I have the Mirage Quattro full face mask and the air leakage from the holes by the nose is keeping my fiance awake. I know that this is built into the mask, but for what reason ? I was under the impression that with CPAP the thing was to eliminate leakage. Does anyone else have this problem ?

The exhaust holes are there to keep you alive by venting out CO2. Part of the airflow leaves the system via the exhaust port and carries with it the exhaled CO2. As for the noise, some masks are definitely noisier than others, but they all make *some* noise and blow air out the exhaust... One of those things that you both will have to get used to.

-F

The holes are necessary so that exhaled air with low oxygen and high carbon dioxide can be flushed from the mask and not simply inhaled again at the next breath. It is unsafe to block them. Without the holes, the sleeper would be breathing in and out of a closed system. CPAP machines are designed to be able to maintain the necessary pressure despite the controlled leakage of mask vents. There is not much that can be done other than looking for a mask that vents differently or aiming away from others.

The noise can be worst depending on where your hose is. If your hose is directly in front of the exhaust ports it can be noisier. It can also be noisier if your hose is covered with a cover to prevent rain out and is a nylon type material. Try making a small hose cover out of a soft material and put that up near your mask to cover say the first six inches or so. I bet that will help quiet it down a little.

Gerry

I have the same problem. I wake up several times a night to turn over, and I have to become consciously awake, and avoid turning my face towards my wife, because she tells me in the morning that the air bothered her.

My wife complained about the same thing, but that was back when my pressure was up over 20. I didn't believe her it was that bad until I was laying in bed one night facing away from her and saw the curtains on the window that is three feet away from me moving my the exhaust ports on my mask. I don't think a truck has that powerful of an exhaust.
Anyway my pressure is now down and if the venting air bothers her I put a pillow between our pillows that is a litle higher than the vent.

Gerry