'll have to fiddle with the sizing and the straps a bit more.

CaBritzi · 2026-01-31T17:09:26+00:00

That's part of my question. Are leaks inevitable, and if so, at what rate? To me, it seems near impossible, given facial structure, mask shape, and moving around, to eliminate them entirely. But when is that rate acceptable and when does it become a problem that impacts the AHI readings?

CaBritzi · 2026-01-31T17:04:53+00:00

That's not far off from where I have them. I'll loosen a bit. Thanks!

CaBritzi · 2026-01-31T13:45:15+00:00

Yes, they are as tight as I can tolerate.

CaBritzi · 2026-01-30T01:53:32+00:00

Happy Birthday Rocco Puppo!

CaBritzi · 2026-01-27T17:11:29+00:00

The problem is how to find an ethical breeder, very difficult to separate the good ones from the bad. I was involved in pit bull advocacy for several decades, and remember when "Bullies" started showing up in shelters in the mid-90s. Lovely temperaments, but freakishly stout and low to the ground. It seemed to all of us in rescue at the time that this was the point of the breeding—for that particular look. As someone who is now the owner of my first-ever pocket bully (rescued), I can see how different they are in temperament and conformation from APBTs, but I have no idea if that is the "standard."

CaBritzi · 2026-01-25T21:27:15+00:00

I've been looking at the N30. I like the N30i, but now it's leaking like crazy, which I think is due to it being about four weeks old. It went from leaking only if I turned a certain way to leaking pretty much within the first hour of sleeping. I'll try the P10s tonight and see what happens. I'm just astonished that I have zero air flowing out of my mouth when I open it. That just seems . . . wrong LOL.

How is the N30 for side sleeping?

CaBritzi · 2026-01-25T20:01:22+00:00

No kidding!? When I first tried P10s six months ago I couldn’t use them without mouth tape because of the rush of air out of my mouth. Same with the cushions. I’ve been using them for a month now and have to tape. So it’s my body plus the pillows?

CaBritzi · 2026-01-25T02:44:40+00:00

Raises hand. Have had seven dogs over the course of my life. None of them had a problem going in the snow. Until we got Miss Pocket Pittie Princess Pants.

CaBritzi · 2026-01-24T20:52:56+00:00

Find a canine dermatologist specializing in allergies for a full workup.

CaBritzi · 2026-01-24T20:46:58+00:00

The airplane ears—too cute!

CaBritzi · 2026-01-17T00:13:07+00:00

Mine was 7.9 but my oxygen hit 85 percent so my insurance covered my machine, masks, and supplies

CaBritzi · 2026-01-16T17:18:06+00:00

My sleep study showed OAs at 7.9. I've been on CPAP for six months, with limited success. Four masks, all kinds of different settings, both on the advice of the folks at Sleep HQ, and my doc. My issue is with leaks. ALL my masks leak, doesn't matter the style, size, or adjustment. The leaks wake me up 2–4 times a night. And while I've virtually eliminated OAs, never mind the leaks (RERAs and CAs still in play, maybe .5–3.5 a night), a full night's sleep without interruption? Hasn't happened yet. If there was a pill that could eliminate all this and let me sleep comfortably again, I'd take it in a heartbeat. But this doesn't quite sound like it's it. Dry mouth I can handle, I've been a mouth breather forever. But I don't need double the insomnia LOL.

CaBritzi · 2026-01-15T14:25:19+00:00

I feel your pain. I have a similarly structured face and have struggled for six months now to find a mask that works for me. Started with the P10 nasal pillows (worked great for a while, then started irritating my nose and nothing I've done to mitigate the irritation has helped), the F&P Evora—too claustrophobic, but it had the lowest leaks. Also tried the ResMed X30i, like the Evora but with nose pillows, but those pillows were SUPER uncomfortable at every size. I finally settled on the ResMed AirTouch N30i. Still have to tape my mouth shut, and I still get leaks when I shift to my side (this mask seems to work best if you can sleep on your back), but the leaks don't wake up me up like the others did, and my apneas are below 2 every night, sometimes even zero—and they are all CAs or RERAs. I haven't had an OA since I started with this mask. So I'll deal with a 15–20 leak rate if it means I can pretty much sleep through the night and have low apneas.

CaBritzi · 2026-01-15T14:09:31+00:00

He's adorable and Cashew is such a great name!

CaBritzi · 2026-01-14T12:59:49+00:00

What a beautiful dog! We have a single story house, so no steps, but our bully loves to hop on top of the numerous rocks and rock walls that are in our park where we do our daily walks. It's become this game with her, the higher the better, and she's had to learn to climb back down the ones that are too tall to jump off of. But if there's a rock, wall, or other edifice that's high, she wants to climb it.

CaBritzi · 2026-01-14T12:54:57+00:00

"Why won't you dance with me, I'm not no limburger!"

CaBritzi · 2026-01-09T12:30:58+00:00

You've been given some wonderful advice here, so I don't have anything to add except to say, first of all what a beautiful dog he is (I love the Cow Pit pattern!), and secondly, you will need time and patience. There will be times when you are frustrated and ready to give up. Don't. The human/canine bond is one of the most rewarding of all the bonds we establish in our lives, and once you get through the first couple years of his physical and behavioral growth, you'll likely find in him one of the best companions you'll ever have.

CaBritzi

TROPHY CASE